By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
If summer league was any indication, Mountain View-Birch Tree Liberty will be a team on the rise this winter.
The Eagles, led by one of the area’s top backcourts, went 18-1 against tough competition and quality talent.
“We played a lot of great talent, big schools and played against different styles of basketball,” said Liberty coach James Lee. “We were very competitive, strong, and I feel like we will be hard to beat if we continue to play like we did this summer.”
Lee, entering his third season at the helm, will oversee a Liberty squad that returns most of its varsity lineup from a year ago.
That includes the backcourt tandem of senior Drew Ripko (15 points per game) and junior Terrell Gaines (22 ppg).
“They work well together and they give teams fits,” Lee said. “I cannot express what these two players mean to our team. They are very important and are crucial to our success.”
Ripko, a standout on the football field, plays with similar athleticism and tenacity on the basketball court.
“He’s fast, strong and out-works anyone on the floor,” Lee said. “He shoots the ball well and is a great defender.”
Gaines, a three-year starter, is on his way to becoming one of the program’s all-time greats. He enters this season with 946 career points.
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“Terrell is one of the best players I have seen,” Lee said. “He’s very explosive offensively and has a high basketball IQ.”
The Eagles return a trio of veteran forwards who provide size and toughness.
Senior forward Lucas Frazier (7 ppg, 3.7 rpg) is the team captain.
“He’s a coach for us on the floor,” Lee said. “He reads the game well and works his tail off.”
Junior forwards Carter Pruett (5 ppg, 4.4 rpg) and Brody Rutledge (3.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg) showed significant improvement during the offseason.
“Carter’s a very athletic player, good rebounder and works very hard. He can have a significant impact this season,” Lee said. “Brody’s a big, physical player who adds size to our paint game. He gained a lot of confidence in his game this summer, which will help him be a difference-maker for us.”
Liberty finished 14-12 overall last season, falling to Thayer in the Class 3 District 10 Tournament semifinals. Since 2010-11, the Eagles have finished with a winning record in all but one season.
While much of the varsity roster will be determined in preseason practices, two newcomers in line for minutes are guards Adrien Pendegraft and Parker Tune.
Pendegraft, a junior, displayed quickness and strong defense during Liberty’s summer league competition.
Tune, a freshman, has size and shooting ability at the guard spot.
“(Parker) showed this summer that he is worthy of varsity minutes,” Lee said.
The Eagles will be looking to replace 6’3” forward Deion Lee, who missed most of last season with a knee injury. Deion Lee now plays for nearby Missouri State West-Plains.
The Eagles open the regular season Dec. 1 at home against Summersville.
Liberty will participate in regular season tournaments at Mansfield (Dec. 5-10), Cabool (Dec. 26-30) and Mountain Grove (Jan. 23-28).
“I expect us to be (competitive) in every game, I expect us to play hard until the last horn sounds, and I expect us to play for each other,” James Lee said. “If we do that, we will be successful.”
