Lace 'em up, it's basketball season once again

The start of the high school basketball seasons are less than two weeks away and that has me pumped up to say the least.

While growing up my favorite sport to play was football, since I've started covering sports professionally, I've never enjoyed anything as much as high school basketball.

I know the seasons are long. I understand that with high school boys, girls and Cottey, that amounts to a lot of basketball. But it still keeps me going from November until March, successfully filling the gap between high school football season and the Major League Baseball campaign.

This year there are a few changes to familiarize yourself with.

On the college level the Cottey Comets are a contender. I know that sounds weird, seeing as the Comets barely finished above .500 last season and it was the best record in school history.

But the Comets have the talent this season to be considered a true favorite for the Region 16 crown. North Central Missouri College will provide plenty of resistance, because they're loaded, and St. Louis Community College-Meramec did win the title last season so they have to be considered a threat. But neither of those teams can boast a complete returning starting lineup this season, and the Comets are so deep this season they have two of those starters from last season coming off the bench.

Considering Cottey was second in the region tournament last season, if they can stay healthy, the Comets probably should win the region.

At Nevada High School, the boys lost a boatload of seniors from last season. But the cupboard isn't bare.

Bryan Campbell was the team's best player last year, offensively and especially defensively, and he returns as a senior. Campbell can take over a game and will be asked to do so many times this year.

Drew Weatherly can flat out shoot. When he is on, the Tigers are never out of a game because of the 3-point shot.

The emergence of a few other players (see James Tumm, Jordan Kerbs and Spencer Thompson) will be key for the Tigers if they want to keep from taking a step back this season.

The Lady Tigers will be good. Check that, they should be good. They should have been good last season but injuries made it impossible to compete in the conference and district.

Nevada lost only one senior, so if healthy, the Lady Tigers should at least battle for the conference title. They could be the favorites. The ladies will also be the favorite in the district, barring catastrophe.

Looking at the schedule this season there are a few changes that are sad to see.

The boys no longer get to go to Bolivar for the Liberator Tournament. On its last legs a year ago, the Liberator Tournament has folded tent after 75 years.

The Tigers have picked up games with Mount Vernon and Carl Junction to make up for the missing tournament on the schedule.

The Lady Tigers have lost Stockton from their schedule. Nevada replaces Stockton with Monett, although at a later date, so the Lady Tigers no longer open the season the week of Thanksgiving.

Instead, the Lady Tigers open this season at the Carl Junction tournament, more aptly named the St. John's Sports Care Girl's Basketball Classic.

That tourney replaces the Joplin tournament Nevada has participated in for years. I am sorry to see Nevada's involvement in the Joplin tourney cease. I know coach Bartlett didn't like how Nevada usually played three games in three days so early in the season, but I loved the fact Nevada got to see teams they likely wouldn't see in the regular season. To me, you can't have enough quality early season opponents that show you different styles of basketball. It breaks the monotony of the Southwest Conference-style slugfests, and helps prepare your team for the postseason, if your team can make the postseason.

That experience might have been even more beneficial this season with Nevada going up north for the district tournament. While the Lady Tigers play Harrisonville and Pleasant Hill in the regular season, they won't get to see Clinton or Warrensburg. Maybe the Joplin tournament would have helped prepare Nevada for the unknown northern schools?

Instead, the Lady Tigers are in a tournament with a field that not only isn't near as impressive as Joplin, but they have the prospect of facing Carthage and Webb City again. As if Nevada doesn't see those two teams enough. Especially Carthage. It's bad enough Nevada usually plays Carthage in their tournament, and in our tournament, and twice in conference play. Now there's a 50-50 chance they will play them this year in the Carl Junction tournament too.

You see, Nevada-Carthage girls games are usually not an entertaining style of basketball. The two teams usually pound each other into submission. I can't wait to see that five times this season.

I guess the bright side is Nevada has a legitimate shot to win the Carl Junction tournament, and a 3-0 start with a tournament championship under their belt could be the perfect beginning if the Lady Tigers want to make a state run this year. We'll see how it plays out.

That's all we can do for all the area teams. You can predict and plan all you want, but the athletes decide things on the court. At least basketball season is here, and the sound of shoes squeaking on hardwood can be heard.