By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Branson girls basketball enjoyed another successful campaign in 2023-24.
The Pirates finished with a 17-11 record, falling to Marshfield in the district championship.
“We had a very good year last year,” head coach Kip Bough said. “We were in the district championship and took third in the COC conference. We had a tough schedule and a little bit of rough stretch in January but really played well at the end.”
Heading into his 18th season at the helm, Bough will look to find replacements for a deep graduating class that included four starters.
“I’m very excited about this year’s team,” Bough said. “We graduated a lot last year, and this year’s team will have a totally different identity from the years past; however, it will be an exciting time with the new conference and schedule.”
Jocelyn McQueen returns to lead the Pirates as the lone remaining starter from last season.
McQueen, a 5-foot-4 senior all-conference selection, averaged 3.4 points, 3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.5 steals as a junior.
“Jocelyn see’s the floor about as well as any player I have had the chance to coach,” Bough said. “She had a 1.35 assist-to-turnover ratio last year. Her greatest strength is her vision. Jocelyn will be more offensively minded this year, and she is capable of scoring in the double digits every game.”
Seniors Kaedyn Pierce and Aubree Williams also return for Branson.
Pierce, a 5-foot-7 senior, scored 2.0 points per game last season.
“Kaedyn is very athletic and will play the middle for us,” Bough said. “She is a very good defender and an excellent rebounder who runs the floor well. She will play lots of minutes and should have several steals and rebounds each game.”
Williams, a 5-foot-8 senior, averaged 1.5 points and 1.4 rebounds as a junior.
“Aubree is another very athletic kid,” Bough said. “Aubree saw significant time last year as a defensive specialist. She will most likely be at the top of our defense. She is quick and can run the floor well.”
Angel Craig rounds out Branson’s returning corps.
Craig, a 5-foot-3 sophomore, recorded 5.8 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.3 steals per contest last season.
“Angel will be our highest point scorer returning for us this year,” Bough said. “We were so senior loaded last year it allowed us to gradually work Angel into varsity level competition. Angel is a baller and fun to watch. She just has a knack for scoring and making plays happen. She has some of the best handles in the area.”
With nine graduated letter winners, opportunities abound for a host of varsity newcomers this season, including Taylee Wilkerson, Neeley Houston, Savi Engel, Kallie Hall, Samantha Albritton, Madison Bough and Erinn Swofford.
“This year’s group is very athletic and they play hard on the defensive end,” Coach Bough said. “They will get after you; they are gritty and tough. They have had success in the past, so they are accustomed to winning, and they see themselves as the next group up.
“We have had the fortune of being able to play most of our younger kids down and have not had to move them up too soon, so they believe that they are a good group and that is a significant factor in success. I’m not sure that we will score like we have the last couple of years, but we will most definitely be able to defend better.”
Branson will open its season Dec. 5 in the Branson Battle at the Border Tournament.
