By Chris Parker
Galena boys basketball will have a new look this year after graduating a seven-player senior class from last season’s team that finished 17-6 overall. That group of seven seniors included three all-conference selection who were the team’s three leading scorers.
Seniors Ethan Bailey and Tucker Poole and junior Brayden Sartin are the only returning players with significant varsity experience. Bailey averaged 4.8 points per game last year and is the team’s leading returning scorer. Poole scored 4.2 points per game while Sartin added in 3.5 points per game.
That means many new names will have to step up if Galena is to post a third consecutive winning season.
Seven of those players are upperclassmen with seniors Cameron Robertson, Logan Busbey and Owen Gastineau and juniors Colton Ellingsworth, Charley Smith, Cam Elder and Darland Gideon.
DOWNLOAD THE O-ZONE APP NOW!
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FOR APPLE
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID
Robertson brings good size to the post at 6’4. Busbey is a quick, high-energy guard. Gastineau is a transfer from Willard who will be playing high school basketball for the first time.
Ellingsworth lettered last season leading the junior varsity team and seeing action in six varsity games. Smith is a 6’4 post who has transformed himself over the past two seasons. Elder will bring toughness to the court. Gideon is a fast and quick guard.
A quartet of sophomores in Garrett Lewallen, Cannon Keithley, Noah Eastman and Payton Clifton will round out the expected varsity contributors.
Galena will host a jamboree on Nov. 15 with Ash Grove, Pleasant Hope and Hurley.
“(We want to) get better every day (and have a) desire to learn. Be coachable. Be willing to go through things. Learn about themselves and their abilities. Build on strengths and work on weaknesses. Become less stubborn and accept corrective criticism,” Galena head coach David Sherer said.
