By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Robby Hoegh has been a part of Bolivar Basketball for more than two decades – the last 15 years as the head coach – and there’s not much he hasn’t accomplished. The Liberators are coming off their fifth 20-win season in the last eight years, with last winter’s 25-5 campaign ending with yet another district championship.
Bolivar has won five district championships and been to three Final Fours since 2015. Under Hoegh, the program has become one of the best in Missouri.
“We have been fortunate to have players with a passion for the game and who care about the success of our program,” said Hoegh. “Because of that we have been able to have some pretty special moments. Players have set examples that our younger kids model–work ethic—-joy–selflessness. We have a name and story for all the things we hold as important and those names are of guys who have worn Bolivar across their chest. Those are powerful! And names and stories don’t all include of the guys that scored a lot of points or made the game winning shots, they include Chase Kirby, Luke Meents, Anthony McClellan, and Aidan Mauck—guys who cared deeply and whose parents cared deeply regardless of the “limelight” or in some cases much playing time at all.
“I would like to think the measurement of any team/program/organization is the way all people who are a part of it feel about their experience. Was it a worthy cause to sacrifice for? Is it about things that will endure? We don’t always hit the mark on those things, but they are consistently reflected upon. We won’t always have a Kyle Pock on our roster as far as basketball talent, but we can always have guys who value and demonstrate the level of commitment and care for others that Kyle does. We hope our kids feel proud of playing for Bolivar and we hope they believe it made them more equipped for future endeavors but more than anything we hope it makes them a better person that can be counted on to give their very best and care about others and show it.”
But for now, Bolivar does have Kyle Pock returning – as well as classmates Jack Larimore and Kaden Griswold – who will look to help the program add to its sparking tradition. Pock returns after averaging 19.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.3 blocks. He’s a two-time All-State selection and helped MOKAN Elite win yet another Peach Jam championship during the summer.
The Northern Iowa commit is one of the most decorated players in the area over the last two decades.
“Kyle could have transferred and he could have gotten by with giving a lesser effort in practice,” said Hoegh. “Instead he has humility, plays as hard as any player we have had, and works every day to get better. Kyle does have tremendous physical attributes, and great kinesthetic awareness–he made it to state in tennis after spraining his right wrist with a week of learning how to play left handed. But the real talent that Kyle has is a doggedness work ethic to continue to stretch himself to fight for just a little bit more.
“Kyle’s legacy for our program will be any of the future success we have, because there are kids that love basketball and are willing to practice a little bit more because they watched Kyle play. But the real gift for our program is the fact that he gives us an example that will strike immediate respect with our young kids and give us opportunities to speak truth in their lives as we share our stories about Kyle and his family. Just such a good nature young man–we are all so proud of him!”
Griswold averaged 7.1 points as a junior and knocked down 34 3’s at a 37.4 percent clip. Larimore totaled 56 assists and is one of the area’s top perimeter defenders. Both are three-year lettermen for Bolivar.
“Jack and Kaden both served as starters for us last year, they are seniors and have been a part of our varsity teams the last three years,” said Hoegh. “They care a lot and want to help the team anyway they can. Kaden and Jack will need to help some of the guys new to varsity competition be ready.”
Several players will see increased roles this winter.
Mason Wilson is a big body that will try to firm up the team’s defense in the post. Ricky Gooding, Drake Duraham and Trenton Patke add athleticism and toughness, as well as defensive versatility.
“Mason is a big kid who was behind two other guys Bowes and Gabani who were all district and all conference players the last two years,” said Hoegh. “He will get an opportunity to show his offensive skill set, and will need to use his intelligence on the defensive end to help fill the loss of two of the most versatile defenders we have ever had in our program.
“Ricky is our wild man; he has a good skillset and will be able to guard a lot bigger than he is because of his grit and toughness. Drake is QB1 this year which will pay huge dividends in his confidence. He is still growing but is a solid 6’3″ and he is a rangy athlete who can shoot and handle the ball. With Kyle we feel like we are going to be able to score enough points, and Drake is a guy that could really develop into a consistent defender. Trenton was our 8/9 man last year, which is a tough spot to be in. He got varsity action in key games throughout the year, but his time was random. Trenton is another guy who has the physical tools to be a perimeter pest on defense.”
Bolivar will also receive a boost from the addition of sophomore Gardner Casey. As a freshman he hit 11 3’s in a single game.
“Gardner’s family moved into Bolivar this summer from Eldon,” said Hoegh. “His dad, Corey Casey, played for Drury and John Brown and was college roommates with Clark Sheehy. Gardner loves basketball and had an outstanding freshmen season for Eldon, where he was all-district and all conference. He is a lefty that can really shoot the ball and has a really good skillset. He is also a tremendous competitor. He returns punts, plays corner back, and wr/rb for the football team and is just an eager to please young man.”
The Liberators will again hang their hat on defense as they look for yet another deep run in March. Last year Bolivar held 11 opponents to 40 points or less; statistically the best defense Hoegh has had in his time in Polk County.
Their defense will be a catalyst if the Libs are to compete for a state championship.
“What made us so awesome was an amazing combination of physical talent along with intelligence, but and the secret sauce was a BIG time CARE,” said Hoegh. “We hope we can replicate the intelligence and effort and care. There is going to be a drop off, we will have less physical attributes to work with, but what has to remain is that effort and intelligence.
“Everyone says this, but we have to be playing our best at the end of the year. You can’t win championships on the back of one player, it takes everyone and it takes figuring out the best way to win for each particular team. We feel like we have some foundational things in place, but we are going to need to dip back into more of our style of play from 2020 while combining things we have learned the past two years. We have had some turnover in our roster, but it is still enough continuity to bridge the gap. If we can weather the times of adversity and stick together we feel like we can be there.”
Bolivar will jamboree at Kickapoo with Nixa also joining. The Liberators will open the 2022-23 season on Nov. 30 at the Willard Basketball Classic.
