By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
Ozark Christian College opens its men’s basketball season tonight at 6 with a home game against Crowley’s Ridge of Paragould, Ark.
Fifth-year head coach Chris Lahm said on Friday that the Ambassadors have five new players The roster of 14 is unusual with nine sophomores, one senior and one freshman.
New players include 6-foot sophomore Paden Bennett, 6-1 sophomore Justin Garretson, 6-3 junior Drew Hanson and 6-2 sophomore Austin Morris. The freshman is 6-3 Michael Shuey of Purdy.
Bennett and Garretson are graduates of Carl Junction High School and transfers from William Penn College of Oskaloosa, Iowa. Hanson and Morris also transferred from William Penn and Bennett and Morris were roommates.
The only senior, 6-foot-1 Clancy Allmoslecher, will start at point guard, Lahm said.
Lahm said that three more veterans — 5-10 junior Justin Crain, 6-6 sophomore Kerry “Gramps” Frazier and 6-3 sophomore Steven Tackett (another Carl Junction product) — will join Bennett in the starting lineup.
Lahm said that lettermen Caleb Hutchcraft (5-11 sophomore) and Ryan Milliken (6-6 junior) will join Garretson, Hanson and Morris in quickly coming off the bench.
Completing the roster are sophomores Jacob Seaton (6-3), Ryan Toombs (6-3) and Austin Weece (6-4).
“This group overall is very athletic,” Lahm said. “We have some quickness, experience and the players understand the game.
“It’s a very laid-back group of players. They have fun. Sometimes, I have to draw the line and try to make them become serious,” Lahm said with a laugh.
“Our lack of size is a concern,” Lahm said. “We also have been inconsistent shooting the ball. We may score 60 points or 85 in another game because of that inconsistency.”
The NCCAA Division II Ambassadors finished 10-26 overall and 5-5 in the Midwest Christian College Conference last season. They were 1-2 in the ACCA Championship hosted by Southwestern Christian in Bethany, Okla.
Tackett, an all-region, all-conference choice, averaged a team-leading 12.2 points last season. He added 4.5 rebounds.
Milliken averaged seven points and a team best 4.8 rebounds. Allmoslecher and Hutchcraft each averaged nine points and Crain 7.5.
Lahm, also athletic director, is assisted again by Darrell Doss and Luke Cole.
