By Chris Parker
Billings boys basketball went 16-12 last season with a young team that featured three all-conference sophomores.
“What made us successful was how quickly they bought into playing the right way,” Billings head coach Blayne Armstrong said. “Our guys competed every night, trusted each other, and played with a lot of energy and toughness. Those three sophomores last year set the tone with their work ethic – they didn’t play like underclassmen.”
Chance Shaffer, a guard, earned first-team all-conference honors in his sophomore season.
“He has matured on the basketball court and done a better job making decisions. Chance has always been able to go get a bucket when we need one and he has started to figure out how to bring his explosiveness into the flow of our offense. He shot the ball at a high clip from 3 last year and that also led into his success for us,” Armstrong said. “I expect him to continue to work on his game and get better each day. He is really stepping into a leadership role for us and in order for us to be at our best we will expect him to lead us.”
Junior Kaiden Blakemore was named second-team all-conference last season.
“Kaiden is an ultimate competitor, and I credit that as what led him to take that step forward (last season),” Armstrong said. “His game got better and better as the year went on and he became more comfortable within his role for our team. I am proud of the jump he made last year, and we are hoping to see another jump in his game and leadership this season.”
Justin Bos also earned second-team all-conference honors as a sophomore.
“Justin does a lot for us to be successful. Most nights he was guarding the other team’s best player while also bringing down a team high in rebounds. His role was to create second chances for us and finish around the rim and he did both of those things well,” Armstrong said. “Justin can be a double-double guy consistently if he works at it. We know he is going to show up on the defensive end but if he works at his game he can explode offensively for us.”
Brock Harter (senior center), Cayden Venable (sophomore guard) and Mason Gearing (sophomore guard) also return.
Armstrong on Harter: “Brock is a returning letter winner from last year and will be going into his senior season. Brock does a good job as a post player for us and we are expecting him to take a step and finish around the rim at a high level this season.”
Armstrong on Venable: “Cayden is a shifty guard that has a very high basketball IQ. His feel for the game is on another level, and we are looking forward to him having a breakout season for us this year. He can distribute the ball at a high level and does a great job putting his teammates in spots to be successful. On top of distributing the ball, he is also one who can score at all levels.”
Armstrong on Gearing: “Mason is another returning letter winner that saw the floor a lot last year. He was a guy we could rely on to knock down a shot when we needed it. We are excited to see the growth in his game and expect him to fill a bigger role for us this season. He spends a lot of time on his shot, and we expect him to knock down shots at a high percentage again this season.”
These returners played in a district title game last season where they finished runner-up to eventual state champion Chadwick. Some also saw action in the district championship win two years ago.
“We have multiple guys who have won a district championship and played in another, and I think that experience will be a strength for us,” Armstrong said. “Our core group has played in a lot of tough games, and I think that will only prepare us for the goals we have set for ourselves. Length will be another strength of ours this year and we will look to find ways to use that to our advantage on both ends. We have a good mix of experience and youth and, if we come hungry to get better and compete each day, that will be a strength of ours.”
Griffin Moore (sophomore), Carter Plowman (junior) and Logan Woody (sophomore) will be newcomers to the varsity lineup.
Armstrong on Moore: “Griffin is a kid that has shot up in height and works tirelessly on his game. If he can rebound and defend like we think he can, he will be a difference maker for us. Griffin is able to knock down any shot on the floor so if he can take a step forward and be dedicated to the defensive end he will shock a lot of people this year.”
Armstrong on Plowman: “Carter can bring another level of defense and physicality to our team. He is physically capable of being one of our better defenders and rebounders.”
Armstrong on Woody: “Logan is a hard worker for us who has shown flashes of putting it all together. We are excited to watch Logan continue to grow as a basketball player and take another step forward this season.”
Top to bottom, Armstrong is happy with what he saw from the players in the offseason.
“I’m excited to see the growth in each one of our players,” Armstrong said. “These kids work hard and they spend time in the gym and I’m looking forward to seeing that pay off for each one of them and see how that growth impacts us as a team going forward.”
Billings opens the season on Nov. 24 at home against Monett.
“For this year to be a success, and this is a nightly gauge of it as well, but our kids need to show four things: competitive excellence, relentless effort, play as a unit, and love one another by being the best teammate they can be,” Armstrong said. “If we can do those four things each day in practice and each night on the floor, I would measure that as a successful season.”
