By Chris Parker
Wheatland boys basketball is hunting its first double-digit win season since 2017-18 with three starters returning from last season’s team that finished 7-16 overall.
Davin Sawyer is the team’s top returning player. He was named first-team all-conference as a sophomore after he averaged 16.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game last year.
Tyler Dampier returns for his senior season after putting up 10.6 points and 5 rebounds per game as a junior. He was named honorable mention all-conference and all-district.
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Chandler Smith and Owen Kenig are two more seniors who saw limited varsity action as juniors.
Sophomore Dan Murphy (1.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg) and Bodee Fielder (7.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.7 apg) each played in at least 20 varsity games last year.
Sophomores Skylar Garrison and Leland Johnson along with senior James Burnett also are expected to contribute this year.
The freshman quartet of Andrew Murphy, Tucker Shaddox, Jaxon Wheeler and Braden Sawyer along with junior Micheal Piper are expected to contribute.
“We’ve had a solid off-season and made improvements both offensively and defensively,” Wheatland head coach Brian Pearson said. “We’re young and have some athleticism but must be willing to buy into a defensive mindset and share the basketball offensively.”
Wheatland opens the season on Nov. 19 at Northeast Vernon County.
