Blue Springs South winter previews

Boys Basketball
By BILL ALTHAUS
Bill.althaus@examiner.net

When the 2008 football season started, there was a running joke about coach Greg Oder needing a program to learn the names of his new players.
That’s because the Jaguars, who stunned Rockhurst 14-9 in sectional play, started the season with one returning starter on offense (quarterback Blaine Dalton) and no returning defensive starters.
No one is joking now as the Jaguars are the premier team in the metro area and could claim their second state championship in the past three years.
“I’m just hoping to have the same type of season,” said Jaguars basketball coach Jimmy Cain, who faces much the same situation with his boys team.
“I respect Coach Oder and his staff so much, everyone at the school respects them. They put in the hours and get such great results.
“I believe we can work just as hard and hopefully have some great results.”
The Jaguars were 7-17 last year in a season that saw many top players lose time on the court because of a variety of injuries.
“We need to stay healthy this year, that’s for sure,” Cain said. “Depth is going to be a major concern. And we’re not very big, so rebounding could be a problem, too. But on the plus side, I think we’re going to be a better shooting team. We have some key guys who are still playing basketball – and we hope their season lasts all the way to the Dome (in St. Louis, where the Class 6 championship game will be played Nov. 28).
“We’ll be more than happy to work with the guys we have. And when football ends, we’ll welcome them with open arms.”
Two of those players are 6-3 forward Trayon Jones and 6-0 guard Michael Vann.
“Some keys to success will be playing good defense and taking care of the ball. Once we get everyone here and get in a few more practices and some early-season games, we’ll know a lot more about the team. I think we could surprise some people.”

Girls Basketball
By BILL ALTHAUS
Bill.althaus@examiner.net

It would be quite easy for Fawna Harrison to be short temepered.
After all, her Blue Springs South girls baskerball team is short on experience and just plain short.
But Harrison, who is entering her second year as head coach, has anything but a short fuse. In fact, she’s excited about the upcoming season.
“We won’t be the biggest team on the court and we are short on experience,” she said, “but the girls are working hard and they are a great group to be around.
“We do have more experience at the guard position and that could be a bonus for us.”
The Jaguars were 13-11 last year and 6-6 in the Suburban Big Seven. They got off to a rough start, but finished the season strong – which always seems to be a trademark of a Harrison coached team.
“As a second year (head) coach, you just face different battles and challenges,” said Harrison, who was Adam Courter’s assistant before taking over the head job. “We could have as many as six freshman on the junior varsity team, which will give them valuable experience.
“We’ve already had a major injury impact the team. But that’s just a part of the game.”
Freshman Kariel Hutt, a 5-foot-11 post player, suffered an ACL injury before the start of baseketball and is likely out for the season.
“Remember what I said about being short?” asked Harrison. “When you lose a 5-11 player, that hurts. But right now, we just want Hutt to get healthy because she could have a great high school career.”
The Jaguars have two returning starters in Kailey Hancock and Zakila Smith. Other returnees who are expected to see playing time are Brynn Abram and Jaclyn Morris.
“We’re working hard on defense – which we do every year – and we’re trying to see who steps up and becomes a leader,” she said. “I’m really excited to see what this group can do.”

Wrestling
By JASON TARWATER
jason.tarwater@examiner.net

The 2008 wrestling season is one Blue Springs South would like to forget.
With no state qualifiers and coach Doug Black overseas for part of the year, few things went right as a whole.
This year, the Jaguars are ready to get back to winning ways, despite being in one of the tougher districts in the state.
“We’re using (last year) as motivation,” Black said. “We had probably the best offseason we’ve had since I’ve been here. We’re exciting going into this year.”
The Jaguars have several returners with varsity experience. But Adam Halliday, who will be at 189 this year, and Quinton Perrin will be the two South counts on the most.
“They’re doing a really good job,” Black said. “Perrion is fully back from shoulder surgery. So he’s ready to go.”
The Jaguars are already thinking of the state tournament, wanting to restore the South presence after qualifying one wrestler total the last two seasons.
“Being optimistic and realistic, I think if we can get five or six through we’ll be happy,” Black said.
However, the road will be difficult, as South’s district now has Class 3 champion Wentzville-Holt, who moved up to Class 4 this seeason, as well as perennial powers Blue Springs and Fort Zumwalt West.

Girls Swimming
By JASON TARWATER
jason.tarwater@examiner.net

After losing two all-state caliber swimmers from last season, Blue Springs South is still optimistic about this upcoming season.
A lot of that is because of a freshman class that rewrote the school’s freshman recordbook last season.
“We had some freshman girls last year who really stepped up and excelled,” South coach Russell Green said. “They come to my room once a week and tell me, ‘We’re ready for the first practice coach. We’re ready.’ They’re excited. I’m excited. I’m also curious to see what our numbers will be. We’ll have so many new faces.”
Someo f those sophomores the Jags will be depending on are Marin Durkin, Anna Marie Lajoie, Rachel Honig and Holly Heptig.
Also, senior Monica Randolph is providing good leadership for the Jaguars and could earn a state cut of her own this season.
“Honestly, I think we’ll do better than we did last year,” Green said. “We lose the two studs (Erin Casper and Aubrey Shoemaker), but we have more overall depth and experience than we did last year.”
And a lot of that starts with the sophomore class and what they showed Green last year.
“They set the freshman record in two different relays,” he said. “I’m really excited to get them in the water and get going.
“We should also have a good corps of divers coming out this season.”
While South may not make a lot of noise at the state meet, the Jaguars should be one of the top four teams in the Suburban Big Seven meet toward the end of the season.
And if the new faces have the sort of impact last year’s freshmen had, the Jaguars should have a good foundation for the future.