By Michael Cignoli (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The McDonald County boys basketball team will have a new look this winter.
A trio of starters from last season’s team have graduated, and their departures opened the door for a new group of Mustangs to claim those spots in the lineup.
“This season will be about gaining experience at the varsity level and providing opportunities for guys to step-up and earn additional time as we learn to play together,” McDonald County coach Brandon Joines said. “Our ability to utilize our speed on the defensive end in order to generate transition offense will be essential to our success.”
They’re also eager to improve on their 12-15 finish, a step back from the 15-12 record they posted en route to a Big 8 West championship in 2023.
“Last season we had new guard play at the varsity level and they had to gain experience in order to get comfortable,” Joines said. “This year we lost almost all of our post experience and size, which will require us to change our style of play a bit and focus on defensive pressure in order to generate transition opportunities.”
Given the roster turnover, the Mustangs will lean heavily on Cael Carlin.
The 6-foot-1 junior averaged 11.9 points per game last season, making him the only McDonald County returner who posted double-figures. He is also the team’s top returning rebounder (4.4 rebounds per game), playmaker (2.5 assists) and defender (1.4 steals).
“Cael is a solid guard with great court vision,” Joines said. “His ability to increase his scoring production while keeping others involved will be his greatest offensive task as he heads a young team that is somewhat inexperienced at the varsity level.”
The Mustangs also return three seniors who saw varsity action last fall.
Anthony D’Amico is the most experienced of them, as he averaged 4.4 points in 26 games last year.
“Anthony has always had the ability to get rolling offensively, but consistency on the defensive end began to take form during the summer and we need the progress to continue throughout the season for him to be fully effective as a player,” Joines said.
Tim Hagel and Peyton O’Neill are both 6-foot-2 posts who played well in limited action, but will have the chance to take on bigger roles this winter.
Joines on Hagel: “Tim is a post with solid length that will need to rely on his hustle and work-ethic in order to garner enhanced opportunities on the floor.
Joines on O’Neill: “A hustle-oriented post with the ability to open up the floor through his unselfish screens and offensive movement.”
Junior Wyatt Gordon impressed during his sophomore season, but will now have to adapt from being one of the team’s least-experienced players to a veteran presence.
“Wyatt meshed well with the upper-classmen last year, but will have to find a way to facilitate more with our inexperienced crew,” Joines said. “His brain on the defensive end will be extremely important in our quest to find transition scoring chances.”
As many as five varsity newcomers could see the floor for the Mustangs — senior Noah McDonald, junior JP Clarkson and sophomores Lane Harris, Quinten Alfaro and Chayton Reece.
“We have several young guys that are anxious to prove their readiness at the varsity level, which will be extremely important in supplementing our limited returning varsity experience,” Joines said. “The availability of playing time due to graduation should naturally elevate the work-ethic of our team as guys enhance their skills and maximize their ability in hopes of garnering additional varsity minutes.”
The Mustangs will travel to Neosho for a November 21 jamboree against the Wildcats and Webb City. They will open the regular season five days later at Gravette (Arkansas), while their first Big 8 Conference outing is a January 7 home game against East Newton.
“Our grit, hustle, and will-to-win must rise up to match the goals we wish to accomplish this season as guys get more comfortable in their new or returning roles,” Joines said. “The Big 8 Conference is always competitive with solid teams and coaching throughout, which means our mental and physical toughness and preparedness must be consistently elevated in order to have success.”
