By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Crane basketball will have a new face patrolling the sideline, as Chase Howerton takes over the reins following a 10-16 campaign last season.
The Pirates will be led by a pair of returning starters in Carter Hayes and Owen Vaught.
Hayes, a 6-foot senior, averaged 9.4 points, 5 rebounds and 1.3 assists last season.
“Carter works extremely hard in the weight room and has worked on improving his jump shot as well,” Howerton said. “Senior leader, great kid and super athletic. Good rebounder and defender.”
Vaught, a 5-foot-10 sophomore, recorded 5.3 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists per contest as a freshman.
“Quick guard who can shoot it well,” Howerton said of Vaught. “Got good varsity experience as a freshman. Looking for him to make an immediate impact as a sophomore.”
6-foot-1 sophomore Kolton Hoffman also returns for Crane after averaging 2.1 points during his freshman season.
“(Hoffman) has really bought into the weight room and gotten stronger,” Howerton said. “Talented shifty guard and a great defender.”
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Howerton expects a pair of sophomore newcomers to make an immediate impact this season in 5-foot-9 sophomore Andrew Faucett and 6-foot sophomore Braylon Merritt,
“Guard who can shoot the three well and strong for his size,” Howerton said of Faucett. “Braylon can do a little bit of everything. Bray has a really high IQ and can play inside or out.”
A host of players will also compete for varsity playing time this season, according to Howerton, including 5-foot-11 junior Ethan Lower, 5-foot-9 sophomore Landon Angel, 5-foot-10 sophomore Wyatt Mullins, 5-foot-8 freshman Brady Cline, 5-foot-11 freshman Cameron chisam, 5-foot-10 freshman Logan Lantz and 5-foot-11 senior Calen Faucett.
“We are a young group that will look to compete and get better every night and be playing our best basketball come district time,” Howerton said. “We are playing a very difficult schedule, and will use these tough games to better prepare us come district time.”
Following a Nov. 17 jamboree at Aurora, Crane tips off its regular season Nov. 21 at Ash Grove.
