By Chad Hayworth (For Ozarkssportszone.com)
Versatility may well be the key to success for this season’s East Newton Patriots, Coach Kyle Fields says.
“This really feels like my first group that has a lot of different ways of getting it done,” he said. “We could have five guards on the floor, playing fast-paced. Or there may be times we want to slow it down and try to minimize possessions. The players we have give us some leeway to play different styles.”
East Newton returns two starters from last year’s squad that finished 16-11 overall and 4-4 in Big 8 play. Gone are first team All-Conference, All-Area and All-District guard Braxton Wolfe, the Patriots’ go-to player, and Josh Mathis, an honorable mention All-Conference player that was the Patriots’ inside force last season.
Fields is expecting more leadership from senior Caden Youngblood, a 6-foot-3 player that is comfortable both inside and outside. He averaged 10 points and 3.7 rebounds a season ago.
The role should be old hat for Youngblood by now, after a fall season in which he switched from receiver to quarterback to lead the Patriot football team.
“He’s going to be the focal point as a senior leader,” Fields said. “He’s one of our better defenders, and he will have the ball in his hands a lot to help with scoring. He’s the catalyst we need.”
Ethan Bales (9.6 ppg) leads a junior class that will have to carry a significant portion of the load for the Patriots.
“With two years under his belt in the program, we’re looking for good things from him,” Fields said. “He’s strong and has a good first step, along with a knack for scoring baskets.”
Fellow junior Carson Rinehart returns after featuring in all 27 games a year ago. Rinehart can run the offense and guard on the perimeter, using his basketball IQ earned from years on the hardwood, Fields said.
The Patriots will get some help from a couple of players that have come back to the program after time away. Senior Alan McFarland returns after taking his junior year off, while senior Braiden VanLue hasn’t played since he was a freshman.
“Alan gives us a presence inside and Braiden provides athleticism to our group,” Fields said.
Senior Kenny Barrett, junior Kaden Cole and sophomore Noah Ball all figure to find time in the lineup, depending on the nightly matchup.
“That’s huge for us, seeing what kind of advantage you can get offensively, defensively and in transition,” Fields said. “Our starters every night will be based on the matchup and who is playing well and producing.”
East Newton opens the season on Nov. 11 against cross-county rival, Diamond, with a trip to the Pierce City tournament the following week. The Patriots will play in the Southwest Holiday Tournament and also the Tri-State tournament in Jay, Okla., in January. Big 8 play starts Jan. 6 against McDonald County, Fields’ alma mater and former coaching home.
“It will be a little different East Newton team than we’ve had the last four or five years,” Fields said. “I definitely think we can play a little bit faster than what we’ve done in the past.”
