By Matt Turer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Now two years removed from their run to the Class 3 state championship game, the Springfield Catholic Irish are coming off a 17-win 2019-20 campaign that ended in a 52-50 Class 3 District 11 semifinal loss to Fair Grove.
The Irish work their way towards 2020-21 looking to replace unanimous All-Big 8 First Team selection Will Morrison (14.6 PPG, 10.7 RPG in 2019-20) and All-Big 8 Second Team selection Ben Galligos (11.0 PPG, 2.5 APG, 1.3 SPG in 2019-20).
But what is coming back is more important going forward than what isn’t. The Irish return two others who received all-conference honors in 2019-20 in junior guard Zach Howell (6’4”) and junior guard Liam O’Reilly (6’1”).
Howell, a unanimous All-Big 8 Second Team selection, led the Irish in scoring last season at 18.9 PPG and was tied with Galligos in minutes per contest (27.9). Howell attempted 14.6 shots and 7.2 threes per game, shooting 42.6 percent from the floor and 32.2 percent from deep. He was also effective in getting to the stripe an average of 5.2 times per game (79.4% FT) and had an impact defensively (4.8 RPG, 1.1 SPG).
O’Reilly was fifth on the team in minutes last season (27.1 MPG) and finished fourth in scoring (10.3 PPG). With Morrison and Galligos graduated, O’Reilly’s numbers should blossom this season as a junior with already extensive varsity experience.
Also returning is starting guard and senior Will Squibb (6’2”). Squibb’s 27.2 minutes per game were fourth on the team last season. He averaged 6.0 PPG on an efficient 51.6% from the field while doing plenty in all other categories (4.5 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.3 SPG).
“We are extremely optimistic about the outlook of this year’s team because we have a good nucleus of returners to build around, along with an abundance of other guys who will compete for opportunities throughout the year,” Irish head coach Denny Hunt said.
Senior guard John David Bigler (5’10”) starter four games for the Irish last season (2.1 PPG) and is back as well, along with four more seniors in Trenton Webster (G, 6’4”), Tom Headley (F, 6’4”), Grisham Aleshire (G, 5’11”) and Drew Bauer (C, 6’4”).
The Irish also have a move-in from Ozark High School in junior guard Ty Lyons (5’11”).
The Irish have a plethora of juniors who could work themselves into varsity playing time: Evan Mayse (6’3”), Quinn Roubal (5’11”), Cameron Kruger (6’0”), Carson Morgan (6’2”), Colton Galligos (5’11”), Ashton Vinton (6’0”), Josh Palmer (6’2”), Major Riley (6’5”), Brandon Ung (5’9”), Luke Walters (6’0”).
“We are extremely excited about getting our year started in order to see where the hard work and dedication of our guys will take us,” Hunt said.
Hunt, now entering his second year as head coach at Springfield Catholic, begins this season with 370 wins as a head coach. That experience means that even with what feels like a level of talent returning that could put the Irish back in the district championship and beyond conversation, this is a team that isn’t going to look ahead.
“Every game is a big game,” Hunt said.
In their first season under Hunt, the Irish averaged 64.4 PPG and scored at least 70 points nine times. The Irish were 8-1 when scoring 70 or more points with the one loss coming in overtime to Helias Catholic in a 78-76 final.
Springfield Catholic is scheduled to jamboree on November 20 in Monett before opening its season with a road game at Mountain Grove on November 24. According to Hunt, the home opener for the Irish doesn’t come until the Houlihan’s Invitational (Jan. 7-9, 2021). According to MSHSAA, the Irish open at home with East Newton on December 15.
