Lady Wildcats’ home opener on Dec. 5

By Kyle Troutman ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com

It has be come a habit for the Cassville girls basketball team to win 14 games in 28 tries, and it’s one the Lady Wildcats want to break.

At 14-14 for two consecutive seasons, Cassville Girls Basketball Coach Clayton Bagby said one of the main goals this season is to finish above .500. The last season Cassville did so was in 2017, when the Lady Wildcats were 22-5 and fell in the Class 4, District 10 semifinals to Webb City. Cassville fell in last year’s Class 4, District 12 semifinals to Aurora.

“We would love to see us break that .500 mark this year as well as an improved finish in the Big 8 West,” Bagby said. “[Our schedule] hasn’t changed a whole lot since last year. We are now in the Marionville tournament. It looks there will be a couple Class 4s in it with us, as well as some very good Class 2 and Class 3 teams. The conference looks to be similar to last year. We will see how things shake out.”

Leading the Lady Wildcats into the fray will be a pair of returning starters in Madison Halterman, senior, and Kyler Hayward, junior.

“Madison earned All-District Honors last year as a junior and is very knowledgeable of the game,” Bagby said. “She is the hardest worker on the team and puts in a lot of work on her own time, and has the ability to play inside or out and we expect great things from her this year.

“Kyler started every game last year as a sophomore, and we expect her to be improved and benefit from her experience. She sees the floor well on both sides of the floor, takes charges, and rebounds and blocks out extremely well for her size. We believe she will be improved offensively scoring as well as facilitating.”

A trio of returning letter winners will bolster the ranks.

“Hailey Gautney is a physical player,” Bagby said. “She has more of a guard build but is a handful around the basket with her toughness. She spent time with Coach [Chris] Shore working to improve her shot since last season and we look to take a big step this year. Elly Ramaeker is a hard worker and natural leader. She stepped up and earned a varsity role with her defense around Christmas last year and split time with Gautney as the sixth man. She continued to improve offensively and has become a very good player.

“Aubrey Stoufer lettered as a freshman and had a spot role off the bench as the season went on. She was one of our more impressive players over the summer and with her height and guard abilities will cause matchup issues for opponents.”

Bagby said multiple newcomers to the team this season should also make meaningful contributions on the floor.

“Kyla Bowling is a junior and was the MVP of our JV team last year, and she will look to carve out a role for herself this year,” he said. “When on, Kyla can score 3-pointers in bunches. Avery Stokes is a 6-foot freshman with obvious basketball bloodlines. She will make an immediate impact on the offensive and defensive end with her ability around the basket as well as ability to alter shots.

“Audrey Kennedy is another that will make an immediate impact. She is a very athletic guard that can score from all 3 levels and also looks to be a disruptor on the defensive side. Taylor Kennedy is also a freshman and one that will look to make an impact early. She is good from the outside, sees the floor well and is good at taking what she’s given.”

As a starter for three seasons, Halterman has her hands on the reins leading Cassville on the floor.

“As one of only two seniors, Madison is a natural fit coming in as a thirdyear starter and one of the hardest workers on the team,” Bagby said. “She isn’t always the most vocal, but leads by example. She is also very good working with the younger players and helping on different aspects of the game.”

With the season underway on Monday, Bagby said Cassville hopes to achieve its goals by capitalizing on its strong chemistry and teamwork.

“We have a very good group of players this year on and off the floor,” he said. “Team chemistry is something the girls have mentioned as being a strength, and because of that, I feel like we have had a good start to the season in practice being able to start working on things we want to focus on this year.

“Going back to last season, turnovers were probably our looming issue. That is something that we continue to work on and hope to keep improving as the season moves on. That should help with us overall being a better offensive and defensive team.”

Cassville’s schedule is home-heavy in December and mostly on the road in January. After the Marionville Lady Comet Classic Jan. 15-20, four straight road games will send Cassville home to for a basket-brawl.

“We have Monett at home this year [on Feb. 5],” Bagby said. “That would be a good one [for fans to attend] with obvious rivalry and conference — and possible district — implications.”

Bagby said there are plenty of good teams on the schedule, and improvement over the season will be key.

“We just want to work hard, together, and as a young, continue to improve as the year goes on to give us the best chance when we get to conference and districts,” he said.

Cassville played its Jamboree on Nov. 14 against Southwest and Mt. Vernon, and its first regular season contest was Monday at Pierce City. After the Crane Lady Pirates Invitational Nov. 27 to Dec. 2, the Lady Wildcats will host their home opener against Mt. Vernon on Dec. 5.