By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
The Webb City High School boys basketball team hopes to remain in an improving mode tonight against visiting Springfield Central.
The task is daunting.
Central, 4-0, is ranked No. 1 in Southwest Missouri by the Springfield News-Leader.
Webb City hiked its record to 3-2 by visiting Joplin for a 59-53 victory on Friday night.
“They (the Bulldogs) will be the quickest team we’ll play all season,” Cardinal coach David Sherer said on Saturday night. “They have several players who can really shoot the ball. (Johnathan) Gray is one of the top guards in Southwest Missouri.”
The independent Bulldogs, former members of the Ozark Conference, are coached by former Drury University basketball standout Eddie Thomas.
Central, which opened its season by winning 61-41 at Kansas City Ruskin on Dec. 5, also has defeated Ozark (88-78), Rolla (78-57) and Bolivar (79-63).
“That’s an impressive win at Ozark (then ranked No. 1),” Sherer said. “They wore down Ozark.”
Thomas guided Central to 21 wins in 2008-09. Three senior starters return from that edition in the 5-foot-9 Gray, 5-10 Jerome Small and 6-4, 210-pound Thomas Chadwick.
Gray averaged 16.2 points last season. Chadwick, who averaged 12.6 points on 67 percent shooting from the field, added five rebounds. Small paced the team in assists.
Gray and Small also combined for 106 steals in 2008-09.
Tony Fewell, a 6-3 senior, and 6-3 junior Nathan Wood could complete the starters.
“They make the extra pass,” Sherer said. “They push the ball up the floor. They get to the free-throw line a lot. They’re team-orientated. They utilize a man-to-man on defense.
“It should be a fun game because of the challenge and competition,” Sherer said.
“Taking care of the ball and transition defense on our part will present the top challenges for our guys,” Sherer said. “It could be a battle of wills, too.”
Probable starters for Webb City are 5-11 sophomore Scott Roderique, 6-2 junior Patrick Drake, 6-5 senior Trey Laveroni, 6-4 senior Austin Lepper and 6-8 senior Parker Graham. Action begins with the junior varsity at 6 p.m.
The Cardinals will launch their Central Ozark Conference Large Division schedule on Jan. 6 at home against Ozark.
Tonight’s program begins at 6 with the junior varsity contest.
Sports
December 21, 2008
Webb City boys to face challenge in Central
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Outlaws open season Thursday on the road
Chris Oldner takes a cut during the Joplin Outlaws practice Tuesday afternoon. The Outlaws open their season on Thursday night at Rossville and play seven road games before their home opener on June 5.
The Joplin Outlaws and new coach Rob Vessell have set some lofty goals for the 2012 baseball season.
Continued ... - Stanton’s homers fuel Marlins’ surge in May
- Five sign to join Missouri Southern women's track team
- Whisner ignites Joplin Miners past Webb City
- Venus Williams joins Serena on sideline in Paris
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- Pittsburg State Sports
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- Vengels sixth in heptathlon; PSU picks up two seventh-place finishes
- Ethan Cordray signs with Pittsburg State
- Lions, Gorillas begin competition in outdoor track and field championship
- Three finalists named for PSU head baseball coach position
- Lions qualify 10, PSU 15 for Division II outdoor track meet
- Missouri Southern Sports
- High School Sports
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Area athletes turn shine at state meet
Webb City's Jarvis Jones takes sixth in the 200.
- Cleo Elbert steps down at Thomas Jefferson
- Frontenac wins first state baseball title
- Joplin's Jeremy Lynn takes fifth at state tennis
- Frontenac advances at state baseball
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