By John Miller (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
It’s no secret that the Coronavirus has made things difficult. The ripple effect of the virus has created challenges for Waynesville coach Chris Pilz and his efforts to ready his team for the upcoming basketball season.
“We had very limited interaction with our team this summer due to local health regulations,” admitted Pilz. “The limited contact with our team has the potential to slow our progress this year.”
In a normal year, which 2020 clearly is not, most coaches talk about the strengths and expectations for their team in preseason. This year, things are different. Pilz’ main concern is the health and safety of his players and their families. Winning games, while important, is secondary to that.
“This season will be different than any high school basketball season we have ever experienced,” Pilz said. “Our expectation for this season is to make sure our players feel safe, are both physically and mentally fit, and to make sure we take care of our seniors and their families to maximize their basketball experience.”
Pilz, who starts his 10th year at Waynesville this winter, is one of the more veteran coaches in the area. He’s been coaching for almost 30 years, both at the high school and college levels. A 2002 inductee into the University of Missouri-St. Louis Athletics Hall of Fame, Pilz coached for his collegiate alma mater from 2003 to 2010 before taking the Waynesville job in 2011. This year, he’ll try to guide the Tigers through what should be a unique set of circumstances.
Last year, Waynesville finished with a 12-13 record and went 4-5 in the always challenging Ozark Conference. In district play, Waynesville drew top-seed Ozark in the opening round and fell 59-43, ending its season.
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“We were exceeding expectations until we were derailed by injury and discipline issues,” Pilz said.
Fortunately for Waynesville, the team returns four key players, led by the backcourt of junior Xay McArthur and senior Mike Lewis. Senior AJ Martin and 6-foot-5 senior forward Jared Hyatt, a three-year varsity player, will also be counted on for significant contributions for the Tigers this winter. Lewis was picked to the All-District Team last year, while Martin was named to the All-Ozark Conference Defensive Team. The Tigers will need significant contributions from its group of returners this season.
“McArthur and Lewis will be a solid backcourt in the Ozark Conference,” said Pilz. “AJ plays as hard as anyone we face this year, and we’ll need Jared to have a big senior season for our team to be successful.”
Waynesville will also need production from a group of newcomers that includes seniors Noel Okeke and Gabe Rush, sophomores Niko Fau, Shawn Barber, and Luther Supancic, and freshman Ty Brooks.
Speed and guard play seem to be strengths for the Tigers this year. Waynesville has talent on the perimeter where it can not only shoot 3-pointers but can beat defenders off the bounce to the rim and create fouls in the process. Defensively, Waynesville will lean on its speed and quickness to force turnovers and cause havoc for opponents.
