By Matt Turer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Ava Bears girls basketball fans have reason to be excited heading into the 2021-22 season.
Nathan Houk’s program is coming off its first district title since collecting back-to-back district crowns in 2009-10 and 2010-11, beating Forsyth 55-47 for the Class 4 District 11 championship before falling 53-49 to eventual Class 4 state runner-up Mt. Vernon in sectional play.
And every single player from last year’s team is back.
“We’ve got a lot of good pieces returning,” Houk said. “We want to win the SCA and then see what we can do in the postseason. Last year, we were still learning as the season was progressing. We were able to peak at the right time at the end of the year and were playing our best basketball at the end of the season. From the beginning to the end, we were totally different teams, and our kids are excited to start at the level we finished at.”
The Bears haven’t won a conference championship since the 2013-14 season, and Houk believes that Willow Springs could be the biggest threat to ending that drought.
“I think we’re very capable of beating Willow,” Houk said. “We played them last year at their place (Willow won 67-57) and it was a really good game. We usually have pretty good battles.”
Going to battle for Ava this year are all of last year’s leaders. The senior class includes guard/forward three-year-starter Hannah Evans (13.0 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 2.7 APG, 3.0 SPG), 5’11” Baylan Alexander and Sam Keyes.
“Hannah is a great defender,” Houk said of the three-time all-conference selection. “She can guard players in the post or perimeter. She is a great rebounder on both ends of the floor and she shares the ball well with her teammates. She shoots the 3 well and can score in the post. I expect her to have a big year.”
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Alexander is a key defender and rebounder for the Bears.
“Baylan does a nice job finishing in the paint and shoots well from the perimeter,” Houk said. “She had a great summer and played with a lot of confidence on the offensive end. I look for her to have a great senior season and to continue to be a great leader.”
Keyes did not play last season but Houk described her as a tough, aggressive defender.
“She gives the team energy with hustle and can create offense with her defense” Houk said of Keyes.
Ava’s junior class is full of key contributors, including two-time all-conference guard Olivia Gastineau (13.9 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 3.5 APG, 3.0 SPG), all-state selection 6’2” Sara Mendel (15.0 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 2.8 SPG), all-conference guard Lexie Gastineau (6.4 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 2.3 APG, 2.2 SPG), 5’8” Celia Fossett (4.2 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1.8 SPG), and 5’8” Keeley Akers.
Olivia Gastineau will begin the season rehabbing from a summer injury and is expected to return mid-season.
“Without her, we’ve got to really absorb what she brings to the team by committee,” Houk said of his point guard. “She is a great leader. She hit a lot of clutch shots down the stretch last season. Not having her will be a challenge the first half of the season, but I believe we have enough skill and depth to fill that void.”
Lexie Gastineau—Olivia’s sister—is one name expected to fill that void.
“Lexie is a gamer,” Houk said. “She plays with a lot of confidence and is very determined. I look for that to continue this season.”
Mendel, an all-state selection, led the Bears in scoring and rebounding last season and will likely be leaned on even more with Olivia out.
“I have never had a player improve as much as Mendel did from one year to the next,” Houk said. “She put in a lot of time and worked really hard at improving her game and it paid off. Her length and athletic ability allow her to score well in the post. She hits the boards hard and alters a lot of shots. I expect her to make another big jump as a junior.”
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Faucet is expected to be one of the Bears best defenders, while Akers is an athletic post player with quick hands and feet and the ability to defend multiple positions.
“Faucet, Akers, Alexander—the stats don’t show everything that they do for this team,” Houk said. “They’ll pick up the slack on defense and rebounding that Olivia brings. When they learn they can play at a high level without her, and then we get her back, it will be like a really good team getting a first-round draft pick halfway through a season. These kids have an opportunity to step up, and I have no doubt they’ll do it.”
Ava will jamboree at Spokane on November 20 before opening its season at home against Hollister on November 23. The Bears will compete in the Pink & White Tournament for the second straight year from December 27-30.
