By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Weaubleau basketball enjoyed another successful run in 2023.
The 24-7 Tigers captured a second straight district title, falling in the Class 2 quarterfinals to Plattsburg.
Heading into his third year, head coach Blake Allen has plenty of reasons for optimism.
“Our goal every year is to play for championships and to be playing our best basketball come February and we were able to not only achieve that but to make a run in the state playoffs. We bring every player back this upcoming season and being able to make a run and get that experience will help all these guys that get to return to try and make another run.”
That run starts with all-state guard Gage Johnson.
Johnson, a 5-foot-10 senior, averaged 19.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.7 steals last season. In addition to making both all-conference and all-district teams, Johnson was named Most Valuable Player in the Polk County League.
“Gage tallied 118 made threes last year averaging almost 4 made threes a game at 45.4%,” Allen said. “He brings back a three-level scoring threat and aggressive on ball defense.”
Classmates Blake Durnell and Dawson Stewart also return for the Tigers.
Durnell, a 5-foot-11 forward, finished the season with 15.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.6 steals per contest. He received all-conference and all-district honors.
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“Durnell has led our program in rebounds his freshman, sophomore and now junior years,” Allen said. “He brings a very physical presence for us, returns as our second leading scorer for a second year in a row and takes a lot of pride in wearing Weaubleau across his chest, which shows on and off the court.”
Stewart, a 5-foot-10 guard, averaged 10.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.2 steals as a junior. He received all-conference and all-district honors.
“Stewart is our most athletic player at 5-foot-10 with a 33-inch vertical,” Allen said. “He gets some of our hardest assignments night in and night out and is always ready for the challenge. A two-way player that shot 44% from three last year.”
Clayton Ginnings and Gunner Freeman round out the Weaubleau returnees.
Ginnings, a 6-foot-1 junior, posted 5.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists last season.
“Clayton was our second leading rebounder last year running the point guard position for us a lot last year that has to and can guard all five positions,” Allen said. “He does a lot of the things for our team that don’t always show up in the stat sheet. Ginnings also led the team in blocks last season.”
Freeman, a 6-foot-2 junior, averaged 9.8 points and 2.1 rebounds last season.
“Freeman was counted on to be a three-point threat for us last year but has really started to grow into his body and is becoming more comfortable attacking offensively at all three levels,” Allen said. “He has grown another four inches since the start of last season and will be asked to do a lot more for us during his junior campaign.”
With an entire roster returning, expectations are high for Weaubleau and Allen heading into the season.
“We have all the tools to have a great season this year,” Allen said. “As long as we continue to stay bought in to ‘the team is bigger than myself’ and have each other’s back, then we can have a lot of success. Improving our rebounding as a whole will also be very important to our team’s success.”
Following a Nov. 16 jamboree at Willard, Weaubleau opens its season Nov. 27 in the Warsaw Tournament.
