2018-19 Winter Preview: Bolivar Boys Basketball

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By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)

Year in, year out, the bar is high for the Bolivar Liberators. Just two years removed from its jaunt to the Class 4 state title game, the team returns several key pieces and hopes for another postseason push this coming March.

“We were very pleased with the improvement we made last year, and we feel like this group can continue to get better,” coach Robby Hoegh said. “They each have tremendous role recognition and simply want to do anything they can to help the team. We want a team that enjoys competing as hard as they can with one another.”

Last year, the Liberators finished with a 16-12 record and lost in the district championship to Logan Rogersville. Last year also saw the departure of key players Corey Spindler, Mason Payne, and Kyler Murphy. But the team returns key cogs in senior guards Ian Jones and Jaden Spindler, as well as senior forward Levi Manning that has them believing the upcoming season could be a special one.

Jones was the team’s leading scorer last year, averaging 14.5 points, while also leading the team with 4.6 assists per game. His 78 3s also led the squad. He’s now accumulated 621 points in his career – over 400 of which came last year. He’s sixth all-time at Bolivar in 3s with 132. Preston Guiot leads that list with 300, followed by Chance Rash with 230.

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“Ian is as good of a guard that we have had,” Hoegh said. “He works really hard on his game and will lead our team again. All coaches want players that believe the little things matter, and Ian has always been a player that pays meticulous attention to the details of the game. We are excited to see him take on a more vocal role for our team this year.”

Spindler averaged 5.8 points last year and hopes to improve on that number this coming season. Hoegh used a fun analogy when describing Spindler.

“Jaden reminds me of the Seinfeld ‘Sable Hat’ episode – most know it as the ‘Chicken Roaster’ episode, but I don’t think it gives George (Constanza) his due,” Hoegh said. “In the episode, George has a theory on how to get dates with women. He says he is like a commercial jingle. First, it’s a little irritating, then you hear it a few times and before long, you’re humming it in the shower. That is Jaden’s game. The more you watch him, the more you realize the impact he has on the game. After two or three games, you wish you could bottle up all he does and teach it to other kids. He is a unique player that certainly has skills but he does so many more things that aren’t as quantifiable as points, rebounds, and assists. He is the ultimate intangible guy.”

Manning averaged 5.3 points last year, and Hoegh has been impressed by his development and growth as a player during his high school career.

“He’s a young man with high character,” Hoegh said. “He knows how to practice with diligence and purpose. It’s those reasons that we have seen the tremendous growth over the last four years in his skill development. We are excited to see Levi’s hard work pay off this year.”

Also returning for the Liberators are juniors Jamison Jones and Hunter Berry, who both played pivotal roles off the bench last year. Seniors Brock Pitts, Hayden Tucker, and Kaden Katzer are also back for Bolivar and should give them the depth they need for a successful season.

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