By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
By all accounts, Ozark enjoyed a successful season last year.
The Lady Tigers finished 19-7, falling to Kickapoo 62-59 in the district title matchup.
For head coach David Brewer, the razor-thin margin between runner-up and champion should serve as motivation for the team as it prepares for the 2019-20 campaign.
“We had a solid season; however, we fell short of winning the COC Championship (2nd) and district championship (2nd) by losing by two and three points to Republic and Kickapooo, respectively.”
A quartet of graduated seniors depart the program, including Annie Scheer, Alexis Barber, Brocklyn Barber and Kinsey Norton.
Scheer will continue her basketball career this season at Evangel University, while Both Barbers are running cross country and track at Southwest Baptist University.
While Brewer will have to find replacements for his four departed seniors, Ozark will feature plenty of firepower this season with four starters and six lettermen returning to its roster.
“This will be my 25th year as a varsity coach and 7th at Ozark,” Brewer said. “We have a lot of experience returning, so they are a known quality.”
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The Lady Tiger offense will be led by a quartet of upperclassmen, including senior point guard Madi Braden.
Brewer categorizes the 5-foot-6 Braden as an excellent point guard, knockdown 3-point shooter and tremendous ball-defender.
“[Braden] is Ozark’s all-time season, game and career 3-point shooter, with 1,072 points in her first three years,” Brewer said.
5-foot-9 senior Katie Mayes gives Ozark a quality inside-out scorer and defender, an aggressive rebounder and a very good player that runs the floor well.
5-foot-7 senior Olivia Hanks is a solid, all-around player that can slash and score at the basket and effectively shoot the 3-pointer, as well.
All three seniors have verbally committed to play at the next level. Braden and Mays are set to attend College of the Ozarks, while Hanks will play for Evangel University.
Finally, 5-foot-9 junior Anna Hitt provides the Lady Tigers with a long, athletic slasher that is great in transition and an excellent defender.
Sophomores Riley Boggs and Moriah Putt also return to the varsity roster.
Newcomers who could challenge for varsity playing time include a quartet of sophomores in Lyla Watson, Adri Wakeman, Keanna Rivera and Zeffie Kent.
In addition to an always-challenging slate of Central Ozarks Conference rivals, Ozark’s schedule features a host of premier opponents including Rock Bridge, Helias Catholic, West Plains and Kickapoo.
Ozark will also participate in the well-stocked, holiday Pink & White tournament.
Brewer believes his deep, experienced roster will be right in the thick of both conference and district titles, once again.
“We have a lot of experience back and hope to compete for a COC and district championship,” Brewer said. “The COC is always difficult, and our district has Nixa, Kickapoo and Branson.”
While Ozark will be well-balanced at both ends of the court, Brewer stressed the importance of rebounding and team defense to help neutralize some of the bigger, athletic lineups the Lady Tigers will face during the season.
“We feel we can be good defensively and should have a balanced offensive attack,” Brewer said. “Consistent rebounding will be something we must do as a group to approach our goals. We are not a small team, but do not have size either. We will have to play team defense to aid inside defenders and, again, team rebound.”
Ozark opens its season Nov. 26 at Columbia Hickman.
