Cardinals rested and ready

December 02, 2007 11:56 pm

— By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
You better believe the Webb City High School boys basketball team is ready to start the season.
“They’re ready for a game. They’re champin’ at the bit ... especially the veterans,” Cardinal coach Eric Johnson said Sunday.
The basketball Cardinals, their football players getting plenty of practice after an early ouster from the playoffs, open the season at Rogersville at 6 p.m. Tuesday with a junior varsity-varsity doubleheader.
Webb City has a veteran cast in seeking a third straight outright title in the Southwest Conference.
There are three full-time senior starters — 6-foot-5 Caleb Powell, 6-2 Chance Sossamon and 6-3 Landon Zerkel — among eight lettermen from a 20-8, 8-0 edition that reached the quarterfinals in Class 4.
Veterans Alan Pink, a 6-1 senior, and 6-4 junior Trey Laveroni, who drew starting assignments in 2006-07, are expected to join Powell, Sossamon and Zerkel in Tuesday’s starting lineup.
“However, some of the others could work into the starting lineup,” Johnson said.
Johnson for sure wouldn’t mind using tonight the six players who will complete the varsity roster.
They include junior veterans Parker Graham (6-7), Austin Lepper (6-3) and Adam Willliams (6-1).
Justin Boudreaux (6-0 senior), Mack Kyle (6-0 junior) and Patrick Drake (6-1 sophomore) round out the varsity roster.
“The first reserves will depend on what we’re needing in the lineup,” Johnson said.
“We’re very athletic with size throughout the lineup. We’re looking forward to competing against a strong schedule. Work ethic and unselfishness —a desire and willingness to play together as a team — will be keys to our success.”
Johnson said the lack of a true point guard is a concern.
“But Landon (Zerkel) has done a good job in practice at that position,” Johnson said. “Some of the other kids will have to step up and help Landon. We want to continue the up-tempo style.”
Scoring averages from last season include 12.9 for Zerkel, 9.3 for Laveroni, 8.8 for Sossamon, 7.1 for Powell and 5.7 for Pink.
Zerkel added averages of 4.8 rebounds, 3.7 steals and 3.4 assists. Powell added 4.5 rpg and Laveroni and Pink combined for six boards.
Notes: Johnson, who’s assisted by Dusty Allen and Ryan Odaffer, is in his 24th year as the Webb City coach following 10 years in Kansas. ... Webb City will compete in the Paul Terry Classic at Emporia (Kan.) this week for the first time. Cardinals will open against Tulsa Memorial at 6 p.m. in White Auditorium on Thursday. Emporia and Olathe East also are on the Webb City side of the bracket.