December 23, 2008 12:37 am
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By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
The Galena High School boys basketball team expected a strong start this season considering the returning experience from the 2007-08 edition.
So far, so good, according to new Bulldog coach Matt Meyr.
The Bulldogs have opened 5-0 and are ranked fifth in Kansas Class 3A by the Topeka Capital-Journal, They trailed Wichita Collegiate, Holcomb, Sabetha and Hutchinson Trinity in the Dec. 9 ratings.
“I had some questions about the defense after our first three games,” Meyr said Monday. “Well, after the last two games, I feel better.”
Galena, leading 28-1 after one quarter, beat visiting Baxter Springs 74-30 last Thursday. Galena, the next night, handled visiting Jasper 81-51 with five Bulldogs scoring in double figures.
Meyr greeted four players with starting experience in 6-foot-4 senior Jacob Gougler, 5-7 senior Dakota Walker, 6-1 junior Troy Albright and 5-10 junior Jacoby Martin.
“We have three more lettermen and I consider all seven of them starters,” Meyr said. “Chase Keyser (6-3) is a senior. The other two are juniors Cody Clark (5-11) and Colton Leet (6-2). We have more capable people coming off the bench (the junior varsity also is 5-0).”
Galena has size on the bench, too, in 6-5 sophomore Dilan Lansford, 6-1 senior Jared Miller, 6-1 sophomore Codie Perry and 6-3 freshman Zac Gougler (Jacob’s brother).
Cody Fichtner, a 5-6 sophomore, also dresses out for the varsity. He’s been slowed by an ankle sprain.
Clark and the older Gougler are averaging about 17 points apiece, Meyr said, with Gougler, estimated as a 200-pounder, No. 1 in rebounding with an average of 10.
“All seven of our players (scoring below Clark and Gougler) are averaging between 5 and 10 points,” Meyr said. “Dakota (Walker), our point guard, and Jacob are close in assists. Leet is the steals leader.
“Jacob (Gougler) is very versatile,” Meyr said. “He’s pretty quick and could play guard if he had to do it.
“This is a team with good size and the ability to handle the ball,” Meyr said.
Meyr said there are areas in which the Bulldogs need to improve.
“We need to work on rebounding as a team, for example,” Meyr said. “Free-throw shooting has been about average. In fact, we’re just more than 50 percent.
“The players are motivated after last season,” Meyr said. “They want to prove they can win at Hutchinson (the Bulldogs lost 72-68 to Northern Heights in the first round of state). Some of the seniors have the opportunity to return for a third time. We also can build off our success in football this season.”
Don Krouse, who remained in the system, stepped down after guiding Galena to records of 18-5 overall and 6-2 in the CNC Conference last season.
Meyr, who had done his student teaching at Galena out of Missouri Southern, had been its girls basketball coach.
Meyr, who’s assisted by Jerry Smiley and Matt Leet (Colton’s brother), was a baseball standout in the outfield at Southern. The 1997 graduate of Perryville High School came to Southern after two years at St. Louis Community College-Forest Park.
Galena resumes practice on Monday, Meyr said. The Bulldogs resume their schedule on Jan. 6 by entertaining Oswego.
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