By Denise Tucker (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
To watch a program like Mount Vernon girls’ basketball, steeped in success and tradition, have to cancel the remainder of its schedule with just eight games to go last season, was a shock to the basketball community in southwest Missouri.
Numbers were already down before injuries forced the district to call the season on Jan. 20 for a program that finished as the Class 4 runner-up in 2021, in addition to Class 3 championships in 2010 and 2012, and a number of third- and fourth-place finishes.
But 2023-2024 is a new season and the Lady Mountaineers have a familiar face leading the way.
Dusty Killingsworth, who previously coached the Lady Mountaineers from 2013-2018, including leading them to back-to-back district titles in 2017 and 2018, returns to help the program get back on its feet.
“Last season’s ending came abruptly for sure,” said Killingsworth, who has accumulated a career record of 341-269 in 25 years, and most recently coached at New Covenant Academy. “Starting the season with a lower number of players made it tough to work through the injuries that occurred, which had a huge impact on the program.
“The past is the past and it can’t be overlooked, but we can’t dwell there either. We are looking at learning from those experiences and working/looking forward to what this season has in store for us and future seasons.”
So, Killingsworth and his staff will work to draw from the program’s history to inspire the current generation of players to return Mount Vernon girls’ basketball to where it once was.
“It has always been player-driven,” Killingsworth said of the Mount Vernon girls’ program. “Success is relative to each group and maximizing what we have in the locker room. We are in the process of figuring that out. Even though we’ve been around these players, they are learning to trust us, and we are learning what they can do. That hasn’t changed for us in terms of whether a team has great talent or developing. We will have to develop our own identity and build off it.
“There is history here, though – that doesn’t change. Working hard to maintain those traditions is something we should always strive for.”
Numbers look promising, as the Lady Mountaineers have nine juniors, two sophomores and 12 freshmen coming out this season.
Members of the junior class have been part of the program since their freshman year and are multi-sport athletes and involved in extracurricular activities.
Cheyenne Bieber, Audrey Bittle, Isabel Cloud, Taylor Gaddy, Addie Hall, Teagyn Huver, Ryleigh Misemer, Madison Rinker and Aubree Rogerson all “show great leadership in the many things they do,” Killingsworth said.
Bieber, Hall and Bittle started all nine games and led in scoring, averaging nearly 30 points per game, and combining for 15 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals a game.
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“We will rely on them to continue their ability to score and handle pressure,” Killingsworth said. “They have a good basketball IQ and have expanded their games physically, in terms of strengthening their handle, shooting and their physicality on D. I could see them mentally getting tougher, as well, through the offseason.”
Cloud, Gaddy, Huver, Rinker and Rogerson all contributed in a variety of ways last season, and will likely play multiple positions this year.
“They have the ability to extend their games and make us a very deep team,” Killingsworth said. “They can be dynamic players and can fly around and make plays. Madison, Teagyn and Taylor all saw starting minutes last season and learned a lot. They combined for just under 10 points and 12 rebounds per game. Madison is coming off a knee injury and has worked extremely hard to get back.”
Killingsworth added that Cloud and Rogerson impressed over the summer and will push for starting minutes. The duo combined for just over 5 points and 4 rebounds per game last season.
“I look forward to seeing their games expand and they both have the ability to do so,” Killingsworth said. “Ryleigh sat out her sophomore year, concentrating on her other extracurricular pursuits. She brings great work ethic, leadership and athleticism. She will be a great addition to our team.”
Killingsworth also will look to sophomores Alyson Barnes and Olivia Jones to make an impact this season.
“Alyson and Olivia both are multi-sport athletes, great students and hard workers,” Killingsworth said. “They got better as our offseason went on and we saw their games grow. They are athletic, work hard and will be relied upon to bring depth.”
The freshman class, which includes Keira Barrett, Allie Bitonti, Emma Bitonti, Bella Hernandez, Kyleigh Hernandez, Mary Fields, Kiley Jenkins, Jocelyn Liss, Rylee Mussulman, Emily Schubert, Autumn Thomas and Gabriella West, also was impressive over the summer and could contribute to varsity this season.
“They are a fun group and grew a lot,” Killingsworth said of the freshmen. “They work hard and have the ability to play that some haven’t tapped into yet. Most are multi-sport/extracurricular, so we are fortunate to have them out. They will provide the depth we need to push for varsity minutes but also allow us to have the ability to play varsity, JV and C teams this year, which will help the program on into the future.”
The lone graduate was Harley Daniels, who was a softball standout and is now playing softball at State Fair Community College.
“She provided leadership and will be missed,” Killingsworth said.
Killingsworth said one of the challenges for this season is gaining the trust of the players, who have been hurt by the cancellation of the end of the previous season.
“It’s been a while since a lot of our players played a high school game,” Killingsworth said. “A new system and new coaches add to that stress and anxiety; overcoming that takes trust and faith. We have to have faith in what they can do and work on that through our preparation. We have to earn their trust as well, so there must be balance in what we do to prepare to overcome those obstacles.”
The Lady Mountaineers open the season at home against Joplin on Nov. 21 before heading to the Fair Grove Invitational on Nov. 27-Dec. 1.
“The basketball season is a marathon, we must stay together and connected throughout,” Killingsworth said. “It’s easy to fracture when things don’t go our way and rarely do seasons go by where there aren’t some bumps in the road. To survive those bumps you have to have things (to) build off of; things we can control such as things in the locker room and off the court.
“It’s hard when you come into new situations. There is excitement but a lot of unknowns. Our schedule is tough and we are fortunate to have it. We are looking inward, in terms of (needing) to take care of ourselves and what we can do to get better. Being competitive for us starts every day on and off the court. We will have a lot of positive competition for minutes and that is a good thing.”
