By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Branson basketball experienced some struggles last year in new head coach Pete McBride’s first season at the helm.
The Pirates finished with a 6-22 record, falling to eventual district champion Hillcrest in the semifinal round.
A quartet of returning starters will lead Branson this season in Nolen Toliver, Jayce Culver, Tegan Asbury and Kam Sutton.
Toliver, a 6-foot-2 senior, averaged 6.8 points, 3 rebounds and 2.3 assists last season.
“After surgery this off season with a torn labrum in his hip, Nolen returns healthy ready for his senior season,” McBride said. “He was our third leading scorer and contributed significantly in every category last season. He also saved his best for the second half of the season with a highlight of scoring a career high 17 points in the district upset over Bolivar. Nolen has outstanding length and, although a guard, plays above the rim.”
Culver, a 6-foot junior, finished the season averaging 12 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 steals.
“Last season Jayce was one of the top shooters in the area,” McBride said. “Over the summer he has expanded his game and can score in a variety of ways. He is one of the most skilled players in the area and will have a breakout junior season for the Pirates.”
Asbury, a 6-foot-1 junior, recorded 4.8 points and 2.5 rebounds per game as a sophomore.
Tegan is a multisport athlete and brings a great deal of athleticism to the court,” McBride said. “He is a very good shooter who can defend and rebound at every level. He brings a great deal of physicality and toughness to our team.”
Sutton, a 5-foot-10 junior, averaged 4.2 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists last season.
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“During the last 10 games of our season last year Kam separated himself as one of the most elite defenders in the area,” McBride said. “He held the area’s top offensive players well below their season averages. He is physical, quick, smart and ultra-competitive. He is also a very good shooter and playmaking point guard.”
6-foot junior Peyton Bough also returns after averaging 5.1 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists as a sophomore.
“Peyton is a very good shooter and can score in bunches,” McBride said.
McBride also expects a host of varsity newcomers to compete for playing time this season in Brody Gillespie, Elijah Lashley, Luke McCormick, Collin Ross, Kaden Scarbrough, Griffin Mehrhoff and Darnell Rucker.
“This group, although still relatively young, brings in a great deal of experience,” McBride said. “After a great off season of skill work and strength training, we are physically in a much better place than we were this time last year. I believe this team comes into the season with a much better understanding of how to compete at a high level at all times because of all the hard work behind the scenes that they have put in.”
With plenty of experience returning, McBride has high expectations for the Pirates and believes this season’s holiday tournament cycle could go a long way in determining his program’s success.
“The Blue and Gold Tournament is an important week for our program,” McBride said. “Last year we won two games and were able to compete all four days of the event. This year we believe we can take a bigger step forward in the premiere tournament in the Ozarks.”
Branson tips off its season Nov. 27 in the Forsyth Tournament.
