By Michael Cignoli (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
If history is any indicator of what’s to come, the Willard boys basketball program is in a good spot.
Sure, the Tigers finished their first year under head coach JJ Adamson with a 9-18 record.
But that closely resembled what happened when Adamson was first hired to coach Willard’s girls basketball team in 2015. The girls went 5-20 that first season, then improved their record in four of the next five years — and ultimately ended a decades-long district title drought in 2022.
The boys might actually be ahead of schedule, as the Tigers were essentially a .500 team after a combination of a new coach, new system and lack of returning experience contributed to a 1-8 start.
All that to say, the Tigers will be a team to watch in the Central Ozark Conference this winter.
“Similarly to year two with the Lady Tigers, our student-athletes are more comfortable in our system and understand some of the offensive actions and options to those actions better than they did last season,” Adamson said. “It was pretty cool to see the improvement over the summer and continue this fall. Our level of understanding, as a program, has taken a big step forward. It has been really fun to watch and be around.”
The Tigers will return two starters and one role player from last season’s squad — and added impact senior Antonio Starks-Fewell, who transferred from Central. They’ll all take on larger roles this season as the Tigers replace a large senior class.
Despite the significant roster turnover, Adamson hopes the returning Tigers are able to continue the momentum they began generating in the second half of last season.
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“I don’t want our guys to forget last season or feel like it was a failure,” Adamson said. “ In fact, it was just the opposite. We accomplished a ton and I want our returning student-athletes to be proud of that. We brought about a lot of positive things last season and you can tell by the way our guys have acted this summer and fall that they can’t wait for the upcoming 2023-24 season to arrive. Not only that, I want last year’s seniors to be extremely proud of the influence they had on our program and when they watch us play this year, I hope they still feel connected and take pride in what they see from their former teammates.”
Seniors Drew Quinlan and Russell Roweton are Willard’s two returning starters.
Quinlan was an all-conference and all-district honoree who averaged 11.8 points and 6.5 rebounds, while Roweton contributed 9.1 points and 4.1 points per game.
“Both will be charged with taking their individual games — and our program — to the next level,” Adamson said. “Drew was our leading scorer and rebounder last season and has a chance to have a fantastic senior year. He is a sports-minded kid and loves competition. Drew is one of those kids who always seems to come up big in crucial moments. Russell is also a competitor and was our third-leading scorer and rebounder last season. Russ brings a physical presence to the basketball floor and is a matchup problem for opposing teams. Both of these young men play other sports and have a ton of varsity experience between them.”
Junior Braxton Boyer is the only other player who saw significant varsity action for the Tigers last year. He averaged just under four points while serving as the team’s seventh man.
“He gained valuable experience last season and really contributed down the stretch,” Adamson said. “Braxton is a guy who is constantly wanting to get into the gym and wants to be good. He isn’t scared of hard work and I think he is going to see that hard work and preparation pay off.”
Starks-Fewell helped lead Central to the program’s first winning season since 2008-09.
“Antonio’s ability to defend the perimeter, coupled with his ability to see and distribute the basketball, has him poised to make a big impact this season,” Adamson said. “In the open floor, his speed with the basketball is special and we will ask him to push the tempo whenever possible.”
Davin Dove, Mason Ruckman and Elliot Young complete Willard’s six-player senior class.
“(They) all had productive summers and have continued to improve,” Adamson said. “Davin is an undersized post with an excellent touch around the rim. Mason is an athletic guard/forward who can make a huge impact this season for our program. Elliot is a hard-hat guy who is a great teammate and has the ability to get hot from the three-point line.”
The Tigers will also have six juniors — Dice Andrike, Blake Daughtery, Cooper Miller, Luke Morris, Jackson Phipps and Layton Teeter — who could see varsity action.
Adamson on Andrike: “Has great basketball instincts and seems to find himself in the right place at the right time, especially defensively. He can move at a high rate of speed with the basketball in the open floor and has great vision.”
Adamson on Daugherty: “Another young man who has lived in the gym this summer. He is going to have the opportunity to compete for some big time varsity minutes at the guard position. Blake has a good skill set and we will ask him to be a great perimeter defender and rebounder.”
Adamson on Miller: “His ability to play multiple positions will mean his role might change from game to game or even quarter to quarter. Cooper will have to place a huge emphasis on being a great rebounder for us to be successful.”
Adamson on Morris: “A coach’s dream. He is one of those kids who tries to do everything you ask of him and does it with a smile on his face. Our coaching staff will challenge Luke to finish around the basket, rebound and defend at a high level.”
Adamson on Phipps: “One of the most athletic kids we have in the program. He can really rebound the basketball and — similar to Cooper — will need to be a force on the boards in order for our team to be successful.”
Adamson on Teeter: “Worked hard this fall to improve his outside shooting and his improvement in that area is noticeable. Layton’s ability to defend the basketball will be a key to our success”
Sophomores KeShawn Close and Jonathan Huskisson will also compete for playing time.
“It will be interesting to see who rises to the occasion and separates themselves from a large contingent of guys who are competing for the same minutes,” Adamson said. “Some other questions that will have a direct impact on how successful we can be are — with our lack of overall size — how well can we rebound the basketball, defend post play and shoot the basketball at a high percentage?”
Willard’s first chance to answer those questions will be November 16, when the team hosts Branson, Parkview and Weaubleau for a jamboree. The Tigers will open the regular season at the Willard Basketball Classic, which tips off on November 29.
“I think this team will end up being a team that people enjoy watching and cheering for because of their effort level, comradery and style of play,” Adamson said. “With so many guys who can contribute, this will be a collective effort in the truest form. I believe the ability to place the success of our team above any individual accolade will shine through with this group.”
