By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
2022 proved to be another successful season for Greenwood Basketball.
The Blue Jays posted a 20-8 record, falling to Strafford in the Class 3 District 11 semifinal.
Six graduated seniors departed the program over the summer, including Tommy Pinegar, Ryan Gibbons, Zach Bailey, Will Schaller, Seydina Diouf and Ziggy Gititu.
Junior Tanner Jones, an all-state selection in 2022, moved to Louisiana.
This year’s Blue Jay squad will be led by a quartet of talented players in Nick Burri, Collin Clark, Griffon Litherland and Garrett Winslow.
Burri, a 6-foot-3 senior and all-district selection, averaged 15.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.7 steals last season.
“Nick Burri had an outstanding junior season,” Taylor said. “He has started since his
freshman season. One of the hardest working players in Southwest Missouri. Ability to play inside and outside with good range.”
Clark, a 6-foot-7 sophomore, averaged 11 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1 steal as a freshman.
“Collin has the size and shooting touch to affect the game,” Taylor said. “We will look for Collin even more this season.”
Litherland, a 6-foot-2 senior, averaged 2.6 points and 1 rebound last season.
“(Griffon) plays with tremendous energy and will assume a big role this season,” Taylor said.
Winslow, a 6-foot-5 junior, averaged 2 points and 2 rebounds as a sophomore.
“Garrett gives us another high-energy player and the size to make a difference in the middle,” Taylor said.
With a significant number of graduation losses, Greenwood will look to a talented group of varsity newcomers to step into prominent roles this season.
6-foot-1 junior Brady Gilmore, 6-foot-1 junior Carson Lines, 5-foot-11 sophomore Quinten Hoffman and 6-foot sophomore Chance Rose will all compete for varsity minutes.
“This group will have a different look than we have had in recent years,” Taylor said. “It is a very hard-working group with good overall team size. Our strengths should be defending and rebounding. This is a very coachable group who get along well with each other. I think with the work they put in during the summer we will develop into a very competitive ball club.”
Greenwood tips off its season Nov. 28 in the Marionville Invitational Tournament.
