CARTHAGE, Mo. — Boasting perhaps the best set of guards in the area, there is reason for Carthage coming into the 2021-22 season with extremely high expectations.
The Tigers are coming off a 7-19 record a year ago, but the bevy of varsity experience returning to the fold has everyone in the program preparing and ready to take the next step in Nathan Morris’ third year as head coach.
“We are really excited to see what this group can become once we are all together,” Morris said. “We return all five starters from last year with great depth coming off the bench. Three of those starters are in the gym together every day and we add a big group of football players that had great success on the field.”
The strength of the Tigers will come with the different looks Carthage can present to other teams. While the Tigers do not have the traditional back-to-the basket big man, they plan to use their athleticism all over the court to make up for it.”
“What we will lack in size, we more than make up for in athleticism, scoring ability, and overall high-character kids,” Morris said. “These guys will get after it defensively and look to push and play fast on the offensive end. It will be fun to sit back and watch them play as a coach and for our fans.”
Carthage’s list of returners is highlighted by senior 6-foot guard Joel Pugh, junior 5-9 G Max Templeman and sophomore 6-1 G Justin Ray.
Pugh, an all-district and all-area knockdown shooter, averaged 11.6 points, four rebounds and 1.5 assists per game last season. Templeman was an all-district and all-area player who averaged 14.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists last season, while Ray averaged 8.6 points, 1.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists as a freshman last season.
“Joel is one of the best shooters and defenders in Southwest Missouri,” Morris said. “With a young team last year, Joel had the kitchen sink thrown at him on defense. This year with older playmakers around him, I look for him to really show his skill set. … Max is an extremely unique player. Last season, 80 percent of his field foals were from 2. That isn’t due to an inability to shoot, it was his skill set to get to the rim consistently. … Justin’s game is very smooth and skilled as a three-level scorer. His strength, length and athletic ability are growing each day. He will continue to be one of the top 2024 players in the state.”
Also returning to the starting lineup is 6-3 F Caden Kabance and 6-3 F Tyler Willis.
“Caden has a unique skillset, in that he has now played all five positions for us. He had a breakout season as the quarterback of the football team and I expect that to carrey over in the basketball season. … Tyler finished last season as the starting center and really showed what kind of a player he will become. He is a tough, strong kid that will battle taller post players.”
Also expected to make an impact at the varsity level for the Tigers is 6-0 senior F Sylas Browning, 6-1 junior F Clay Kinder, 6-0 junior G Britt Coy and 6-3 senior F Logan Carmickle.
“We return really good and experienced guard play,” Morris said of his roster. “We have the ability to use multiple ball handlers that can create for themselves and their teammates. We don’t have the traditional ‘bigs’ in the post, but we view it as other teams have to match up with our athletic stretch forwards as well.”
Though there are several things to be excited about on the offensive end for Tigers, Coach Morris believes one of the biggest keys to success for Carthage this upcoming season will be how the team executes on defense.
“This group will have to be defensive minded and really have the will to rebound against the size we see all season,” Morris said. “We have some really skilled kids that are able to score the basketball, so we will really have to battle for 32 minutes defensively.”
For Carthage to get where they want to be at the end of the season, which is competing for a Central Ozark Conference title while heading into the postseason with some steam, the Tigers must also learn how to mature menatlly when it comes to closing out games.
“We will need to prove that we are ready to compete for four quarters and finish games,” Morris noted. Last year, we competed in every game and gave ourselves a chance to win a lot of games into the fourth quarter, but were unable to finish when it counted.”
Carthage opens the season on the road with a matchup against Monett on Dec. 3.
