NWADG Basketball

45 NORTHWEST ARKANSAS BASKETBALL | 11.22.2020 BOYS COUNTY LINE INDIANS HEAD COACH Joe Brunson CONFERENCE 1A-1 West 2019-20 RECORD 21-15 overall, 10-2 1A-4 Conference WHO'S BACK? G Anthony Morgan (Sr., 6-0) THE SCOOP The Indians will have to deal with youth and inexperience as Morgan is the only player with any significant playing time last season. … Brunson likes what he sees from newcomer Aundrae Milum, a 6-1 sophomore guard. … Other players expected to contribute are Caleb Soller, a 5-10 junior guard; Kelby Rudd, a 5-8 sophomore guard and Drake Price, a 5-8 sophomore guard. … County Line is one of several Class 1A schools in the area to switch conferences this season. DEER ANTLERS HEAD COACH Rick Napier CONFERENCE 1A-1 East 2019-20 RECORD 19-13 overall, 6-6 1A-1 Conference WHO'S BACK? F/G Dale Dotson (Jr., 6-4), F/G Avery Young (Jr., 6-2) THE SCOOP Napier becomes the Antlers' fourth coach in the last three years. … Keegan Middleton, a 6-1 F/G who was a contributor last year, will join the team at the semester. … Other information was unavailable as of press time. HAAS HALL-ROGERS GREAT DANES HEAD COACH Zach Harrod CONFERENCE 1A-1 West 2019-20 RECORD 4-19 WHO'S BACK? PG Zack Kublanov (So., 5-4), G Max Kublanov (So., 5-5), F Casey Shehan (Jr., 5-10), F Pierson Stoyanov (So., 5-10), P Stephen Sexton (Soph. 5-11). THE SCOOP The Danes enter the 1A-1 West after spending last year with a junior varsity schedule last year. … All five players return from a team that finished third in the NWA Postseason Tournament. … Haas Hall-Rogers will be one of the teams playing home games at the new AAO building in Rogers. JASPER PIRATES HEAD COACH Mike Parker CONFERENCE 1A-1 East 2019-20 RECORD 20-19 overall, lost in first round of state tournament to Kirby. WHO'S BACK? C Sam Parker (Sr., 6-0) THE SCOOP The Pirates must rebuild around Sam Parker, who averaged 9.3 points per season and was an all-conference player. … Layton Smith, a 6-2 forward, is Jasper's only senior. … Three juniors are expected to contribute: 6-0 guard Cole Villines, 5-11 guard Jesse Harrison and 5-11 post Calvin Smith. … The Pirates welcome back Huston Davidson, a 6-2 sophomore who returned from an injury, while 5-10 sophomore point guard Forrest Siebert and 5-7 sophomore point guard Mason Morgan will see action. KINGSTON YELLOWJACKETS HEAD COACH Pat Summers CONFERENCE 1A-1 East 2019-20 RECORD 20-16 overall, lost to Bradley in the Class 1A state tournament. WHO'S BACK? Information not available THE SCOOP Information wasn't provided as of press time. LEAD HILL TIGERS HEAD COACH Derek Rogers CONFERENCE 1A-1 East 2019-20 RECORD 18-21 overall, 6-10 1A-2 Conference WHO'S BACK? G William Mancinelli (Jr., 5-9), F/G T.J. Catron (Sr., 6-0), F/G Cody Paul (Jr., 6-2), Jonathan Fulton (Sr., 6-1), F/P Dustin Turner (Jr., 6-4) THE SCOOP Paul was the Tigers' leading scorer last season, averaging 16 points per game, and earned all-conference and all- district tournament honors. … Catron was a close second in scoring with 12 points and pulled down a game-high 9 rebounds. Mancinelli averaged 9.3 points per game and is expected to contribute more with improved shooting. … Fulton is the Tigers' best defensive player and also averaged 6 assists per game, while Turner could be the most improved player. … Lead Hill welcome newcomers Pierce Marshall (6-2 senior who sat out last year after a transfer), Mason Cain (5-11 sophomore) and Kaden Greenlaw (5-10 junior who was injured most of last season. MOUNT JUDEA EAGLES HEAD COACH Calvice Casey CONFERENCE 1A-1 East 2019-20 RECORD 2-23 overall, 1-11 1A-1 WHO'S BACK? C Tyler Smith (Jr., 5-11); F/G Trenton Faught (Jr., 6-3), G Mattew Cook (Jr., 5-9), F Devan Richardson (Sr., 6-0), G Chase Campbell (Sr., 5-9). CLASS 1A TEAM CAPSULES BY HENRY APPLE all-state honors. … Junior guards Teagan Farriester and Braden Gerth are newcomers who should provide athleticism. … Farriester has good range as an outside shooter, while Gerth's high I.Q. and defense should