By Chris Parker
Change is in store for the Halfway boys basketball program this winter. The Cardinals have a new head coach in Jeremy Cook. The Cardinals also must replace a four-player senior class that was led by Hayden McCarthy who averaged 26.2 points and 10.6 rebounds per game for a 22-win Cardinal squad last year.
“Replacing a player of Hayden McCarthy’s caliber is never going to be about one guy just stepping in and filling his role. We will need everyone on the court to take steps forward and do things that they have not been asked to do in the past,” Cook said.
Trenton McCarthy returns for his junior season after averaging 12.9 points per game as a sophomore.
“Trenton has had to try to take on more of a leadership role over the off-season. He has continued working on his shot and his overall offensive game,” Cook said. “Trenton’s greatest asset is his ability to be a scorer and attack the rim. He is a fantastic offensive player who will need to continue to grow as a playmaker for us to reach our ceiling.”
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Seniors Nehemiah Porter (forward) and Cameron Hall (guard) along with junior Trey McCarthy (guard) and sophomore Sloan Gallivan (guard/forward) all also return to the varsity lineup. McCarthy led that group with 9.3 points per game last season. Porter is the team’s leading returning rebounder after averaging 5.7 rebounds per game last year.
Seniors Blake Philips (center) and Michael Brown (center) along with sophomore Avery Brown (guard) and freshman Cash Fisher (forward) are new players to watch on the varsity level.
“For us to succeed at the highest level, our biggest strength will have to be our toughness and our ability to grind out great possessions on both sides of the ball,” Cook said. “We will have to improve upon our mental toughness in order to reach our ceiling. Our focus always needs to be on making the next play, no matter what.”
Halfway will look to continue the success of recent years despite the loss of a strong senior class.
“I think the expectations are for us to continue to be a competitive team at the conference and district level. We have some talent coming back and some new faces that can step in and provide some big minutes for us,” Cook said.
Halfway opens the season Dec. 2-7 at the Humansville Tournament.
