2020-21 Winter Preview: Fordland Boys Basketball

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By Chris Parker

Fordland boys basketball will rely on a pair of returning seniors for leadership this year, as the Eagles look to bounce back from last season’s 8-17 finish.

Those seniors are guard Buster Brown and forward Skyler Jacobson.

“Buster is one of our senior leaders and had a good season last year. He is a solid 3-point shooter that will have to be guarded. He has put the time in and improved himself and is now a player that we are counting on to take the next step. He has to put everything together this season and lead our team,” Fordland coach Brett Rippee said. “Skyler is one of the hardest workers and has expectations to succeed. He did a lot of damage inside over the summer and was very active on the boards. He will be looked upon to lead us in practice and score and rebound this season. His athleticism and hard-nosed attitude is much needed for this team. I expect him to play better and better as the season progresses.”

Sophomores Bryce Fries (guard) and Logan Owens (guard) both showed great improvement in the off-season.

“Bryce is the true definition of a gamer. He is one of our most improved players, and if he puts in more time he can be very good. Bryce plays extremely hard and has a nose for the ball. He has to improve defensively and if he does he could push some guys for varsity time,” Rippee said. “Logan is a young player who has a ton of potential. He has put in a lot of time in the gym and it shows in his game. He can get to the rim and hit open 3’s. I look forward to seeing him continue to improve through the year. He has to stay healthy and translate his strong practice play into games.”

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Junior Buddy Penberthy returns to the post.

“(Buddy is) an undersized post that shows potential to be a scrappy post player that has a nose for the ball. He will need to turn his motor up and get better each day. He could be a solid rebounder and we are hoping he takes a big step forward this season,” Rippee said.

Sophomores Cameron Crowe (forward) and Logan Swanson (guard) also return to the team.

“Cam is a talented player that played a ton of varsity minutes last season. He will have to improve in all elements of the game. We will count on him to rebound, compete defensively, and finish around the rim. He has the ability to step out and hit the three, but will have to put more time in to be consistent. I am really excited to see Cam’s growth this season,” Rippee said. “Logan is an improving player that must take a step forward. He is talented and we expect him to play well. He has shown signs of becoming more aggressive, tougher, and has the ability to move on from mistakes. The experience he gained as a freshman will pay off and I’m really excited to see him this season.”

Junior guards Jack Coursey and Kadin Kinall will be two more newcomers to watch.

“Jack is new to our squad this year and brings athleticism and speed to the perimeter. He is an outstanding defender and can get after opposing guards. He is extremely fast and has to play more under control. He can hit the three. Jack is a big addition to our team and fills a need for us immediately,” Rippee said. “Kadin is a newcomer to our team this season. Kadin is an excellent ball handler and is a talented player that can score in a variety of ways. We expect him to score for us and play perimeter defense. He has fit in well with our team and is a big addition. He will have to attack the rim more and get to the line to complete his game, but I’m confident he will have a big season for us.”

Fordland will be young this year with just two seniors on the roster, but Rippee likes the chemistry this team has displayed.

“We had a good off-season and our team has good chemistry. I hope that the experience our young players gained last season combined with new additions will pay off this season. We will still have to overcome some youth and inexperience with only two seniors with extensive varsity experience. We have an opportunity to have a good season and be a difficult team to play. There is a ton of potential in our gym, it is honestly a question of how bad these young men want it,” Rippee said. “We will have to be more effective and efficient on the offensive side. Simply put we have to score more points this season. We were a solid defensive team last year with the exception of a few games, but struggled to light up the scoreboard. The Summit Conference is brutal and one of the best small school conferences in the state. We must be more competitive and find a way to win conference games.”

Fordland opens the season Nov. 30 through Dec. 5 at its home tournament.

“I am genuinely excited for this season, as we have a ton of depth and practices will be very competitive and provide me with options. I am going to push this team as hard as any team I’ve had and I’m confident we have the right mix of attitude, enthusiasm, effort, and leadership to handle it,” Rippee said. “I expect us to take a step forward, get tougher, and build off the experience we gained last season. I expect us to compete every possession and continue to get better throughout the season. The expectations are to give ourselves a chance to win every night.”

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