Meadow Heights boys preview: Panthers return plenty of firepower

As has been the case in Meadow Heights coach Tom Brown's four-year tenure as Panthers coach, scoring should not be a problem for the Panthers this season.

Meadow Heights brings back four returning starters who all averaged double figures in scoring from a team that averaged 79 points a game. Terry Wagner reached the 1,000-point plateau as a junior last year and averaged 17.5 points a game.

Brown said with the team's recent success, he does not see any reason to go away from the run-and-gun style they have played.

"We're going to be the same way," he said. "We'll be up-tempo and fast. The new kid [6-foot-7 Ruggerro Moretto] was one of our top cross country runners, so he's stepped right in.

"We averaged 79 points last year, and I honestly think we'll average more this year. Our younger kids have bought into the system and they like it. I see good things for the future."

The addition of Moretto will give the Panthers a presence inside they have not had lately. Moretto is a junior foreign exchange student from Italy.

"I think he'll help us inside," Brown said. "He's still young as far as our system, but I think he will help us if he keeps working hard. He is a legit 6-7 kid."

For all the points the Panthers have put on the board, they have yet to turn that offense into postseason success. Meadow Heights' only district title came in 1989.

"That's our No.1 goal," Brown said, "to play on the championship night of districts and bring it home."

---

MEADOW HEIGHTS BOYS

Coach: Tom Brown, fifth season

Assistant: Craig Hutson

Last season: 16-9

Conference: Mississippi Valley Conference

Returning starters

Terry Wagner 6-0 Sr. G

Anthony Bollinger 6-1 Sr. G

Heath Fulton 6-0 Sr. G/F

Michael Collier 6-1 Sr. F

Rest of roster

Nathan Revelle, 6-1, Sr., G/F; Ruggerro Moretto, 6-7, Jr., C; Bryce Wallis, 5-10, Sr., G; Dusty Davis, 6-0, Jr., C; Zach Bynum, 6-0, Jr., F; John Long, 5-9, Jr., G; Ethan Barnett, 6-3, Jr., F

Schedule

Nov. 22 -- Leopold, 6 p.m.

Nov. 25 -- Van Buren Shootout

Nov. 28-Dec. 2 -- Woodland Invitational

Dec. 9 -- at Bismarck, 6 p.m.

Dec. 13 -- Delta, 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 15 -- Marquand, 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 26-30 -- SE Missourian Christmas tourney

Jan. 13 -- Woodland, 6 p.m.

Jan. 17 -- at Leopold, 6 p.m.

Jan. 20 -- South Iron, 6 p.m.

Jan. 24 -- Zalma, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 27 -- at Scott CIty, 6 p.m.

Jan. 30-Feb. 4 -- Mississippi Valley Conf. tournament

Feb. 7 -- at Oak Ridge, 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 10 -- Marquand, 6 p.m.

Feb. 14 -- at Valle, 6 p.m.

Feb. 16 -- at Saxony Lutheran, 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 17 -- at St. Vincent, 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 21 -- Chaffee, 6 p.m.