By Chris Parker
Weaubleau boys basketball is coming off the best season in program history. The Tigers advanced to the state championship game and placed second in Class 2. They finished with a 29-3 record overall.
A talented group of seniors graduated from that team including a pair of all-state players in Gage Johnson and Blane Durnell.
“That senior group laid the blueprint for this program on what it takes to be successful,” Weaubleau head coach Blake Allen said. “They had a goal and completely bought in every day in the weight room and in practice leading the way which allowed us to make that next step in taking this program to another level.”
New leaders will need to step up for Weaubleau this season.
“Buy in and player leadership (will be needed),” Allen said. “Continuing to buy into the process and each player’s role that the team needs in order to be successful. We need to find that next leader or leaders to continue to demand the best from each other during the daily ups and downs.”
Gunner Freeman returns for his senior season after earning second-team all-conference honors last season.
“We will be asking a lot more out of Gunner this upcoming season,” Allen said. “He really needed to stretch the floor for us last year and this year we are asking him to really evolve on both ends of the floor in being a three-level scorer and a high level rebounder.”
Fellow senior Clayton Ginnings returns as a four-year letterman and three-year starter.
“Ginnings brings high level rebounding, athleticism, and size,” Allen said. “We really look forward to him evolving his game in an expanded role this season being one of our top options.”
Lee Lambeth is a third returning senior for Weaubleau.
“Lambeth is our best passer in the program with a super high IQ,” Allen said.
Junior Brady Medina will see a much-expanded role this season.
“Brady will help stretch the floor and handle the ball for us this year,” Allen said. “Medina could be that dark horse that once he gets accustomed to being a varsity player every night and is able to move on from mistakes, could take us to another level.”
Bryce Caufield (junior guard), Grayden Morris (junior guard), Avery West (freshman guard), Peyton Hostettler (freshman forward), Wyatt Worley (freshman guard) and Parker Rash (freshman forward) will be newcomers to watch.
Defense will be a strength for this year’s team.
“We showed a lot of great strides on the defensive side of the floor buying into what we are trying to do this season, and I’m really looking forward to seeing that grow,” Allen said.
Weaubleau opens the regular season Dec. 2-7 at the Warsaw Tournament.
“The bar is set and this group wants to continue the success here at Weaubleau when it comes to winning in the postseason,” Allen said. “Buying into the process, competing for championships throughout the season, and be playing our best basketball come February so we put ourselves in a position to accomplish that.”
