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BOYS HOOPS PREVIEW: Carl Junction seeks improvements in new season

By:
Brock Sisney

The Carl Junction Bulldogs will be led this season by seven seniors, including three returning starters, for coach Justin Pock’s third season at the helm.

Carl Junction’s Ayden Bard raises up for a mid-range jumper against Joplin last season.

“Ayden Bard, he’s played for us the last few years,” Pock said. “He’s a physical, athletic kid. He can play all the spots, all the positions. I see him having a good senior year.

“We have Ky Warren running the point for us. Ky has been in the program the last few years and knows what I want. He’s the coach on the floor.

“We have Lucas Vanlanduit. He’s another guard who I see that’s going to have more opportunities and more shots this year. I think he’ll step into that role nicely.”

Bard averaged 11.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists and Warren averaged 5.7 points during their junior season.

The other seniors returning for the Bulldogs are Braxton Dodds, Luke Jones, Xavier Perkins, and Nathan Planchon.

Competition for the other two spots in the starting lineup seems to be healthy.

“We have a couple juniors, Jett Hocut and Quin Kennedy, that played some varsity last year,” Pock said. “Jett did a good job and he’s got a really nice shot. Quin has got more physical, and he’ll get more time, too. He’s just worked his butt off.

“Then we have a couple freshmen that are coming in and competing for some time. I tell them every day it’s a day to compete and a day to go work for a spot. I’m going to put the best five I can field out there every single time. That’s the No. 1 thing we’re trying to do: Compete.”

Carl Junction finished 4-22 overall and 0-9 in Central Ozark Conference play last season, with three of the Bulldogs’ four wins happening in December. The Bulldogs went 1-16 during January and February, with their only win against Lebanon.

The Bulldogs are looking to end a streak of eight straight losing seasons.

“This group, they’re hungry,” Pock said. “They’re looking to change some things at CJ. They play hard. They’re a good group of kids. They’re good to coach. I think all of them have this competitive edge that they want to work hard, they want to win, and they want to do it together as a team.

“Our challenge is bringing the seniors and the new guys in together, especially early on, to have trust and faith in the offense and to do the little things, dive for loose balls, get rebounds, block out every single time, and earn it on the defensive side.”

The Bulldogs open the season Nov. 28 in the Forsyth Tournament and their other tournaments are McDonald County (Dec. 15-17) and the Kaminsky Classic (Jan. 5-7).

In addition to the nine-game COC slate, Carl Junction steps outside the conference to play Aurora (Dec. 6), Pittsburg, Kan. (Dec. 9), Seneca (Dec. 13), McDonald County (Jan. 2), St. Mary’s Colgan, Kan. (Jan. 13), Monett (Jan. 20), Nevada (Jan. 24), and Lebanon (Jan. 27).

MSHSAA placed Carl Junction in Class 5 District 7 this season with Belton, Grandview, Kansas City Ruskin, Hogan Prep, Raytown South, Warrensburg, and Webb City completing the eight-team district.

“We’re going to take it a game at a time,” Pock said. “We’re going to step on the floor every time we do and no matter who we play with the attitude that we’re going to win this game. It’s going to take all of us. I can’t tell you all the time how we’re going to do it, but that’s our goal. Every time we step on the floor, we’re here to win. That’s what we’re trying to change here, and I think our kids have bought into it.”

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