By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
There may not be a team in the Ozarks more eager to start this season than Fair Grove.
Entering Bryan Tucker’s third season as head coach, the Eagles are coming off of a 19-9 campaign that saw them drop six games by six points or less.
With four starters back from last year’s group, that will be corrected this winter, with seniors Tyler Barnett and Blake Winterberg, as well as juniors Spensar Seiger and Bryden Baxter leading the way.
Barnett is a 6-foot-7 forward that averaged 10.7 points and 7.3 rebounds, while Winterberg – a 6-foot-2 guard – added 9.4 points and 2.1 rebounds.
Both will see expanded roles as seniors.
Baxter (6-foot-1) and Seiger (6-foot-3) are both guards that do a little bit of everything. Baxter is the team’s returning scoring leader after averaging 13 points, 5.6 rebounds and a pair of assists. Seiger added 8.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists.
“I really expect them to all have major impacts in different ways,” said Tucker. “I expect Blake Winterberg to have a major impact because he will be healthy this year (he missed nine weeks with a broken foot). I expect Tyler Barnett because he has a year of varsity experience under his belt and he’s worked extremely hard in the weight room this off season, along with all of our guys to be physically prepared for the season.
“I expect Spensar to have a major impact because he will be stepping into our point guard position and really taking on more of a vocal leadership role with our group. I believe Bryden Baxter will only improve on his shooting from last year. He was an all-conference and all-district player that has worked to improve his shooting.”
Tucker is also excited about several newcomers that are ready to step into larger roles.
• Sam Kennard: “Played varsity for us down the stretch and had a really big game against Forsyth, hit four threes. His strength has improved, which will allow him to defend and rebound at the level we need him to. He is very, very skilled and shoots it really well and that will be really important for us this year to stretch the floor.”
• Kellen Lair: “He is a multi-sport athlete that has excelled on the football field. He has incredible instincts and quickness and his ability to score has continued to improve throughout his high school career. He had a great summer for us, and he will be a tremendous defender for us.”
• Gavin Thomason: “He is a freshman that is very skilled athletic for his age. He is currently a starting wide receiver and defensive back for our football team, so that will tell you where his athleticism and strength are. We think he has a tremendous ceiling and had a great summer with us as well.”
• Brock Boatwright: “Played some really important minutes for us during big games due to injuries. He has a tremendous basketball IQ and seems to always be in the right spot at the right time. He is a really tough kid that is always willing to take a big charge or hit a big shot.”
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The Eagles will be a favorite in the Mid-Lakes as well as one of the top teams in the Ozarks. Their path to Mizzou Arena will be a difficult one, but one they’re built to walk after last year’s run.
To make it happen, Fair Grove will rely on balance, depth and defense.
“I like to have balance, but for us to do that we have to have our players play unselfishly, which is where I am very fortunate that we have such a strong culture of unselfishness at Fair Grove that was set way before me,” said Tucker. “It is something that we preach every day in practice to our players, and they hold themselves accountable. Our guys know their strengths and weaknesses and play to them, which is why I believe we have been so successful over the past decade.
“That was a tough loss last year in the district semifinals. We certainly talked about the loss after the game and it’s something that is always on our kids’ minds because Strafford is such a rival, but it’s not something we dwell on. I think it’s just a piece of the fuel that we have used all off season. Our kids know how valuable the weight room is and take it very seriously and have had great gains in their physical strength. They have put in a tremendous amount of time in the gym with our team and outside of that on their own.”
Fair Grove will jamboree at Norwood with West Plains and Willow Springs before opening the 2023-24 season on Nov. 27 at the 90th Clever Invitational Tournament.
