By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Few teams enter the 2023-24 season with more motivation than Thayer.
The Bobcats are coming off of a 26-5 campaign that saw them advance to the Class 3 Final Four before falling to Lutheran North 61-60 in the semifinals.
Entering Matt Pitts’ 22nd season, Thayer returns its entire roster from last year, setting the stage for what could be a historic season.
“We were very disappointed with that semifinal game but looking back our guys really bounced back and played well in that third place game to beat a really good Lafayette County team,” said Pitts. “Every moment we got to experience during that run last year should be invaluable to how this season goes. These guys put in a lot of work this summer and their mindset is that we have unfinished business.”
Leading the way is a trio of senior guards that have played in a ton of big games in green and white. Aidan Burns was an All-State selection, the SCA Player of the Year and also the district’s POY, averaging 21.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists.
Senior twins Rowan and Mark Spencer also return. Rowan averaged 11.3 points and 2.2 assists, while Mark added 3.8 points and 1.3 steals.
“Aidan is a great athlete that can score at all three levels,” said Pitts. “He has a high IQ, he’s a great defender and he’s a leader that works extremely hard.
“Rowan is a great athlete with great handles, super quick, strong and finishes great at the rim; he’s also an excellent perimeter shooter and brings great toughness every night. Mark is a blue-collar guy who really competes, super strong, attacks the basket hard and can cause chaos on the defensive end, loves to compete.”
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The junior class returns a trio of players that played major minutes last year.
Devin Harrington is one of the best athletes in Class 3. The 6-foot-6 wing averaged 13.3 points and 11.5 rebounds, making a name as one of the best dunkers in Missouri. Classmate Easton Pitts added 9 points and 1.8 assists.
Forward Brandon Prince is a 6-foot-3 junior that averaged 6.5 points and 5.7 rebounds as a sophomore. Classmate Cooper Clark is a thick-bodied forward that gives Thayer another interior presence.
Sophomores Riley White and Heath Combs will also see increased roles. Both are athletic wings that play well off the bounce and defend at a high level.
The Bobcats will see the most difficult schedule in program history, playing in the Kevin Brown Tournament of Champions in Illinois, the Bad Boy Mower Ronnie Brogdon Invitational in Arkansas and the All-State Sugar Bowl Classic in New Orleans. That’s in addition to going back to the Bolivar Tournament.
The revamped schedule will help prepare the Bobcats for what should be a run deep into March.
Thayer has won 10 consecutive district championships, three of which ended in Final Four runs. The Cats have won 20 or more games in 11 of the last 15 seasons. Their dominance has seen them win 16 straight games against SCA opponents.
The only thing missing during Pitts’ Hall of Fame career is a state championship. While there is naturally some pressure to continue Highway 60 dominance, this group is eager to make school history.
“I would be naive to say that they don’t feel any but I honestly believe that these guys love to compete so much that at the end of the day we are just gonna go out there and play 100 mph for as long as it takes,” said Pitts. “The saying that ‘Pressure is a Privilege’ is very true. If we get to where we want, then yes there’s going to be a little but that’s how we want it.”
“We must continue to improve from beginning to end and understand that each game presents a new challenge. We were so young last season that the theme was kind of “let’s get back to the top” and this time is a little different in the fact that we got there when many believed we couldn’t and learning what it takes day in and day out to stay on top can be challenging sometimes.”
Thayer will open the 2023-24 season in Illinois at the Kevin Brown Tournament of Champions against Heyworth (IL). The Bobcats will play their home opener Dec. 1 against Melbourne (AR).
