By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
2022 proved to be another successful season for Camdenton basketball.
The Lakers finished with a 15-11 record, falling to Union in the Class 5 District 5 tournament.
Longtime head coach Staci Caffey was proud of her team’s effort.
“We definitely lost some games that we feel we should have won,” Caffey said. “But, overall, the young ladies played hard every time they stepped on the court, and that is all I can ask for.”
A quintet of graduated seniors moved on from the program over the summer in Mya Hulett, Payton Kincaid, Sarah Holmes, Charlotte Kurtz and Elle Turner.
Turner is playing basketball for William Penn University this season.
Camdenton will be led by a trio of talented returnees this season in Kileigh Vavruska, Oakleigh Hill and Alyssa Farris.
Vavruska, a 5-foot-5 junior, will run the point for the Lakers.
“Kileigh Vavruska does a great job distributing the ball and building up her teammates,” Caffey said. “Her role has changed each year she has played varsity for us, and I am excited to watch her game develop more into a key player both offensively and defensively instead of the solid role player that she has been.”
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Hill, a 5-foot-9 sophomore, steps into a primary role for Camdenton after a solid freshman debut last season.
“Oakleigh Hill is a highlight to our program,” Caffey said. “She has a great shot, plays hard and brings a lot of knowledge and leadership to the court. Hill gave us strong minutes last season on varsity as a freshman.”
Farris, a 5-foot-7 sophomore, also saw varsity action in her first season with the Lakers.
“I love watching this girl play,” Caffey said of Farris. “She brings another level of intensity to the court, plays with so much grit and effort. You never have to question her love of the game.”
Caffey expects a pair of varsity newcomers to make immediate impacts in Jacee Peterson and Bella Asante.
Peterson, a 5-foot-9 sophomore transfer, played at Lebanon last season.
“Jacee Peterson is a great move-in for us this fall,” Caffey said. “I have been very pleased with her court knowledge, work ethic and her all-in team attitude. I think she will be a great addition to the varsity team this upcoming season.”
Both Peterson and Asante, a 5-foot-9 freshman, impressed during summer workouts.
“(Peterson and Asante) could give competitive minutes on the varsity court,” Caffey said. “Peterson gets to the rim well and Asante was a strong force on the boards this summer. I am excited to see what these girls bring to the team.”
Caffey also noted other players who looked strong over the summer, including junior Zoe Lockhert, junior Makenna Brauer, sophomore Lily Dibello and sophomore Mia McGuire.
With a young, relatively inexperienced roster, Caffey realizes there will be some growing pains, but the 11-year head coach is optimistic heading into the season.
“This group has a lot of work ahead of them, but I have no doubt they will put in the work needed to be competitive this season. Losing five seniors that we relied a lot on, makes it hard for our incoming athletes to know what their role will be for the upcoming season. In saying that, our expectations don’t change and they know that.”
Camdenton’s bid for success will depend largely on its ability to apply pressure defensively.
“Our strength would be our speed and athletic ability,” Caffey said. “We will do our best to apply pressure both offensively and defensively every time we step on the court.”
Following a Nov. 12 jamboree at Columbia Hickman, Camdenton tips off its season Nov. 19 in the Vienna Shootout.
