By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
On paper, Webb City is in full rebuild mode.
The Cardinals are losing four starters from last year’s state-ranked 18-9 team, including All-COC selection Kaden Turner. Six of those losses came by five points or less.
Jason Horn is entering his seventh season at Webb City with the previous six culminating in three district championships and a quarterfinal run in 2020.
Senior Trey Roets returns after seeing varsity minutes each of the last two years. As a junior the 6-foot-4 football standout averaged 11.5 points and 6.3 rebounds.
“The past six years we’ve been very guard heavy and didn’t have much of a scoring presence in the post,” said Horn. “Trey really emerged last season as someone we could count on to make plays in the post and on the perimeter. Today we don’t see as many guys who want to play with their back to the basket so he’s a little bit of a throw back in that regard. He will allow us to be more versatile from an offensive looks standpoint by giving us the option to use him in the low post, pick & rolls or slide him up to the pinch post.”
Around Roets will be several new faces following a season-ending injury to multi-sport standout Dante Washington, who led Webb City in scoring at 14 points last year.
Seniors Joe Adams and Alex Martin will step into new roles for the Cardinals. Adams saw some varsity minutes last year while Martin – the younger brother of Kansas forward Cam Martin – returns to Webb City after moving away for his junior year.
“Joe had a great off season and showed he was someone we could count on to make the right play with the ball in his hands,” said Horn. “He has good range, a quick first step and he can finish plays at the rim. Alex will give us another versatile big man who can score the basketball.”
A quartet of young guards will look to provide an immediate impact for the Cardinals. Juniors Barron Duda and Omari Jackson, as well as sophomores Holton Keith and Eli Pace, all spent significant time in the gym over the summer and give Webb City athleticism and the ability to score.
“Dante will be a huge loss for our program and his offensive production will be tough to replace,” said Horn. “I think the key for our young guards will be consistency in their preparation habits. The preparation to be varsity ready started in the off season by getting extra reps in the gym, playing with their club teams and their commitment to the weight room.
“Barron has good size and athleticism. He can spread the floor with his ability to shoot the basketball and finish plays around the basket. Holton might be the hardest working player I have ever coached. He’s very quick and shifty with the basketball in his hands and his ability to make plays off the bounce will make everyone around him better. Omari is a solid on the ball defender and an explosive athlete. Offensively he can get to the rim and make plays for himself and his teammates. Eli is a very skilled guard who plays with a lot of poise. He’s savvy with the ball in his hands, has good court vision and can score the basketball from all three levels.”
Junior Jonah Spieker will also see a significant role this winter, giving the Cardinals a hardworking, physical post player.
Webb City has long been known as a football power that has had pockets of success on the hardwood. Under Horn the Cardinals have been able to sustain that success.
But the ultimate goal is getting to the program’s fifth Final Four, something that hasn’t happened since 2008.
The 2022-23 edition is talented enough to make it happen.
“I know it sounds cliche but our senior leadership will be key for us to compete with the teams in our conference and our district,” said Horn. “I think we have a talented group; I like our depth and we have good length and team speed but day to day consistency in our practice habits and buy-in to their individual roles will play a huge factor. We were disappointed with the way we finished last season but we also know there are things we have to correct in our daily practice habits and our preparation if we want to compete for a district championship.”
Webb City will jamboree with McDonald County at Neosho on Nov. 17 before opening the 2022-23 season on Dec. 6 by hosting fellow football power Lamar.
