By Michael Cignoli (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
When the West Plains School District began its search for its next boys basketball coach, it didn’t exactly have to look far and wide to locate the right man for the job.
Just a few feet down the bench, actually.
After serving as an assistant coach under former coach Shane Benson, Mason Miller was officially promoted to the top job in July. Miller, a former West Plains student-athlete, is excited to begin his first season in charge of his alma mater.
“I feel like the benefit of knowing the players kind of skips the ‘get-to-know-you’ phase of taking over a program,” MIller said. “They know me, which helps. I don’t feel like there will be an extremely big learning curve. We have kids who are bought in to our system.”
Those kids include several key contributors from last year’s team that finished 9-17 during an injury-plagued campaign. The Zizzers are eager to put that record behind them and start with a clean slate.
“We faced a lot of uncertainty going into our first game last year,” Miller said. “Our football team went on a deep playoff run last year. We had some players who we expected to play significant minutes for us and got hurt. Many different guys had to step up, including many of the players we have returning this upcoming year.”
This season also has the distinction of being the school’s last in the Ozark Conference, as the Zizzers will join the new Ozark Mountain Conference for the 2024-25 school year.
“Since I have been at West Plains, the Ozark Conference has consistently been one of — if not the best — conference in the state of Missouri,” MIller said. “We are very appreciative of being in the Ozark Conference over the last 22 seasons. We have enjoyed competing against some of the best competitors in the state every single night of conference play. Winning a conference championship is one of our yearly goals.”
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As they pursue that goal, the Zizzers will rely on 6-foot-5 senior Briggs Hughston, a three-year varsity starter who led the team in scoring and rebounding during a breakout junior season in which he earned all-conference and all-district honors.
“He is going to be a guy who we expect to control the paint on both ends of the floor,” Miller said.
The team’s other returning starter is 5-foot-10 junior Ethan Tuma, who averaged 6.2 points, 2.3 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game in his first full varsity season.
“Ethan was one of our primary ball handlers,” MIller said. “He is a shifty, quick guard. We look for him to take a big step this year with one year of varsity experience under his belt.”
Sophomore Hollis Deckard, junior Clayton Robbins and senior Grant Mahan also saw varsity action last season and will be vital components of a team that looks to replace the three graduated members of the Class of 2023 — Aiden Simpson, Garrett Mahan and Blake Harris.
Deckard, a 5-foot-10 guard, played in 20 games as a freshman.
“Solid guard who we look forward to being our floor general,” Miller said. “He has a high basketball IQ, he controls the tempo of the game and can hit a spot three. Looking forward to him taking another step this year.”
Robbins (6-foot-3) was a mainstay in the team’s lineup following the Blue & Gold Tournament.
“He is a spot-up shooter and is a player who can get his own in the paint,” Miller said. “We look forward for some big things from Clayton this upcoming season.”
Grant Mahan (6-foot-1) was primarily a role player last season, but could see more action this winter.
“He works hard and is a role model for current and future players,” Miller said.
The Zizzers will also look for big contributions from a trio of varsity newcomers — 6-foot-1 sophomores Jared Kraft and Josiah Long and 6-foot senior Luke Vonallmen.
“This year’s team has a lot more guards than we have had in years past,” Miller said. “We have a better skill set and a higher basketball IQ. As a coaching staff, we expect our team to be able to dictate the pace of play.”
Miller’s staff is also working to grow the West Plains program, which has just one 20-win season — and no district championships — in the past 15 years.
“We are working to create an atmosphere that kids want to be a part of,” Miller said. “We will work hard, learn to compete at a high level and develop a culture that kids love the game of basketball.”
The Zizzers will travel to Norwood for a November 14 jamboree against the Pirates, Fair Grove and Willow Springs, then kick off the regular season on November 25 at the Current River Shootout in Van Buren.
The team’s home opener is set for December 15 against Logan-Rogersville.
“I’m excited to see all of our young men on the floor together,” Miller said. “I’m excited to see what we can accomplish together.”