be assets. JOHNSON COUNTY WESTSIDE REBELS HEAD COACH Nick Bartmier CONFERENCE 2A-4 2019-20 RECORD 12-15 PLAYOFF RESULT Lost in the district tournament. WHO'S BACK? Austin Bartlett (6-2, Sr.), Peyton Chrisman (5-7, Sr.), Dakota Beavers (5-9, Jr.), James Linton (6-0, Sr.). THE SCOOP Bartlett is the lone returning starter and averaged 15 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Chrisman averaged 7 points per game last year, but is expected to make a greater contribution this season. … Beavers and Linton should bring athleticism. LAVACA GOLDEN ARROWS HEAD COACH Renner Reed CONFERENCE 2A-4 2019-20 RECORD 34-5, 12-0 PLAYOFF RESULT Lost 47-33 to England in the state semifinals. WHO'S BACK? Luke Watson (5-10, Jr.), Drake Grantham (6-2, Jr.), Avery Walker (5-8, Jr.), Kolby Glidewell (5-11, Jr.) THE SCOOP The Arrows are a young team with just one senior on the team and replacing five starters. … Depth should be an asset with some young, energetic players who are eager to prove themselves. … The team will look to progress as the season moves forward. LIFE WAY CHRISTIAN WARRIORS HEAD COACH Peter Ryan CONFERENCE 2A-1 2019-20 RECORD 21-20 PLAYOFF RESULT First year in an Arkansas Activities Association conference. WHO'S BACK? Preston Green (6-0, Sr.), Ant Potter (6-1, Sr.), Sam Green (6-3, Sr.), Luke Melton (5-10, Sr.), Chandler Mathis (6-3, Jr.). THE SCOOP This is the first year the Warriors will compete in a conference in the Arkansas Activities Association. … The school competed in the Heartland Conference last season, which included mostly Oklahoma schools. … Peter Ryan, a 2013 graduate of Life Way Christian is in his second season as coach. … The Warriors will be more guard- oriented than a year ago and smaller, but have good quickness. MAGAZINE RATTLERS HEAD COACH Justin Mackey CONFERENCE 2A-4 2019-20 RECORD 4-18, 1-11 PLAYOFF RESULT Lost 63-45 to Johnson County Westside in the first round of the district tournament. WHO'S BACK? Cam Raggio (6-6, Sr.), Brady Watson (6-4, Sr.), Ashton Droemer (5-9, Jr.), Haden Littleton (5-11, Jr.) THE SCOOP Watson earned all-conference honors a year ago, while Droemer is a strong ballhandler with great footwork. … Raggio is returning from a knee injury. … Senior Tatum Scott and junior Austin Krigbaum added perimeter scoring and great on-ball defense after being away from basketball for a year. … Senior Cole Gilbert is another who has been away from basketball for a while but should also contribute. MANSFIELD TIGERS HEAD COACH Keith Stovall CONFERENCE 3A-1 2019-20 RECORD 9-12, 4-10 PLAYOFF RESULT Lost 66-48 to Charleston in the second round of the district tournament. WHO'S BACK? Zayne Dugan (6-6, Jr.), Codi Chick (5-11, Sr.), Bri Sanderson (6-4, Sr.), JoJo Bailey (5-11, Sr.), Tyler Escalante (6-1, Jr.), Ethan Pettus (5-10, Jr.), Jackson Andrews (5-10, Sr.). THE SCOOP Chick, who averaged 12 points and 4 rebounds, is the lone returning starter. … Bailey played extensive minutes off the bench the last two seasons. … Despite returning only one starter, several players saw minutes a year ago off the bench. MOUNTAINBURG DRAGONS HEAD COACH Michael McDonald CONFERENCE 2A-4 2019-20 RECORD 9-17 PLAYOFF RESULT Lost in the first round of the district tournament. WHO'S BACK? Ethan Gregory (6-0, Sr.), Waylon Cluck (6-1, Sr.), Luke Moxley (5-9, Sr.), Sam Ortlieb (5-9, Jr.), Zach Jones (6-4, Jr.), Jodin Davidson (6-4, Jr.), Austin Byron (5- 9, Sr.), Preston Clark (5-10, Jr.) THE SCOOP The Dragons will look to rebound from a disappointing season with injuries and players moving away affected the year after making the state tournament two years ago. … Gregory, an all-state selection as a sophomore, missed all of last season because of a knee injury. … Cluck is a two- time all-conference selection, who made 9 3-pointers in a game last season. … The issues last season allowed younger players to get valuable experience which could pay off this year. See 1A CAPSULES, Page 46

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