Galena boys showing strength with 5-0 start

Sports

Discussion

December 22, 2008

Anonymous The Joplin Globe Mon Dec 22, 2008, 11:38 PM CST

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.

Text Only

Sports

Kickapoo girls race past Joplin
Annie Armstrong poured in 21 points to lead the Kickapoo girls to a 65-28 victory over Joplin on Thursday night in an Ozark Conference basketball game at Missouri Southern’s Young Gymnasium.

February 10, 2012 3 Photos
Cheever is ultimate blue-collar snowboarder
As a World Cup snowboardcross racer, Jonathan Cheever has taken his share of spills over the years.

February 10, 2012
District wrestling tournaments begin tonight
Neosho’s wrestling lineup will have a different look when the Class 3 district wrestling tournament begins at 6 p.m. today at Carthage.

February 10, 2012
Late board work carries Lions past Pittsburg State
Pittsburg State displayed its offensive rebounding muscle during Wednesday night’s game at Missouri Southern.

February 10, 2012
Pitching holds key for softball Lions
Pitching is the main question Missouri Southern must answer as the Lions open their softball season today in Abilene, Texas.

February 10, 2012
Quapaw completes 12-0 run through Lucky '7' Conference
Quapaw High School girls basketball coach Rod Graves expected the 2011-12 Wildcats to compile another successful season.
They haven’t been a disappointment.

February 10, 2012
Hillsdale women stop OCC
Visiting Hillsdale Free Will Baptist handed Ozark Christian a 68-47 loss in women’s college basketball on Thursday night.

February 10, 2012
Tomlin, Steelers welcome Haley as new coordinator
Throughout the 16 minutes that followed him glowingly introducing former Kansas City Chiefs coach Todd Haley as his new offensive coordinator, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin stood proudly in the corner of the second-floor media room at the team’s facility.

February 9, 2012
Rangers, Cruz strike $16M, 2-year deal
Two-time defending AL champion Texas has avoided arbitration with another of its core players, agreeing Thursday to a $16 million, two-year contract with AL championship series MVP Nelson Cruz.

February 9, 2012
Auburn’s Ward adapts game after injury at Texas
Auburn’s Varez Ward can’t take to the air quite like he used to. The onetime Texas starter is still trying to regain strength and explosiveness more than two years after rupturing his right quadriceps tendon while dunking during pre-game warmups.

February 9, 2012
More Sports Headlines

City wants to buy weather radios for those without

Sports

Search Results

Discussion

Galena boys showing strength with 5-0 start

The Joplin Board of Education has placed a $62 million bond issue on the April ballot. Will you support the plan?

Site Map

Contact Us