After a deep postseason run last winter, the College Heights Christian boys basketball team hopes to go one step further in 2021-22.
The Cougars made history by winning a district championship and advancing to the Class 2 state tournament last year. With a talented and experienced group, it’s safe to say the Cougars have the goals set high.
“With the experience and the kids we have back, we feel pretty good about the upcoming season,” College Heights coach Eric Johnson said. “We just have to make sure they keep their heads screwed on straight, continue to work hard to get better and keep going in the right direction. I think experience, size and depth are our biggest strengths.”
The Cougars return a solid core this winter, with four full-time starters back and another player who started on a part-time basis.
Leading the way for the Cougars is 6-foot-3 senior shooting guard Miller Long. Long earned all-conference, all-district, all-area and all-state honors as a junior.
“He can score, but we’re going to ask him to handle the ball and get the ball to his open teammates too,” Johnson said. “There’s going to be times when he’s double-teamed and someone else is going to be open. I know he’s focused on having a great season.”
College Heights won’t rely on Long alone.
Also back are seniors Hagen Beck, Ethan Adel and Ethan Meeks and junior Curtis Davenport. A trio of forwards/post players, Meeks is 6-7, Davenport is 6-5 and Beck is 6-4. Adel is a 6-foot guard.
Davenport earned all-Ozark 7 and all-district honors last year, compiling 21 points and 17 rebounds in the district title game against Liberal.
Johnson said Meeks, who started part-time last season, has improved.
The Cougars have even more size, as sophomore Chase Hembree is 6-7, junior Noah Hipple is 6-4 and sophomore Caleb Quade is 6-3. Junior Ben Thomas (6-2) is another player who should contribute.
Johnson, who is in his 48th season as a basketball coach, with this his 47th as a head coach, noted the Cougars have plenty of depth.
“It makes practices competitive when you’ve got 10 kids you can put out there,” he said. “We don’t feel like we lose that much when we go to our bench.”
The Cougars, who made their first-ever state tourney appearance, finished last season with a record of 17-10.
Johnson said the team would love to capture another district championship this season, with going further in the postseason an ultimate goal.
“These guys have big goals,” Johnson said. “But we can’t look to March now. It’s November, so you have to take one game at a time. But that experience they got last year is big. They know what it takes to get there and they know what it takes to go further on this time. I think they learned that. They were willing to work hard this past summer and this fall. I think they got better.”
College Heights opens the season on Friday night at Providence Academy in Rogers, Arkansas. The Cougars will compete at the Pierce City Invitational beginning on Nov. 29.
