By Amanda Perkins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
After a 16-win season that ended with a narrow loss in district play, the Willow Springs Bears return this year with nearly their entire lineup intact, losing just one starter.
“Our guys have really bought into what we are trying to do here, and it showed last year and during the summer,” said head coach Dustin Forrest, who enters his fourth year leading the Bears. “We have good kids that love the game and want to win.”
Senior guard Kolby James will be a key component to the Bears’ success. “I feel like Kolby is one of the best players in the area,” said Coach Forrest. “Kolby went over the 1,500-point mark as a junior and is receiving college interest. There isn’t a morning that Kolby isn’t in the gym, and his game reflects all the work he puts in. His quickness and overall athleticism make him hard to stop.” Last year, Kolby averaged 21 points, 4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2 steals per game.
Brady James, 5’10” junior and brother to Kolby, was a second-year starter last season and averaged 9 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, and a steal per game. “Brady did a great job last year for us,” said Coach Forrest. “He was one of our top defenders last year and he really shot the ball well for us. I felt like through the offseason and summer, he really developed his midrange game and the ability to attack the basket.”
Sophomore Caden Lee started every game as a freshman and averaged 5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals per game. “He really did a good job adjusting to high school basketball,” said Coach Forrest. “Caden brings a high IQ to the game and has the ability to do a lot of things for us. He sees the floor very well and led our team in assists.” Caden will take on a larger scoring role this season after showing his capability during summer play.
James Dean, 6’4” senior, “is one of the only true big guys we have,” said Coach Forrest. As a junior, he averaged 5 points and 5 rebounds and his confidence on the floor increased. “James had a good year for us, and I saw a lot of growth in his game throughout the season,” said Forrest. “James does a good job of guarding other bigs and has a good mid-range game. At 6’4”, we really need his size on the floor.”
Junior Brody Thompson “played a lot for us last season off the bench and did a good job,” said Coach Forrest. “He is a crafty player that can play both inside and out. Brody really guards well for us, and that in itself will find him competing for a starting spot.”
Newcomers to varsity will add depth to the Bears’ roster. Holt McGinnis, 6’3” senior, “has been in our system for four years and really saw a big jump in his game this summer,” said Coach Forrest. “He has developed into a guy that can play inside for us and step outside if we need him to. We are going to lean heavy on Holt to guard inside guys and rebound for us.”
Grady Friga, 6’4” junior, “had a big season for our JV team and showed this summer that he can make an impact for us at the varsity level,” said Coach Forrest. “Grady is a smart kid that does things the right way. I look for him to compete for big minutes this season.”
Freshman Kayden Adams (5’11”) rounds out the newcomers. “Kayden is an athletic freshman with a good knowledge of the game,” said Forrest. “He is a guy that could find himself in some games before the year is over.”
As the Bears gear up for another challenging season, Coach Forrest believes his team has what it takes to compete at the top, with goals including conference and district titles.
“I think we have the guys that can do it, but there are not many nights off when it comes to the SCA,” said Forrest. “With our size, we are going to rely on our quickness and athletic ability to play fast. As a team, we shoot the ball well, so we will try to attack and give our shooters good opportunities. Our guys are hungry and ready to win out of the gate this season.”
The Willow Springs Bears will jamboree November 18 at Norwood with the host team and Fair Grove. They kick off their season at the Strafford Tournament, then host Summersville December 9.
