By Chris Parker
Sarcoxie boys basketball is looking to climb back above .500 this year with a talented core of players returning.
Leading the returning group is a pair of all-conference seniors in Garrett Smith and Matt Swayne.
Smith was named honorable mention all-conference last season and will be a three-year starter. He averaged 10.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 48.3% from the field.
“He (Smith) is a versatile post player with guard skills,” Sarcoxie head coach Courtney Roth said. “Garrett is an incredibly talented and powerful athlete. He has averaged 10 ppg over the past 2 seasons, and I expect a significant jump in his production for his senior season.”
Swayne, who was also honorable mention all-conference, will run the point. He scored 11 ppg to go with 2.5 assists and 1.9 made 3-pointers per game.
“Matt stepped into a starting role for the Bears last season and turned in an honorable mention all-conference performance,” Roth said. “Matt is an effective shooter with a great understanding of our offense. He is an extension of the coach while on the court. Matt averaged 11 ppg last season while making 52 three pointers. I expect a bump in offensive efficiency in Matt this season as he directs our offense.”
Juniors Noah Garrison and Grant Caddick also return for Sarcoxie.
Garrison is a forward.
“Noah operated mostly as our sixth man last season but eventually earned a starting role,” Roth said. “Noah was our top rebounder per minute played. He’s an undersized post defender but makes up for a lack of height with strength, speed, and an intense competitive drive. Noah will be the anchor of our defense.”
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Caddick is a guard.
“Grant started most of last season for the Bears,” Roth said. “Grant demonstrated improved confidence from the three-point line that I expect to continue to develop. Grant is great at knowing our system and playing with intensity.”
Blake Heckmaster (senior guard), Gatlon Malotte (sophomore guard), Caleb Chrisman (junior guard) and Greyson Phelps (freshman forward) will all look to impact varsity this season.
Roth on Heckmaster: “Blake took his junior season off of basketball after seeing some varsity action his freshman and sophomore years. Blake is a versatile athlete that should be very productive his senior season. Blake will be called on to help improve our defensive pressure, push the tempo of the game, and produce more transition points.”
Roth on Malotte: “Gatlon will compete for a starting position after having a great JV season as a freshman. Gatlon is a tremendous perimeter defender who is capable of leading a great full court defense. He plays with speed, confidence, and intensity.”
Roth on Chrisman: “Caleb will add depth to the varsity roster that has not existed for the past three seasons. Caleb is a capable varsity player who will allow us to play with more tempo and full court defensive pressure.”
Roth on Phelps: “Grey is a big, athletic kid that loves the game of basketball. He plays with a lot of skill for a player his size. I expect him to get some varsity minutes as a freshman.”
All of these newcomers mixed with the returning players will give the Bears depth the roster hasn’t had in many years.
“For the first time since I’ve been at Sarcoxie, we should have great depth,” Roth said. “With depth, speed, and athleticism playing with a tremendous amount of full court pressure should be a major strength of ours.”
Sarcoxie will open the regular season on Nov. 17 at Greenfield.
“I want to see our team enjoy each other as teammates and friends,” Roth said. “I want this basketball season to be an unforgettable positive experience for these kids because of how we treated each other and encouraged each other. Everything else is secondary to that.”
