By Anvil Welch

awelch@joplinglobe.com

Youth and patience will go hand-in-hand at College Heights Christian School this boys basketball season.

“We’re young without game experience,” Cougar coach Charlie Williams said on Friday. “Right now, we have seven freshmen on our 12-player roster. We need patience from the players, coaches and fans.

“Our early schedule will tell us about our strengths and weaknesses,” Williams, who’s assisted by son Chuck, said.

The three CHC lettermen from a 9-15 edition include returning starter Andrew Chaney. The 6-foot-5 senior averaged 8.4 points and 6.8 rebounds and had 54 blocked shots.

The other veterans are juniors Paul Emery (6-4) and Jeremy Jones (6-2).

“We expect double-figure scoring and rebounding out of Andrew if we can get the ball inside,” Williams said. “We believe his leadership also will be a definite strength.

“We believe Emery and Jones are capable of stepping up and playing important roles for us,” Williams said.

Williams, in Tuesday night’s opener at Bronaugh, plans to start the lettermen, 5-7 sophomore Stephen Regis or 6-1 freshman Kyler Lum, and 5-5 freshman point guard Patton Conroy.

Carl Junction transfer Jeff Nichols, a 6-3 junior, isn’t eligible to play varsity this season.

There’s another sophomore on the roster in 5-10 Drew Byrne.

Completing the freshmen are 6-1 Jon Lum (Kyler’s twin), 6-5 Alex Chaney (Andrew’s brother), 6-2 Matt Reeves and 5-8 Zach Wilkins.

“It’s an intelligent bunch of kids,” Williams said. “They possess great work habits.

“I’m confident, come January, opponents may have to take notice of our team,” Williams said. “We could be tough in district competition.