By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
As the Ava Bears enter year two under head coach Mike Mallow, they’re without a longtime varsity stalwart.
However, they ended last season with an early head start into that future.
Anthony Rosas, a four-year varsity starter who averaged 17 points and 8 rebounds per game as a senior, missed Ava’s stretch run with an injury.
Rosas and three other players have graduated. Returnees such as junior guards Thomas Emerich and Caleb Johnson, versatile senior Wyatt Gastineau and promising junior forward Drake King will look to lead the Bears to their first winning season in five years.
“I feel like (our returning players) have a better understanding of our expectations,” Mallow said. “I think our skill level is improving.”
Emerich was a part-time starter last season. Johnson, the starting quarterback for the football team, is one of the basketball team’s best defenders.
“I expect Tom will step up and be a more productive player this winter,” Mallow said. “Caleb is a gritty player who really harasses the opposing team’s guards.”
Gastineau can play anywhere from point guard to power forward, a nice trait to have in Ava’s pick-and-roll offense. King is 6’5”, but he is one of the team’s best shooters. Gastineau is Ava’s top returning scorer (6.2 ppg) and rebounder (3.6 rpg).
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“Wyatt’s leadership this year will be a key to our improvement,” Mallow said. “Drake is a stretch-four with a nice 3-point shot who can also play in the lane.”
Ava finished 8-17 overall last season, a three-win improvement from the 2015-16 season.
Along with Rosas, the Bears also graduated Colton Skyles (12.3 ppg), described by Mallow as a “hard-nosed player,” and guards Zimran Lawrence and Devin Elliott.
Four seniors, two sophomores and a junior are battling for varsity minutes.
Along with Gastineau, Ava’s remaining senior class includes Joe Balassone, Joey Swofford, Weston Stillings and Michael Sparnicht.
“Joe can slash to the goal. He is an athletic rebounder and a hard worker. Joey is a good athlete who battles hard on the glass,” Mallow said. “Weston, at 6’5”, gives us additional size and rebounding. Michael provides depth and perimeter shooting.”
Ava’s rebounding will be an area to watch. Skyles and Rosas not only accounted for 70 percent of the team’s scoring, but about 65 percent of the rebounding.
“Obviously, finding some rebounding and scoring punch is very important,” Mallow said. “Having said that, ball-handling was a major issue a year ago. We simply must take better care of the basketball.”
Junior forward Griffin Taylor is a capable shooter and ball-handler, Mallow said. A younger face to watch is sophomore Blake King, who may be the team’s best 3-point shooter.
With Rosas gone, a change is likely in store for Ava’s offense.
“We will still use a two-post system but will rely less on one-on-one play in the post and depend more on the pick and roll element of our offense,” Mallow said.
Ava opens the season Nov. 21 at Seymour.
The Bears have tournament appearances in the Mansfield Invitational (Dec. 4-9), the Blue and Gold (Dec. 23-28) and the Mountain Grove Panther Classic (Jan. 22-27).
