By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Few coaches are less excited about doing these preseason interviews than Kevin Cheek, but it comes with the territory when you’ve helped build one of the most basketball-rich traditions in Missouri history.
Entering his 19th season at Skyline, Cheek has been to nine Final Fours – including five in a row – and has won four state championships, including last year’s run that culminated with a 69-42 win over Adrian.
Making last year’s championship, the sixth in program history, even more special was the fact it came on the heels of four consecutive Final Four losses to Crane.
“Last year was really a great time,” said Cheek. “I think the seniors and juniors from last year we extremely relieved. It’s hard to put that much work into the previous seasons and not reach your ultimate goal. I was extremely proud of the way that our kids continue to battle and get better each year.”
McKinsey Mountain, Lauren Wouters and Sierra Retherford have all moved on, but the expectations at Skyline are like taxes… they aren’t going anywhere.
Skyline returns four starters and a pair of lettermen from last year’s team, led by Class 2 Player of the Year Kaylee DaMitz.
The Pitt State commit will finish her career as one of the most decorated players in the history of the Mid-Lakes Conference, entering her senior year as a three-time all-state selection with three Final Four appearances and a state championship.
“Kaylee is a kid who makes me looks really smart,” said Cheek. “During her freshman year she would always look for confirmation that she had done the right thing. Somewhere during her sophomore year she started making some decisions on her own. About the midway through last year she started playing the mental side of the game at a different level.
“I can’t wait to see how this year goes. I hope she gets to the point where I become irrelevant to the game.”
In addition to DaMitz, there will be plenty of other options for Cheek to lean on.
Savannah Owen is another four-year letterman for the Lady Tigers. She had 10 points and eight rebounds in last year’s state championship and will be counted on to continue to be a paint presence for Skyline as the team’s leading rebounder from last year.
Senior Kristen Miller and junior Autumn Garrett also return to the backcourt, giving Cheek two more guards that love to defend and attack the rim. Fellow junior Chloe Cole, Skyline’s second-best 3-point shooter, is also back.
Seniors Valen Logan and Sarah Cunningham are a pair of intriguing forwards. At 6-foot-1, Logan is the tallest player on Skyline’s roster, while the 5-foot-9 Cunningham allows Cheek to go small and space the floor because of her ability to shoot the basketball.
Cheek isn’t worried about his returners adjusting to the target on their back after winning a state championship last year, he believes they’re more than capable of taking everyone’s best shot.
“We haven’t talked much about being the hunted rather than the hunter,” said Cheek. “This group has been successful enough to understand that mentality.”
Cheek returns multiple sophomores that earned minutes as freshmen, but also believes his current freshman class could figure into the rotation, along with move-in Kylie Craig.
“Our freshman class is fairly talented but will need to adjust to the varsity level quickly in order to contribute,” said Cheek. “Keelie Holmes could see some time and the varsity level as a freshman and Kylie Craig is a move in and could help out at the varsity level.”
Skyline is known for consistently playing one of the area’s toughest schedules and not ducking any program, regardless of size.
That will again be the case with Class 5 Nixa, Class 4 Webb City, Marshfield and Osage, as well as Class 1 power Walnut Grove all on the regular season, non-tournament docket.
Cheek also believes playing in the Mid-Lakes, especially with Strafford, Stockton, Fair Grove, Ash Grove and Marionville all have Final Four runs in recent years, is great preparation for playoff basketball.
“Playing in this conference helps your program,” said Cheek. “It’s a tremendous advantage of most over most of the schools that we play. The quality of basketball is really high so you have no choice but to get better because of the level of competition.”
Skyline will begin its quest for back-to-back state championships in the Warsaw Tournament on Nov. 27.
