The Webb City boys basketball team returns a solid core from last year’s squad that won 18 games, claimed a Kaminsky Classic crown and played for a district championship for the fifth straight season.
As a result, the Cardinals are confident they can put together a stellar 2021-22 season.
“I think we have a talented group returning that can compete at a high level,” Webb City coach Jason Horn said. “Good leadership from our senior class will be key for us to compete with the top teams on our schedule. We’re going to play fast, we want to pressure the basketball and we want to be a solid man-to-man defense team. We want to give our fans something that they can be proud of and something that’s fun to watch.”
Five seniors return with varsity experience—Cohl Vaden, Kaden Turner, Max Higginbotham, Dupree Jackson and Isaiah Brisco.
Vaden, a 5-foot-9 shooting guard, earned all-conference, all-district and all-area recognition a season ago after averaging 12.3 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals per game. He’s a player that has shown the ability to knock down 3-pointers and can also provide ball-handling.
“He gives us a reliable ball-handler at the point guard position,” Horn said. “He’s a high IQ player and has a lot of varsity experience. He’s someone who can score and he can get the ball in the right hands. Cohl is also a guy that can quarterback our defense.”
The athletic and versatile Turner is a 6-4 forward who averaged 8.5 points and five rebounds a game. He can score in various ways and can defend all positions, Horn noted.
Higginbotham (6-2) and Brisco (5-9) are guards, while the 5-10 Jackson is a forward who can fill the defensive stopper role.
Also back is 6-4 junior forward Trey Roets, who averaged three points and two boards a game last winter. Horn expects Roets to take on a bigger role this year.
“I think we’ll look a little different than we have in the past,” Horn said. “We’ve got two guys (Turner, Roets) who can score with their backs to the basket. We’ve been really guard heavy the last five years. Trey and Kaden give us a different dynamic with their size and length in the post position.”
A top newcomer is 5-10 junior guard Dante Washington, a player who saw significant minutes for Joplin last winter. Washington is a player who should make a big impact.
Juniors William Hayes, Landon Johnson and Joe Adams and sophomore Barron Duda are other players who could make an impact at the varsity level.
“Our guard play should still be a strength for us with a number of guys being able to make shots from the perimeter and get to the basket off the dribble,” Horn said. “Defensively, we have to do a better job of limiting straight-line drives and pressuring the ball without committing unnecessary fouls.”
A key to success for the Cardinals will be how the varsity newcomers progress and contribute.
“We will have some new guys that will be playing key roles this season,” Horn said. “How quickly they can adjust to the speed and physicality of the varsity game will play a huge factor in determining how successful we will be this season.”
Of course, many of Webb City’s top performers are still playing football, so they’ll get off to a late start as far as hoops season.
“We don’t stress out about it, we’re just happy when they get here,” Horn said, noting the seniors have been in the program since seventh grade and know the system well. “It’s a situation where the deeper they go in the playoffs, the more we have to play ourselves into basketball shape. We just hope everyone will be healthy and they’ll be ready to compete and play hard.”
Webb City will begin the season at Lamar on Dec. 7.
