2018-19 Winter Preview: Fordland Boys Basketball

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Fordland is poised for big things with senior first-team all-conference guards Jake Farnsworth and Hunter Burks returning for coach Brett Rippeeā€™s second season.

Farnsworth averaged 22.1 points, 5.1 assists and 2.2 steals per game. While making 115 3-point shots.

ā€œJake will be our point guard this season and I expect him to have a great year. He has received some college offers and I believe his confidence is sky high right now,ā€ Rippee said. ā€œI believe he is a much better leader than he was a year ago, but we need him to expand that role even further. He has gotten stronger and improved his attacking game to go with his elite level shooting.ā€

Burks scored 23 points per game last year with 8.1 rebounds and 2 steals per game. He also knocked down 45 3-pointers while shooting 47.3% from the field.

ā€œHunter is a shooting guard that can leap and will probably play all five positions at different times this year,ā€ Rippee said. ā€œHe has improved his ability to get to the rim more often and we need him to continue to be aggressive in trying to get there. He is a solid 3-point shooter and has worked hard to be more consistent from downtown. Defensively he needs to become a stopper for us.ā€

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Fellow senior Brett Hyder has improved over the offseason. Rippee will look for him to score when he can and be disruptive on defense and rebound.

Junior Joe Hart didnā€™t play last year, but will have a big impact this year. He will give the Eagles a third scoring option. Harti is also a knockdown shooter and the teamā€™s best defender.

Sophomore Buster Brown made big strides over the offseason and will be a key varsity contributor this season. He also is a strong outside shooter.

Speed and shooting will be key for an undersized Fordland group.

ā€œWe will be very fast, athletic, and have more offensive firepower this year outside of Jake and Hunter. We do not have a ton of size so we will play position-less basketball at times, which I feel could pose match-up problems for our opponents. We also have good team chemistry and this team is coming together on and off the floor,ā€ Rippee said.

Fordland has a strong nucleus that should lead to an improvement on last yearā€™s 11-15 record.

ā€œWe have the chance to have a good season,ā€ Rippee said. ā€œI know we don’t have a lot of depth, but I like the kids that I have. I am just going to approach this season day to day and get back to just getting better every day. I am excited to coach this team and it seems this group just wants to win more and that is encouraging.ā€

Fordland opens the season on Nov. 20 at home against Hurley.

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