By John Miller
It’s never easy replacing your leading scorer, but that’s the challenge that awaits the Reeds Spring Wolves this coming season.
Jared Cole averaged 17 points per game last year for the Wolves, helping guide the team to a 16-11 record and a 4-2 mark in the Central Ozark Conference-Small Division. Unfortunately, Cole graduated in May along with fellow key contributors Adam Taylor, Dillon Neels, and Reno Randle. Taylor averaged 10 points and 9 rebounds per game last season.
Even in the loss of such impact players, the Wolves are in good shape for the upcoming season with three starters and seven total lettermen returning.
“We have a great outlook for the upcoming season with a lot of guys back with experience,” Reeds Spring coach Barry Yocom said. “We will continue to build our motto: ‘Every day guys challenging our players to take care of their responsibilities on and off the court and compete every day.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE WINTER SPORTS PREVIEWS
Five-foot-9 senior Joel Gertson leads the way for Reeds Spring this year after averaging 10.1 points and 5.1 assists per game in the point-guard role last year. He could be asked to take on a greater scoring role with Cole no longer in the lineup. “Joel is a quick ball-handler and good distributor,” Yocom said. “We look for big things out of him this year.”
Austin Bradfield, a 6-foot-3 junior forward, should provide the Wolves with a presence in the paint and help fill the void left by Taylor’s departure. Last year, Bradfield averaged 4.8 points and 4 rebounds per game. “He’s a glue guy for us,” Yocom said. “He’s a great defender and he always gives great effort.”
Reeds Spring will also lean on the play of a third returning starter: 6-foot junior guard Lane Carroll, who chipped in with 6 points per game last year. “Lane has great length at the guard position,” Yocom said. “He has the potential to be a consistent scorer.” With his length and size, Carroll can also be a matchup problem for the opposition, forcing them to deploy a slower big to defend him just to match his height.
The Wolves also bring back 6-foot-3 senior J.P. Gardner, 6-foot-5 junior Logen Plumb, 5-foot-9 Cole Nordin, and 5-foot-11 Cole Crutcher. All five players were lettermen last year and a few made a handful of starts. Plumb averaged 4.2 points and 3 rebounds last year, largely coming off the bench. “J.P. is a good defender with the potential to score,” Yocom said. “Logen has a high motor and is a decent post defender. He has the potential to give us a scoring option in the post. Cole Nordin is a great on-ball defender and detail guy, while Cole Crutcher is a plus shooter.”
The team also welcomes in a group of newcomers that includes four sophomores: Troy Froeschle, Robbie Huseman, Brittin Dover, and Josh DeJarnette.
It’s never ideal to lose your leading scorer from the season before, but it seems like the Reeds Spring Wolves have the pieces in place to make up for that loss and march on to another successful season.
