By John Miller (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Excitement is high for the West Plains Zizzers this year – and for good reason. The team returns three starters and six lettermen from last year’s squad that went 13-14 and 4-5 in the Ozark Conference.
“We are very excited about this year,” said fourth year coach Shane Benson. “We expect to be very competitive in a very tough conference and district. We know we can’t beat the teams on our schedule just by being more athletic or being more skilled. We understand we have to be the most aggressive and tougher than the teams we play.”
Gone from last year are four graduated seniors: guards Allen Marcak and Chaney Martin and forwards Eli McGinley and Tommy Keller. Marcak was an All-Defensive Team selection in the Ozark Conference last year. His leadership on that end of the floor leaves a void for the Zizzers this winter.
“Allen was a great competitor,” Benson said. “He will be greatly missed. He was a leader and was very good defensively.”
This season, West Plains will be led by the play of senior guard/forward Taylor Harrison, who averaged 13.7 points and 5.9 rebounds last year, leading his team in both categories.
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“He’s our best all-around player,” Benson said. “He’s a strong, athletic player with very good skills. We are looking for him to lead us to a very competitive season.”
Harrison has high hopes for the year and believes that his team’s play should help garner respect from other teams.
“Hopefully this will be the year West Plains gains some respect from other schools,” Harrison said. “It should be a good year for our younger kids in the program to learn and continue to build Zizzer basketball.”
Harrison won’t have to do it alone. He’ll be helped by the play of fellow seniors Daegan Green, Owen Harris, and Gunner Robbins. Green led the Zizzers in 3-point percentage and 3-pointers made last year, averaging 7.8 points. Harris was the point guard on the JV team last season. Robbins is expected to be a rebounding force this season for West Plains. Last year, he averaged 1.6 points and 2.8 rebounds. Benson hopes Robbins can take a big leap forward this year.
“We need him to average close to double-digit rebounds this season,” Benson said. “He has had a great summer, and we are expecting him to have a great year. Daegan is a very hard worker who can shoot the ball well. We will need our team to mirror his competitiveness. Owen will be one of our leaders on the floor. He has good skills and will be counted on to contribute in all aspects this season.”
West Plains will also look for contributions from four juniors: Hunter McCollough, Bristol Wood, Sean Tinsley, and Connor Lair. McCollough is a point guard that Benson hopes can be an impact player this year. Wood, listed at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, can be physical in the paint and step outside the arc and make 3-pointers. Tinsley is an athletic wing that Benson thinks will be a good slasher. Lair didn’t play basketball last year after suffering a football injury but has the talent to be a member of the starting lineup.
It seems that the pieces are there for the Zizzers this year. Varsity experience may not be a strength, but if West Plains can overcome its lack of seasoning, it could be in for a strong year.
If we figure out our weaknesses, fix them, and work and play together, we could go far,” said Green.
