By Derek Shore (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Lamar basketball had growing pains in 2023 as it entered a new era under head coach Heath Heckadon.
The Tigers struggled finishing with a 10-18 record last year, which was the program’s first losing season since 2011. Prior to last season, Lamar’s success on the hardware spoke for itself with five district titles over the last 11 years.
Heckadon said his group learned and took a lot away through last season’s trials and tribulations.
“Last year’s seniors went through Coach Powell’s system for three years,” Heckadon said. “When you are a senior and you have a new coach coming in, it’s always difficult. Coach Powell was more offensive-oriented. I’m more defensive-oriented, so they had to learn how to get on the floor together, get down and guard. That was the biggest difference. The one thing I can say here at Lamar: we have great kids, great athletes that like to compete. Honestly, they were football players, playing basketball last year. We struggled a little bit, but they learned the expectations.”
Even though they lost three starters from last season, the Tigers have arguably the best player in the Big 8 West Conference back in 5-foot-10 senior Ian Ngugi. Ngugi, an all-area, all-conference and all-district performer, averaged 20 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 steals last year.
“Ian understands the game,” Heckadon said. “He is really quick. He’s got a great shot. We’ve got some great defenders in the Big 8 West, but I don’t think there is a kid in the Big 8 that can stay in front of him, get up and actually guard him.
“I’m biased — I thought he should have been the Big 8 West Player of the Year last year, and he was one vote away from it. I have no doubt he will be the Big 8 West Player of the Year this year. He’s just a great kid. He’s a great competitor and one heck of an athlete.”
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Alex Wilkerson, a 5-11 junior, returns after contributing six points, two rebounds and nearly two assists per game. Wilkerson is also a standout quarterback on Lamar’s football team.
“Alex is just a leader,” Heckadon said. “He wants to get down and do the dirty work. He’s like his older brothers. They were the same way. Alex is more of an offensive threat compared to Austin, who graduated last year. His shooting has improved.”
Another key returnee, Talon Timmons, is back after averaging six points and three rebounds. The 6-1 sophomore is the younger brother of former Tiger standout Sam Timmons who is now Lamar’s JV coach.
“We are going to rely on Talon for scoring and rebounding,” Heckadon said. “He is only a sophomore, but he’s capable of doing great things and will have to step up and have a bigger role. Even though he’s a sophomore, he is going to have to play like a junior.”
Khiler Nance (5-10 senior), Luke Tabakian (6-1 junior), Trey Pittsenbarger (5-10 junior), Ian’s younger brother Eli Ngugi (5-10 sophomore) and Trenton Torbeck (6-2 sophomore) all look to compete for playing time and contribute.
Lamar has two newcomers in seniors Chase Querry (6-1) and Trace Wooldridge (6-4). Heckadon said Querry missed last year due to an injury, but will be a big addition to the team as he’s a good athlete who will be counted on to score and rebound.
“We will be very athletic, but small,” Heckadon said. “We will play up-tempo as much as possible again and play defense for 90 feet. Seneca will be the talk of our conference with Nevada and McDonald County right there. You can never count out East Newton with Coach Fields there. If we can rebound and defend, we’ll be okay.
“I feel like I’ve got more basketball guys this year. Last year was not necessarily a bad thing with the football guys, but this year with Ian and Talon, they are basketball guys. Getting Chase back is going to be huge for us. Getting him back and him being such an athlete, it’s going to be a tremendous help.”
Lamar will jamboree with Joplin, East Newton and Nevada at Joplin on Nov. 17. The Tigers open the season in the Seneca Invitational on Dec. 7.
