By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
Charlie Williams, who’s in his fourth season as boys basketball coach at College Heights Christian School, believes the Cougars possess the ability to show marked improvement compared to last season.
“We’ve had three weeks of intense, aggressive, focused practices,” Williams said Wednesday. “This team could be as aggressive as any of my teams at College Heights. The players came in hungry this season. ... I love it.”
Williams, who’s assisted by Skip Walker, has three players with starting experience from a team that won just one of nine games in the Spring River Valley Conference.
They are 6-foot-6 junior Alex Chaney, 5-8 sophomore Evan Belk and 6-1 sophomore Matt Wicklund.
Williams listed four more veterans in 6-2 senior Bro Mbuthia, 6-0 junior Jordan Miller, 6-0 junior Zach Wilkins and 6-1 sophomore Spencer Ming.
Completing the varsity roster, according to Williams, are 5-10 senior Stephen Regis, 6-1 junior David Rice, 5-9 sophomore Ben Michael, 6-0 freshman Lauden Baker and 6-5 freshman Adam Lewis.
“Quickness and depth can be strengths,” Williams said. “I’m concerned about our lack of experienced depth at point guard and in the post. Another concern is that our aggressiveness on defense will lead to excessive fouls.
“But the key for our team to have a successful season is to play strong defense,” Williams said. “Playing competitively in every game would constitute a successful season.”
The Cougars launch their season against No. 1 seed Pleasant Hope at 6:30 p.m. on Monday in the Lockwood Dennis Cornish Classic.
Probable starters in the CHC opener, Williams said, are Belk, Chaney, Wicklund, Mbuthia and Ming.
Regis, Rice and Wilkins are expected to lead the Cougars off the bench early in the campaign, Williams said.
The Cougars open their home schedule on Dec. 8 against Frontenac.
