By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
2022 proved to be a banner year for Hollister basketball with a second-straight appearance in the Class 4 District 11 title game.
While the 20-9 Tigers fell to Willow Springs in the tournament, longtime head coach Pete Leonard is optimistic his team can continue building on recent success.
“I am very excited for this year’s team,” Leonard said. “We are a different team from last year, and will play a little different style, but I am very excited to see what this team is able to accomplish.”
A pair of graduates departed the program in Josh Barlow and Clay Kemp, who will continue their respective basketball careers this season at State Fair Community College and St. Louis Community College.
“Josh was a very talented scorer and worked his butt off in the off season to get to where he is today,” Leonard said. “Clay was a big presence inside for us last season and the physical presence he brought for us will be missed.”
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A talented senior class returns for the Tigers this season, led by All-District and All-Conference honoree Garrett Snyder.
Snyder, a 6-foot-3 guard, averaged 17 points, 5 rebounds and 4 steals last season.
He will be joined by a quartet of classmates in 5-foot-10 Malichi Henry (8 ppg, 2 rpg, 4 spg), 5-foot-10 Ethan Wright (6 ppg, 1 rpg, 3 spg), 6-foot-2 Ryland Franks (4 ppg, 4 rpg) and 6-foot-3 Luke Calovich (4 ppg, 5 rpg, 1 spg).
6-foot-4 junior Noah Richardson (5 ppg, 3 rpg, 1 spg) also returns to the Tigers.
In addition to its returning core, Hollister will feature a host of varsity newcomers this season in Trent Case (5-foot-10 junior), Talen Rankin (6-foot junior), Dominic Mora (6-foot-3 junior), Gabe Bean (6-foot-2 senior), Daylan Schwyhart (6-foot-7 senior), Brayden Smith (6-foot-3 junior) and Ty Bertrand (5-foot-10 junior).
Hollister tips off its season Nov. 18 at Bradleyville.
