By Michael Cignoli (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Reeds Spring boys basketball program has recorded just one winning season since 2017, but there are some signs that the team could be ready to turn the corner this winter.
No graduated players? Check.
A large, experienced senior class? Check.
A new conference — and a whole new slate of opponents? Check.
Add it all up and there’s certainly reason to believe head coach Austin Kendrick’s Wolves are poised for a significant improvement on last year’s 5-20 finish.
“This is the first group I have had since they were freshmen,” Kendrick said. “They have a deeper understanding of my expectations and my standards. They have been a group that have really worked hard to grow their games and have really bought into being great teammates. If there is a group that (can) get us above .500 it will be this group and the couple of classes that follow.”
The Wolves return 11 players who saw varsity action last winter — including eight who were multi-game starters. Most were sophomores and juniors with little-to-no varsity experience.
There were growing pains, but the team played through them – and have set themselves up for strong junior and senior years as the program moves from the Big 8 to the Mid-Lakes Conference.
“Ultimately, we learned that we’ve got a group of guys that are willing to learn and willing to work,” Kendrick said. “We were close in a lot of games last year, but we just didn’t understand how to win. We have spent a lot of time this off-season working on our mindset and how to handle tough moments and how to work through adversity. We will return everyone from last year’s roster — which is rare — but we gained a wealth of experience and knowledge last year. We will look to utilize what we have learned to help us be more successful on and off the court this season.”
The move to the Mid-Lakes Conference was primarily done to reduce travel time, Kendrick said. Reeds Spring’s longest conference road trip will now be 75 minutes, down a full hour from what the Wolves experienced in the Big 8.
“That might not seem like a huge difference to some, but it makes a big impact – especially on those long Tuesday nights,” Kendrick said.
While the trips will be less taxing on the student-athletes, the competition is another story.
“Things won’t necessarily get easier for us,” Kendrick said. “Every night will be a battle. We’re trading teams like Rogersville, Marshfield, and Aurora for area powerhouses like Strafford, Fair Grove and Forsyth, which will still present a tough challenge. We’re excited about the new opportunities to build rivalries and compete against some of the best basketball teams in southwest Missouri.”
The Wolves will be led by two seniors who earned all-conference honors last season, Jayden Turner and Nathan Mitchell.
Turner, a 6-foot forward, was also named to the all-district team.
“He is a highly intelligent player that has a great feel for the game,” Kendrick said. “He is always looking to put his teammates in the best situation possible. He has been a pass-first kid, but we are going to look to him to be more aggressive and look for his shot a lot more this season.”
Kendrick called Mitchell, a 6-foot-1 guard, the team’s best athlete.
“He is very quick from baseline to baseline,” the coach added. “He also has the ability to be a high-volume scorer. He averaged close to 11 a game last season but he also had multiple games where he scored 18-plus. He is a kid that loves to be in the gym and we will look for him to find more consistency on both ends of the floor.”
Seniors Jace Bolin, Vince Hembree, Cooper Simkins, Kash Myers and Maverick Porter also return.
Bolin (5-foot-8) was the team’s starting point guard last year.
“We are looking for him to continue to grow in the guard role,” Kendrick said. “This year, we will see him with the ball in his hands, but we will also see him playing off the ball a lot more. He can be a good screener within our offense and he is someone that can attack the basket and knock down the open 3.”
At 6-foot-5, Hembree is the tallest player on the Reeds Spring roster.
“He also has the ability to step out and shoot the 3,” Kendrick said of the forward. “We will lean on Vince a lot to be the center of our defense and be able to defend without fouling this season. He has worked hard on stepping up and being a vocal leader and he’s a guy that our team has really started to gravitate to.”
Simkins (6-foot-1) surprised coaches with his strong defensive play last season.
“We thought he was going to be a JV kid, but his toughness and willingness to guard helped find a role on the varsity group,” Kendrick said. “He is another high-IQ kid that loves to learn about the game. He is always asking questions on how and what he can do better.”
Myers (6-foot-2) gives the Wolves yet another option in the post.
“Kash has a lot of upside,” Kendrick said. “He is a great passer and has good footwork in the post. He helped us win a couple games down the stretch with his passing ability.”
Porter, a 6-foot guard, has been playing on the varsity team since his freshman season. He’s recovering from an offseason ACL injury, but is expected to return around Christmas.
“He’s a big part of what we do, and he brings a lot of leadership with his play and how he sees things on the floor,” Kendrick said. “He is an extension of myself and is constantly pushing his teammates to be better.”
Porter’s absence will create some opportunities for the junior class. Guards Brody Pettigrew, Tyson Porter and Sam Carpenter all return after playing as sophomores.
Kendrick believes Pettigrew (6-foot-2) is poised for a breakout season.
“He took some lumps last year as a sophomore, but he started almost every game for us and was able to learn the speed and the pace of the varsity game,” the coach said. “Brody has spent a lot of time in the gym over the last year working on and growing multiple aspects of his game. He is pushing himself to be a complete player. He is just starting to scratch the surface on how good of a player he can truly be.”
Tyson Porter (5-foot-10) gained valuable varsity experience when the Wolves battled injuries last winter. He’ll have the chance to step into an even bigger role in the weeks ahead.
“He is a kid that can really push the pace offensively and someone that can be a pest on the defensive end,” Kendrick said. “He is a good athlete and is our starting (quarterback) for our football team. I am hoping that his experience on the football field will lead to some confidence on the court this season. He will be leaned on a little more this season to help with guard depth.”
Carpenter (6-foot-0) has shown substantial growth over the summer.
“He has spent a lot of time in the gym and has worked on expanding his game,” Kendrick said. “He is a kid that has a high basketball IQ and one that can really get going offensively.”
Sophomore Izek Hayes (5-foot-11) transferred to the district at the start of his freshman season. Initially expected to be a JV player, he quickly played his way onto the varsity — and earned a starting job for Reeds Spring’s final four games.
“He won us over because of his willingness to do whatever we needed,” Kendrick said. “He is athletic and guards as hard as he can as long as he can. He is also our best rebounder and does a great job reading the ball flight off the rim. He is a young man that we will lean on a lot this season, especially as he works on getting better offensively.”
Senior Lucas Wattenbarger and juniors Iain Phillips and Max Hirschi will all challenge returners for playing time.
“I believe our depth and experience will be our biggest strength this year,” Kendrick said. “Last year we had a lot of guys play a lot of varsity minutes. I am hopeful that we are able to take a big step this year now that everyone knows what to expect and roles have become more clear.”
The Wolves will travel to Spokane for a November 15 jamboree with the Owls and Ash Grove.
“I hope that we are known for how hard we go out and compete,” Kendrick said. “We want to be a tough-nosed, disciplined, defensively minded and physical team.”
