2016-17 basketball preview: Mountain Grove boys

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By Amanda Perkins

When the Mountain Grove football team advanced to the Elite Eight, the baseball team won a state title, and the basketball team placed third in Class 3 last year, senior DJ McNew was an integral part of each team. Now, the Panthers look to continue their tradition of excellence without the explosive player.

Putting up 20 points per game from all over the court and averaging more than six rebounds, McNew was the back-to-back SCA Player of the Year, an all-conference and all-state selection, and the Ozarks Sports Zone 1 Awards Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year. The forward now plays baseball at State Fair Community College. Classmate Thomas Clifton and his seven points and three rebounds per game will also be missed.

In their second Final Four appearance in school history, the Panthers fell to Barstow – the defending state champs -in the semifinals but beat Whitfield in the 3rd place game to finish with a 28-5 record. Coach Duane Hiler returns for his ninth season with Mountain Grove and brings back an impressive nucleus of athletes.

“We return a very experienced group, with three starters back off a third-place finish in Columbia,” said Hiler. “Two-year starters return with Carter (Otwell) and Treye (Collins), along with our second leading scorer Brock Coffman. We also return one of the best sixth men in the area last year in Cade Coffman…this team has a chance to be very deep with several young players moving up from a very good JV squad (20-2). Playing time will be competitive with any of the top 12 ready to play.”

Carter Otwell led the Panthers to the state playoffs last year as the quarterback, and when he steps off the field this season, he’ll return to the court as Grove’s point guard. The SCA honorable mention and all-district first team player averaged 10 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals per game. The 6’1” junior is quick and can apply pressure on both sides of the floor.

Cade Coffman, Brock Coffman, and Treye Collins were each part of the championship baseball team, and they are just as essential to the basketball team’s success.

Cade is a 6’3” junior who averaged 11 ppg and hit 70 3-pointers at 45 percent from behind the arc last year. The sixth man is poised for a breakout season with his solid shooting game. Cade’s brother Brock Coffman returns as the second leading scorer who averaged 12 points and six rebounds. The forward was a first team all-district and second team all-SCA player last season. Senior combo guard Treye Collins earned an SCA honorable mention for his six points, four rebounds, six assists and two steals per game.

The Panthers also return six-foot senior Logan Sheppard. Newcomers include sophomores Dillion Massey and Dawson Hiler, juniors Patrick Lane, Conner McNew, Hayden Newberry, and Gaven Veach, and senior Austin Williams.

The Panthers were efficient scorers last season, knocking down nearly half of attempted field goals and shooting 37 percent from downtown. Scoring this season will be more balanced with McNew’s exit, but there is no question that Mtn. Grove has a talented bunch.

“The SCA will be very competitive from top to bottom,” said Hiler. “Liberty, Thayer, Ava, and Salem all return very good squads. If we continue to improve defensively and learn to play together we have a chance to have another good year. We hope to be able to be in the mix for a championship again.”

The Panthers host Springfield Catholic for their season opener Nov. 22.

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