New stars emerge

The BRANSON Tri LAKES NEWS Basketball PREVIEW will be included in our Dec. 2 print edition. The 20-page supplement will feature previews on Blue Eye, Branson, Forsyth, Hollister and Reeds Spring, as well as team photos and individual photos.

By Pat Dailey
Sports Editor
Originally published Nov. 25, 2009

There are very few holdovers who starred on Tri-Lakes hardwoods last season. But new standouts are emerging who promise to make the upcoming hoops season just as entertaining as last season.

Branson’s new big man on campus is junior guard Avery Dingman. The 6-foot-6 jumping jack isn't the same unassuming sophomore who played little on the varsity a year ago.

“Since last spring to when I got him back in the fall, he’s improved more than any kid I’ve had at Branson,” Pirates coach Randy Bishop said. “That’s putting some pressure on him. But he’s seasoned. He can handle it.”

Dingman enjoyed experiences playing with and against some of the nation’s best juniors during AAU ball. He was part of the Kansas City Speed Smoke that journeyed as far away as Los Angeles and Dallas for tournaments.

“I was the furthest traveler on the team, most of the other kids were from the Kansas City area,” Dingman said. “It was definitely worth it for the exposure I got, and the competition made me a lot better. It was a good learning experience.”

Dingman figures to play along the perimeter and above the basket. Well above the basket, actually. His leaping ability is on par with former Pirates all-stater Mike Wiebe.

Dingman thinks the new heights he is reaching are the result of workouts he’s went through at HealthTrax in Springfield.

“I worked a lot on my vertical,” he said. “That’s something I wanted to improve on.”

“He’s really got some hops,” Bishop added.

“‘Wow’ is about all I can say about him,” teammate Sam Pugh exclaimed. “He’s jumping higher, shooting better and playing better defense.”

With Wiebe and Tate Unruh graduated, Branson’s scoring load will be on Dingman’s shoulders.

“He knows what is expected of him because we lost 80 percent of our offense,” Bishop said. “He knows he is going to have to score quite a bit.”

Blue Eye guard Garett Chapman has already scored plenty in his three years as a starter. He’s on track to join former teammate Logan Decker as a member of the Bulldogs’ 2,000-point club.

Chapman is the only player back from last season’s All-Tri Lakes Team and is Blue Eye’s lone returning starter from its Class 3 Final Four outfit.

Naturally, he’ll figure prominently in scouting reports from opposing coaches.

“A lot of our offense is going to be centered around Garett, but it can’t all be centered around him,” Bulldogs coach Roger Cavener said. “He’s going to draw lots of attention from opposing defenses. We’ll probably face some box-and-ones and teams might have a player face-guard him. Sometimes, we’re going to have to be patient enough on offense to get the ball back in his hands. He’s not going to take all of the shots, but he’s going to make it happen, as far as passing the ball and creating open looks for other people.”

Chapman thinks defenses that pay too much attention to him and leave forward Timmy Reagan and center Zach Campbell open will pay for it.

“I don’t think that will work,” Chapman said about double-teaming him. “We’re solid enough that I don’t think teams will be able to do that against us.”

“If teams try to shut Garett down, we have plenty of other people to step in,” Campbell added. “But I don’t think anybody is going to be able to shut him down, anyway. They can do whatever they want. Nobody’s going to shut him down.”

Reeds Spring has been by a tallish front line in recent years, but is now being captained by guard Ben Selby. He enjoyed a breakout junior season a year ago.

“I think he can have another breakout season,” coach Dan Jones said. “There’s not a point guard in the area I would rather have.”

Pugh could be on the verge of establishing himself in much the same way Selby did last season. His role is expected to expand, after his primary duty last season was to bring the ball upcourt and feed Unruh and Wiebe.

“If a shot is there (Bishop) wants me to take it,” Pugh said. “If I’m open, I’ll shoot it. But if someone else has a better shot I will get it to them.”

Pugh doesn’t figure to challenge his career-high 45-point output in middle school at Kirbyville anytime soon.

“I don’t think I ever will,” he said.

New coaches include the entire staffs at Hollister, where Tim Brown takes over the Tigers and Dwayne Felks will lead the Lady Tigers. Brown will be assisted by former Missouri State guard Shane Laurie and former Lady Tigers coach Mark Vert.