By Denise Tucker (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Hollister Tigers will look to continue its upward trend in the win column, even with the loss of three starters and eight letterwinners from last year’s squad.
The Tigers finished 12-13 overall, 1-6 in the Big 8 East, and just missed advancing to the second round of the Class 3 District 11 tournament with a 42-37 loss to fourth-seeded Clever. Those results are an improvement from 2017-2018 when the Tigers went 9-16 and from 2016-2017 when they finished 8-18.
Lost to graduation include: Carter Krysl, a second-team all-conference selection at forward, Jesse Wright (guard), Logan Armitage (forward), Logan Narvaez (forward), Bryan Calovich (forward) and Cameron Shook (guard).
But, Pete Leonard, who enters his fourth season as Hollister’s head coach, returns Presley David, a 5-foot-10 senior captain, who averaged 12 points and 3 rebounds per game on his way to earning all-conference honorable mention honors. The other returning starter is Cole Jones, a 5-10 junior, who averaged 8 PPG and 6 RPG.
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“I am looking forward to this basketball season with a great group of young men,” Leonard said. “I have a group that is very coachable and want to compete every night. I feel like we are strong in every position and are led by a veteran point guard in Cole Jones. We are looking for Presley David to have a great season both from behind the arc and in the paint.”
Leonard has a number of juniors and a sophomore, who he looks to step up this season.
Wylder Wilson and Brady Peterson both saw significant varsity time last year, and likely will play bigger roles this season.
• Wilson, a 6-4 junior, “is a very athletic forward who likes to be around the rim,” Leonard said. “He also has the capability to step out away from the basket and be productive.”
• Peterson, a 5-10 junior, “is a hardnosed guard who will make things go for us this season. He is a very hard worker who demands the same from his teammates. Brady is the type of player that every coach wants on their team. We look for Brady to have a great season on the varsity level.”
• Colby Teaster, 6-0 junior, “is a great athlete and a great kid. He has a high basketball IQ and I believe he will give us valuable varsity time this season.”
• Josh Barlow, 6-2 sophomore, “is a very athletic player who plays like a guard but has the body of a forward. I am very excited to see how he does this season at the varsity level.”
• AJ Narvaez, 5-11 junior, “is our guy who does what no one else likes to do. He is a natural leader who works very hard for his teammates.”
• Also new to the Tigers’ roster is Skyler Davis, a 6-5 senior forward, who moved in from Texas.
The Tigers will host a jamboree with Branson and Reeds Spring on Nov. 19 before opening the season at home against Spokane on Nov. 26.
