Advance Boys Basketball Preview

Conference: Stoddard County Activities Association

Coach: Bubba Wheetley, 2nd year

District: Class 1 District 2

Schedule:

Date Day of Week Opponent Location Time

December 1-5, 2014 Monday-Friday Oran Invitational Tournament Oran TBA

December 9, 2014 Tuesday Bell City Home 6 p.m.

December 12, 2014 Friday Puxico Away 6 p.m.

December 16, 2014 Tuesday Scott County Central Home 6 p.m.

December 19, 2014 Friday Bloomfield Away 6 p.m.

December 26-30, 2014 Friday-Tuesday Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament Show-Me Center TBA

January 6, 2015 Tuesday Scott City Away 6 p.m.

January 9, 2015 Friday Bernie Home 6 p.m.

January 13, 2015 Tuesday Chaffee Away 6 p.m.

January 16, 2015 Friday Richland (Essex) Home 6 p.m.

January 20, 2015 Tuesday Zalma Away 6 p.m.

January 22, 2015 Thursday Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau) Home 6 p.m.

January 23, 2015 Friday Egyptian (Tamms, Ill.) Away 6 p.m.

January 26-30, 2015 Monday-Friday SCAA Conference Tournament Bloomfield TBA

February 5, 2015 Thursday Risco Away 6 p.m.

February 6, 2015 Friday Dexter Home 6 p.m.

February 10, 2015 Tuesday Woodland Home 6 p.m.

February 13, 2015 Friday Leopold Home 6 p.m.

February 17, 2015 Tuesday Oran Away 6 p.m.

Roster:

No. Player Year Height

21 Dakota Welty 11

22 Preston Wuebker 10

23 C.J. Seger 11

25 Brian Whitson 11

30 Austin Ladd 11

33 Alex Morse 12

35 Dalton Wilson 12

43 Grant Woodfin 12

44 Luke Shelby 11

50 Dawson Mayo 10

Returning starters: Dawson Mayo, Dalton Wilson

Starters lost: Lane Below, Austin Miller, Eli Seger

Last year's record: 21-9

Postseason result: Lost to Thayer 46-45 in a state quarterfinal

Last year's leaders:

Points: Lane Below (27.3 ppg)

Rebounds: Dawson Mayo (6.9 rpg)

Assists: Below (5.2 apg)

Team outlook

The biggest challenge in Advance boys basketball coach Bubba Wheetley's second season will be to replace the production lost from last year's star, Lane Below.

"I expect us to do as well as we did last year. Now I don't know if we'll get it done because these kids here, I don't know if they have the heart that the group had last year," Wheetley said. "... I think overall, I have better shooters this year, but Lane just carried the team and could get everything done. It's just hard to replace that."

Along with Below, the Hornets lost two other starters from last year's team, but will benefit from the return of starters Dawson Mayo and Dalton Wilson. As a freshman, Mayo led Advance with 6.9 rebounds per game a year ago.

Wheetley said Mayo struggled on offense last season but has shown all-around improvement during the offseason.

"Everything's better for him this year. He's jumping better, shooting better. He defends well and he rebounds well. That's why I brought him up," Wheetley said. "The thing about him I like is that as a freshman, he played like a senior last year. He can bring the ball up the floor. He doesn't panic. It just doesn't bother him. Even though he's a little slow and not the most athletic, he's smart with the ball and he passes. He sees the floor."

Wheetley said the Hornets will have a steady rotation of seven players in their lineup. He believes shooting will be a strength but wants to see the team embrace a more physical mentality.

"I don't really know what to expect. I've got some good kids here. I've got some kids that can shoot a little bit, and we've got a little bit of size. I've got some kids that can pound the ball a little bit," Wheetley said. "They're practicing and working hard right now. I really like what I'm seeing. Of course, we've got a long way to go. We had a couple kids come in late that decided finally to play."

"... All I really want to see these kids do is really work hard every day and improve. If they'll do that, I think we can get there. We're good enough, but these other teams are good enough, too, so I just want to see them improve."

District breakdown

Along with Oran, Advance will switch from Class 2 District 3 to Class 1 District 2.

Advance and Oran will be joined by Risco as newcomers in a district with previous teams Bell City, Delta, Oak Ridge, Richland (Essex) and The Fulton School at St. Albans. The district loses McKinley Classical Leadership Academy, Leopold and Scott County Central from its field.

"I think our district's going to be just about like it was last year," Wheetley said. "Oran's going to be the team to beat probably, but Bell City has a lot of young kids that I like over there. ... I think we can contend. There's no doubt in my mind."

The Hornets saw last season end on a buzzer beater with a 46-45 loss to Thayer in the state quarterfinals.

Looking back

Although its season finished one game away from advancing to the final four, Advance finished with a 21-9 mark.

Wheetley hopes his players remember the effort that was necessary for last year's postseason run.

"I think going as far as we did, for most of these kids, they got a taste of it," Wheetley said. "These kids are wanting to go back again. They enjoyed that little ride we had, and I think they feel they can do it."

-- Trent Singer