Ozark Conference Preview
To say it’s a weird year in the Ozark Conference would be putting it lightly. Kickapoo, Camdenton and West Plains all have new coaches. The most talented player in the league, Tyem Freeman, went from Hillcrest to Parkview and gained immediate eligibility. Glendale is the clear favorite but beyond that it’s an argument who the top challenger in the conference is. Here are a few things to watch in the Ozark Conference this winter.
Reigning Champs: Kickapoo Chiefs
Kickapoo has zero starters back following back-to-back Final Four runs. The Chiefs also have a new coach in Mitch McHenry, who served as an assistant under Dick Rippee before taking over at Rogersville for a year. No Jared Ridder or Cam Davis, but McHenry will look to reload behind lone returning lettermen Tanner Oetting and Sam Wallin. There are a ton of question marks regarding this team, but ultimately they’ll be talented and inexperience. They might struggle early but this could be a sleeper come district time.
2017-18 Favorite: Glendale Falcons
Glendale is the best team in the conference and I don’t think it’s close. However, that doesn’t mean they’ll win the conference title. Keep in mind, this is a team that could’ve given Kickapoo a run last year in district play but got upset by Ozark (who wouldn’t consider it an upset at all) in the district semifinals. Monty Johal and Jordan Walton will go down as two of the best players to ever wear a Glendale uniform and the complement of highly skilled players around them is disgusting; Brian McTague can surround them with shooters and make it impossible to help. Seniors Jaxon Davis and Garrett Freeman are perfect complements and the development of guys like Winston Quinn and Jadon Gilpin could determine if this is a Final Four team.
Top Contender: Parkview Vikings
Landon Cornish’s second season at Parkview saw the Vikings improve their win total by seven games. With the addition of Tyem Freeman, the maturation of Dontae Taylor and the development of Tre Morrison, there will be no shortage of expectations for Parkview. Throw in seniors Demarcus Mason, Gage Clark and Daru Elliott and Cornish will have plenty of talent and athleticism. Last year Parkview struggled to get stops against good teams. Scoring won’t be a problem again this year, but the Vikings ability to string together stops against offensively explosive teams like Glendale and Ozark will decide their season.
Lots of sleepers…
Rolla returns a ton of firepower from last year’s district runner-up team. A late run in football may have them a little rusty, but 6-foot-4 senior wing Josh Pritchett (16 PPG, 5 RPG, 5 APG) is due for a monster season. Nick Janke is one of the best rim protectors in the conference and Mark Miller’s system is one of the most visually appealing in the Ozarks. This team will be a Class 4 contender… Hillcrest will also be in the Class 4 hunt, which may be surprising to some. Losing Freeman was hardly the end of the world and the Hornets are simply reloading behind an experienced senior class and talented newcomers. The Hornets lack an explosive scorer, but have several athletes and can overwhelm opponents with defense, depth and tempo. I like Joel Brown and company to play with a chip and surprise some people this year… Speaking of surprises, Joplin snuck up on some people last year, winning a district game for the first time in years. The Eagles might be the deepest team in the OC in terms of the amount of parity from 1-12. They also have an abundance of long, athletic kids that are 3-and-D types. I would be shocked if anyone in the Ozark, besides Parkview, finished with more dunks than Joplin. Sophomore Evan Guillory is one of the most physically gifted players in the conference and should have a breakout year. This is Jeff Hafer’s best team yet.
WHO WILL LEAD THE OZARK CONFERENCE IN SCORING?
Monty Johal led the conference in scoring last year at 27.8 PPG. The talented senior bucket getter will likely lead the league in scoring yet again as he continues to chase Dorial Green-Beckham’s SPS scoring record. Johal already holds the single-game and career scoring records at Glendale, but he might have some competition for the scoring crown with several scorers returning. Here are the OC’s best scorers.
2018 Monty Johal, Glendale
The smooth lefty can get it however you want it. He can get to the rim and excels from deep, but unlike most kids, Johal already has a refined pull-up game. He’s even flashed the ability to have some bounce.
2018 Jordan Walton, Glendale
Johal gets the attention but Walton averaged 22.7 points last year to go along with a handful of assists. He has a quick trigger and limitless range. He’s a true point guard that just happens to be an explosive scorer.
2019 Tyem Freeman, Parkview
He’s the most athletic player in Southwest Missouri and one of the most gifted athletes in Missouri. The 6-foot-5 wing has no problem finishing at the rim, but has also improved the consistency of his jumper. He averaged nearly 20 points last year at Hillcrest, transferring to Parkview could mean more opportunities.
2018 Josh Pritchett, Rolla
He’s all over D-2 radars because of his 6-foot-4 frame and smoothness to his game, which includes attacking the rim and shooting it efficiently. He’s another kid that can score at all three levels but his savviness and frame make him a matchup nightmare.
2020 Quenton Shelton, Lebanon
He’s the only player in Missouri history to score 500 points as a freshman in Class 5. Shelton is one of the best shooters in Missouri, be it off the catch or off the bounce. This sets up everything else in his repertoire. He averaged 18 a night as a freshman.
WHO IS THE LEAGUE’S BEST DEFENDER
Tim Washington is back for his fourth year as a starter at Hillcrest. What allowed him to play as a freshman is still what he excels at as a senior. Defense. Washington is the biggest name in the conference defensively and will likely be the premier defender in the league. However, the conference offers a variety of high-level defenders.
2018 Tim Washington, Hillcrest
He’s the most versatile defender in the league with the ability to defend 1-5. A strong 6-foot-2 frame allows him to be comfortable defending in the post or on the perimeter and he’s excellent and dictating to offensive players.
2018 Nick Janke, Rolla
The 6-foot-5 senior averaged nearly two blocks a night last year. He’s improved at attacking the ball and not the man, which has only made him a more effective shot blocker without picking up fouls. Also a great rebounder.
2019 Tre Morrison, Parkview
In terms of physical tools, he has everything you want. The long, athletic 6-foot-8 junior battled injuries last season, but could be in store for a great season. He’s very much in the mold of former Parkview standout Zach Cameron.
2020 Evan Guillory, Joplin
His frame and athleticism earned him varsity minutes as a freshman and will give him the chance to be one of Missouri’s premier defenders. He’s another big guard that can defend 1-5, but he’s bouncy enough to be a true rim protector despite being 6-foot-3 and isn’t afraid to step in and take a charge.
WHO WILL MAKE THE MOST 3-POINTERS?
2018 Jaxon Davis Glendale
Few roles are more important than spacing the floor and Davis is the best in the Ozarks. As a junior he averaged 14.2 points, knocking down 101 triples at a 44 percent clip, which broke the school record. If his feet are set its money.
2020 Quenton Shelton, Lebanon
The reason he scored so many points is because he can get his shot off with minimal time or space needed. He buried 89 3-pointers last year, which established a new Lebanon record. He was also an 82 percent free throw shooter.
2018 Braeden Testerman, Joplin
The 6-foot-2 guard isn’t afraid to let it fly. He’s long and rangy, which almost makes his release a bit unorthodox, but Testerman averaged 11 points as a junior with several big nights behind the 3-point line. He doesn’t mind attacking the rim, but his catch-and-shoot game is lethal.
Preseason Ozark Conference Awards
Champion: Glendale
Player of the Year: Monty Johal, Glendale
Co-Offensive MVP: Tyem Freeman, Parkview & Josh Pritchett, Rolla
Defensive MVP: Tim Washington, Hillcrest
Most Improved Player: Evan Guillory, Joplin
Freshman of the Year: Anton Brookshire, Kickapoo
Coach of the Year: Joel Brown, Hillcrest