Offseason work has Govreau, Chaffee basketball in position to succeed

While still nearly half a year removed from tipping off the 2023-24 season, the work continued for a handful of local boys’ basketball teams as Chaffee hosted its annual Chaffee Varsity Summer Shootout this week.

From Monday through Wednesday, Chaffee hosted the varsity squads of East Prairie, St. Vincent, Oak Ridge, Perryville, Kelly, Meadow Heights, Woodland and Scott County Central as well as a handful of junior varsity teams as well.

With each team competing in two 30-minute games per day, the Red Devils put many local teams to work over the week, hosting the event for the 16th time in Chaffee coach Josh Govreau’s 16 seasons with the team.

“Number one, get some kids down here to play and learn,” Govreau said. “Obviously, we have a lot of learning to do, learning to play the game of basketball. It’s fun just to get some schools down here and just to play some basketball.”

Chaffee's Shelton Simmons lunges to steal the ball during a June 7, 2023 scrimmage with Scott County Central at Chaffee High School in Chaffee, Mo. Chaffee hosted eight local teams from June 5, 2023 to June 7, 2023 in the Chaffee Varsity Summer Shootout.Cole Lee ~ Southeast Missourian

Coming off of an 11-16 season which included a berth in the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament consolation semifinal, Chaffee looks to build a team identity through these offseason scrimmages with other local teams.

Of the eight teams that Chaffee hosted, seven of them appeared on the Red Devils’ 2022-23 schedule. Chaffee, returning much of the talent from the previous season, looks to build upon its performance by playing familiar competition while also getting a chance to test out the depth of the squad.

“A lot of this is a learning experience,” Govreau said. We’re missing quite a few varsity guys, which a lot of the teams are. During the summer you're not always gonna have your guys here. But it gives you a chance to look at different matchups that we have on the floor to get some kids that are here that maybe not play as much during the regular season a chance to prove themselves whether or not they can handle it.

“I've been impressed with our effort. I mean, we're obviously not in midseason form shooting-wise and we're a step slow on about everything, but it's a good experience – just getting better.”

Chaffee's Levi McKinnie rises above his defender for a jumpshot during a June 7, 2023 scrimmage with Scott County Central at Chaffee High School in Chaffee, Mo. Chaffee hosted eight local teams from June 5, 2023 to June 7, 2023 in the Chaffee Varsity Summer Shootout.Cole Lee ~ Southeast Missourian

Govreau understands the importance of his upcoming senior class, with a full rotation of experience looking to provide the spark for the upcoming season.

With the experience comes the expectation of success, and Govreau looks to put the team on the map as the season looms in the distance.

“We have six, seven seniors now that have been playing full varsity minutes for three years, so we can't use ‘We don't have experience’ as an excuse. We have the experience, it’s just how much they want it. You know, it's their last year playing varsity.

“I have high expectations for us. I expect big things, but they have to want it as much as I do, which is what I hope will happen when we get into the season.”