By Tyler F. Thompson (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
For head coach Kyle Fields, returning five seniors to the hardwood as he commences his 10th season in the royal and white is a nice luxury to have.
The Patriots authored a 12-16 record last year (1-5 in the Big 8), and the players took their lumps with them into the summer, which has fueled a larger fire.
Setting up a rigorous schedule this year has not altered the mindset.
“Every game on our schedule is important to us. We don’t treat any game more important than the next. We know that anyone on our schedule can beat us. We have a very difficult non-conference schedule, playing teams much bigger than us and being one of the smallest schools in the Big 8, it is always tough for us,” Fields said.
Gone are Chase Sorrel, who is running track at Missouri Southern, Kolt Walters, Luke Cook and Haze Hagedon but playing five seniors figures to balance out the attack this season.
Josh Mathis was injured in a car crash after an afternoon offseason practice one year ago and did not start but figures to this winter.
“He worked his tail off to get back,” Fields said of Mathis, who sustained a broken collarbone and injured his shoulder after being struck by a semitruck.
Also, back are Josh Mathis, Isaac Bales and Will Eichelberger.
Overall, returning seniors are Braxton Wolfe, Mathis, Bales, Mason Silva, Eichelberger.
“We have good senior leadership. We will be leaning on their experience, attitudes, and efforts as we develop throughout the year,” Fields said.
Junior Caden Youngblood and sophomore Ethan Bales return, and newcomers include Carson Rinehart (soph.); Hunter Howe (soph.); Aidan Wolfe (soph.) and junior Kenny Barratt.
Lettermen include B. Wolfe, Youngblood, E. Bales and Mathis (played final eight games).
Having a solid returning core in place for the season adds to the camaraderie and chemistry, which will add another dynamic to the collective team identity.
Said Fields: “The cohesiveness, there is some experience. We are going to be able to score it more and more efficiently. We have some really good leaders. Right now, they are leading the football team.”
B. Wolfe led the charge last season with 11 points per game and pulled down seven rebounds per contest.
“In the past, Braxton has been our bell cow,” Fields said. “We definitely are going to lean on him with his experience and leadership. Caden being a junior and Mathis being a senior, really good role models and examples.”
Youngblood averaged 10 points per game and snared five boards per game and E. Bales added 6.4 points per game and 4.4 rebounds.
Mathis added 3.3 points per game and averaged 4.3 boards. I. Bales tossed in two points per game and added one rebound per contest.
The jamboree is set for Nov. 21 at Joplin.
The Patriots are 142-107 under Fields’s tutelage and last won a district title in 2021.
The Big 8 consists of East Newton, Aurora, Cassville, Lamar, McDonald County, Monett, Mt. Vernon, Nevada and Seneca.
The season/home opener is scheduled for Nov. 26 against Diamond.
