By Amanda Perkins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Their young team won 13 games last season, but now the Willow Springs Bears return a more experienced crew after losing just one starter to graduation.
“Bringing back the majority of the team is nice because we really know things that we need to work on to get better,” said head coach Dustin Forrest, who enters year three leading the Bears.
Junior Kolby James earned first team all-district and all-SCA honors last season. “Kolby is coming off a big year where he proved he was one of the best players in the area,” said Coach Forrest. He has worked on his game and strength, adding about 15 pounds to his frame. “Kolby does a great job handling the ball for us and really is a press breaker on his own,” said Forrest. “He does a great job getting to the basket and pairs that with a very nice jump shot. His first two years have been really good, but I feel the best is yet to come for him.” As a sophomore, James averaged 19.1 points, 5 rebounds, and 2.5 steals per game.
Jace Rodgers (6’1”) “is right there with Kolby as one of the best guards in the SCA,” said Coach Forrest. “Jace had a breakout year and a lot of nights led us offensively.” Jace is a team leader, can shoot well from behind the arc, and is a solid defender. He averaged 16 points per game and earned all-district and all-SCA honors. “We are looking for another big year from him in his final year for us,” said Forrest.
Kolby’s brother Brady James (5’11”) is a sophomore who averaged 8.5 points per game and earned an honorable mention SCA nod in his inaugural season. “Brady started every game for us last year as a freshman,” said Forrest. “I was very impressed with the growth he had throughout the season.” Brady is a dependable shooter, and by the end of the year, was one of the team’s best defenders, per his coach. “I look for him to have a big year for us as he has gotten stronger and more confident in his game.”
Brody Thompson, 5’10” sophomore, will contribute valuable minutes for the Bears. “Brody started a lot of games for us last year,” said Forrest. “He did a good job playing inside for us.”
Newcomers to the varsity squad include Caden Lee, a freshman that will immediately impact varsity. “He has a high basketball IQ paired with a good skill level that will lead to helping us this year,” said Forrest. “Caden loves to compete and he will bring it every day.”
Sophomore Blayne Altermatt, 6’3” guard, “was our go-to guy for the JV last year as a freshman,” said Forrest. “I think he led the team most nights in scoring last year on JV, and I think he will transition well to the varsity level.”
The Bears gain an inside presence with 6’4” junior Brady Altermatt. “Brady is one of our lone guys with some height,” said Forrest. “He has played a lot of basketball and knows the game well. He shoots and passes the ball very well for a guy that plays inside.”
Junior Holt McGinnis, 6’1”, will also battle for varsity minutes. “Holt does a good job defending and is at his best when he is going to the basket,” said Forrest.
James Dean, a 6’4” junior, will also compete for minutes and will contribute in rebounding and inside play. “He has good touch around the basket and could be impactful this season,” said Forrest.
Coach Forrest said the team had a great summer together. “Playing hard at all times and team chemistry were things that we focused on this summer, and I feel like we really improved on it,” he added. “We don’t have a ton of size, but I feel like we make up for it in just the overall athleticism and the ability of our guys. Guarding people hard and playing in transition will likely play big in our success this season.”
“It’s exciting to have multiple guys on the floor at once that can be a threat to make a play. The SCA is always competitive, and I feel like it’s no different this year. It will be a battle each night with no easy wins. A lot of our conference teams will also be in districts, so those games will be crucial when it comes to seeding time.”
The Bears will Jamboree at Norwood against Norwood, Fair Grove, and West Plains on November 19. They will compete in tournaments until their first regular season game at Seymour on December 17.
