The College Heights Christian boys basketball program enjoyed historic success the past two seasons with a combined 41-15 overall record, the program’s first two district titles, and the program’s first trip to the Class 2 state quarterfinals, where the Cougars lost 53-48 to the eventual state champions Norwood, highlighted a 24-5 campaign last season.
College Heights graduated most of their talent from those historic seasons, but senior and lone returning starter Curtis Davenport and junior and last year’s sixth man Caleb Quade are back and seniors Ben Thomas, Noah Hipple, and Bo Sitton get their opportunity to be more in the spotlight this season.
“We return one starter (Davenport) and it’s his fourth year starting for us,” College Heights coach Eric Johnson said. “Caleb Quade started a couple games last year and he was our sixth man off the bench. He’s improved and he’s grown. Curtis is 6-foot-5 and Caleb’s 6-4, and that gives us some inside people.
“Our other seniors played some last year, but their best learning experience was playing against the group of seniors we had last year every day in practice. Those guys have improved and they’re ready to get their opportunity. They’ve made the best of it so far.”
Davenport, behind 62 percent shooting from the floor, averaged 13 points and eight rebounds during his junior season. He earned all-Ozark 7 Conference second team last season and all-conference honorable mention and all-district his sophomore year.
Hipple and junior Colsen Dickens both played on the inaugural College Heights varsity football team this year, and they both were injured during the season.
“We have two kids that are hurt from varsity football,” Johnson said. “It will be a few more weeks before they’re back.”
The Cougars’ four new starters will include a sophomore floor general.
“Jayce Walker will be our point guard,” Johnson said. “He played mostly JV last year. It will be a lot to learn going against varsity kids all the time. We’re giving him as much playing time as we can, just to see if he can do everything.”
The Cougars will attempt to add the newest chapter to their saga of success that numbers five consecutive seasons with at least 16 wins.
College Heights made the jump last season from 17 to 24 wins behind a great senior group.
“We had a good year last year,” Johnson said. “Obviously, these kids are wanting to do the same thing this year. Early, we may have some turnovers and things from trying to do too much. We’ll find out that we have a target on our back. We beat a lot of teams the last couple years and are learning to play together. Chemistry is the main thing.
“We’ve also expanded our defense a little bit. With the big kids last year, we could hang around inside the 3-point line and deflect a lot of shots. Now, we figure we’ll have to get after it from halfcourt and change it up on defense. So far, the kids have bought into it and hopefully, it will pay off.”
The Cougars open this season Nov. 22 at home against Providence Academy, an Arkansas school that will already be five games into the season before playing College Heights.
College Heights, defending Pierce City Invitational champions, open as the second seed in this year’s edition and will face tournament host Pierce City in the opening round Nov. 29.
The Cougars play nine games in December, do not open conference play until January, face a tough non-conference game Jan. 5 against Springfield Catholic, and play in the Lancer Classic and Mercy/Warrior Classic tournaments in January before getting into the heart of their season in February.
“We get in there against some good teams, our weaknesses will be exposed,” Johnson said. “That just gives you something to work on the next day in practice, trying to solve all that. It could be one of those years, hopefully, where by December we’ll be alright and by February, we’ll be a good team playing our best basketball.
“Last year, we felt like we were playing well from the start and didn’t have a whole lot of room to get better because we were already there by December. This might take a few more weeks, a little bit longer, but, hey, it’s how you finish and not how you start.”
