By Michael Cignoli (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
SPRINGFIELD – Practice didn’t exactly make perfect for the Glendale boys basketball team last season, but routinely being on the court together did help the team more than double its win total.
The Falcons finished last season 13-12 – a significant year-over-year improvement from a six-win 2020-21 campaign plagued by multiple illnesses, injuries and pandemic-related shutdowns.
With no such scheduling difficulties last winter, the Falcons experienced virtually no interruptions to their practice plans. That translated into in-game success, as Glendale’s stout defense held opponents to just 54.8 points per game – its best showing in any of the previous 14 years.
“We missed out on over 30 practices over the course of 2020-21, so just the consistency of getting to practice every day,” Glendale coach Brian McTague explained. “We never got our foundation in the year before, so it was a hard hill to climb. Last year, we got to have a normal season and it helped us as we had one of the top defenses in the area.”
While the Falcons lost 73 percent of their offense and 68 percent of their rebounding to graduation, the unquestioned anchor of the team’s defense is back for his senior season. And with several key returners and newcomers surrounding Cole Feuerbacher, the Falcons have all the tools in place to be a tough opponent in an exceptionally challenging Ozark Conference.
“There are opportunities across the board for guys to come in and fill those roles,” McTague said. “Guys will need to compete every day in practice to prove they’re up to the task.”
They don’t get much more competitive than Feuerbacher, who was named to the all-conference defensive team after averaging 4.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game as a junior.
Feuerbacher is an offensive dynamo as the do-it-all quarterback for Glendale’s football team, but he embraces his defensive responsibilities on the basketball court. It’s an easy transition, McTague said, largely because of the senior’s competitive nature.
“Cole is one of the best competitors in southwest Missouri,” McTague said. “You never have to question his effort or desire to win. Cole has great size at the guard spot and his motor runs hot all the time. He thrives on competition.”
Feuerbacher will have the opportunity to improve his offensive numbers this winter, the coach added, but the Falcons have plenty of other players capable of helping in that department.
“We have a lot of guys that are good at specific things,” McTague said. “We need guys to only worry about winning and what’s best for the team. We need great buy-in and role definition with everyone playing on the same page and we will have a great season.”
The Falcons will look for 6-foot-3 junior Ta’Veaion Washington to build on his breakout sophomore season, during which he averaged 6.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and a pair of steals a night.
All three totals are tops among returning Falcons, and he’s capable of being even better this winter.
“Ta’Veaion came on the scene in the preseason last year and just won every day,” McTague said. “He’s a great glue guy that knows how we want to play and compete. We will need him to increase his scoring and rebounding this season for us to be as good as we can be.”
Seniors Ian Farouki, Carter Killian, Owen Padgitt and Nate Popovich also return to the Falcons. Padgitt, who is 6-foot-8, Farouki and Killian all appeared in at least 21 games as juniors.
“Our seniors are all capable of playing roles this year that will help us win games,” McTague said. “They all have specific things they’re good at that will allow them to be stars in their roles.”
Senior guard Matias Whalen, junior guard/forward Payton Norris, junior guard John Short, sophomore guard/forward Sebastian Norman and freshman Amare Witham are newcomers who will compete for minutes.
Witham is “a very skilled and savvy guard that just knows how to play,” McTague said, adding the 6-foot freshman “will be capable of doing anything we need him to.”
McTague touted Whalen’s physicality and dribbling skills, Short’s strength and 3-point shooting and Norris’ versatility and skillset.
Norman recently verbally committed to play baseball at Oklahoma State.
“Very strong and athletic,” McTague said. “Competes and will bring great energy every day.”
The Falcons will host a November 17 jamboree with Republic and Logan-Rogersville, then kick off the regular-season by hosting the Ozark Mountain Shootout on December 8 and 9. Their opponents for those games will be Tulsa-based Crossover Prep Academy and Venus, Texas.
Glendale’s first game against an in-state school will be December 13, when the Falcons host Ozark Conference opponent Bolivar.
“We’re excited to see how everything comes together,” McTague said. “You kind of get an idea in the summer and preseason, but once you start practicing every day is when the fun starts.”
