By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
With no seniors on its roster, the Liberators posted a 5-17 record, falling to Webb City in the opening round of the Class 5 District 6 tournament.
Kaylin Gibbs departed the program as a graduating junior.
“Last season was very much a rebuilding season for us,” head coach Ben Glasgow said. “We lost several key players to graduation and were entering the Ozark Conference in the same year.”
A quartet of seniors return to the Bolivar roster, led by All-Conference and All-District selection Cora Roweton.
Roweton, a 6-foot post, averaged 18.5 points last season and is within reach of 1,000 career points this year.
She is joined by 5-foot-11 Dailynn VanDeren (6.7ppg, 8.6 rpg), 5-foot-6 Sidney Batten (5 ppg, 3 apg) and 5-foot-8 Shelby Larimer (8.5 ppg, 4 rpg, 45 3-pointers).
Batten was an All-Conference Defensive Team selection.
5-foot-6 junior Claire Giglio, 5-foot-8 sophomore Megan Howard and 5-foot-8 junior Ese Jones also return for the Liberators.
Entering his fourth season at the helm, Glasgow expects a host of varsity newcomers to have a big impact on the roster, as well.
A strong freshman class of 5-foot-5 Carly Cribbs, 5-foot-8 Shelby Samek, 5-foot-8 Kami Bryan and 5-foot-7 Emma Goodman will compete for varsity minutes this season, along with 5-foot-4 junior Mady Niven.
“Our expectations are higher this year,” Glasgow said. “We feel like our newcomers have helped us in the areas we needed help in the most, and we feel like we can win more games this year.”
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Glasgow feels Bolivar’s size could provide some advantages this season, with Roweton and VanDeren able to control the paint at both ends of the court.
“Our biggest strength is our experience at the post position,” Glasgow said. “We have two seniors who have lots of size and experience and who are leaders on our team.”
Turnovers and defensive play will ultimately determine Bolivar’s success, as it navigates a challenging conference and district schedule.
“Our success will depend on our ability to take care of the ball and on how well we can defend,” Glasgow said.
Following a Nov. 15 jamboree at home with Walnut Grove, Morrisville and Ozark, the Liberators are set to tip off the season Nov. 21 in the Fair Play Tournament.
