GRC Boys Basketball 2024-25 Season Preview

by Jeremy Benson, GrandRiverConference.com

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Maysville received six first-place votes and is the coaches' pick to repeat as GRC Boys Basketball Champions for the 2024-25 season. Defending champion Putnam County received two first-place votes and was picked second. Gallatin was picked third by the coaches.

Maysville

Maysville had one of its best seasons in school history last year. They finished 25-2 overall and 5-1 in the GRC. They also won the District Championship and the Gallatin and King City tournaments. This year, Todd Mercer takes over the reins. The Wolverines would like to build on the success from last season. To do so, they must replace three starters in Kobyn Metzger (16.9 ppg, 1^st Team All-Conference, All-District, 1^st Team All-Cliff Notes Podcast), Kayden Gabbard (6.4 ppg, Honorable Mention All-Conference, Honorable Mention All-Cliff Notes Podcast), and Tanner Evans (8.7 ppg, 2^nd Team All-Conference, All-District, 2^nd Team All-Cliff Notes Podcast). 

But they still have a lot of talent returning, which led the coaches to pick Maysville to win the conference. It would be the first GRC title in Boys Basketball since 1988 if they can accomplish that. Leading scorer Dillon Willis (19.5 ppg, 1^st Team All-Conference, All-District, District Player of the Year, All-State, 1^st Team All-Cliff Notes Podcast) joins Kris Gabbard (2^nd Team All-Conference, Honorable Mention All-Cliff Notes Podcast) as a starter returning. They will be joined by Brock Windham (3.0 ppg), their sixth man from last season. Kasen Reeder (0.5 ppg), Mac White (0.3 ppg), Carson Bray (3.7 ppg), Eli Gaiser (0.7 ppg), Broden Willis (3.0 ppg), and Bo Ziekle (0.3 ppg) are expected to take on expanded roles.

Coach Mercer said, "We are looking forward to the season. Great group of young men to Coach."

Putnam County

Putnam County won its first GRC Championship in Boys' Basketball last season, finishing 19-8 overall and 6-0 in the GRC. The Midgets will have to replace five graduating seniors: Owen Ream (13.3 ppg, 1^st Team All-Conference, All-District, KMZU Dream Team), Trace Riediger (14.0 ppg, 1^st Team All-Conference, All-District, KMZU Dream Team), Carter Simmons (7.3 ppg, 2^nd Team All-Conference, All-District), Riley Ayers (4.0 ppg), and Randal Ayers (3.0 ppg). Mason Morris (9.6 ppg, 2^nd Team All-Conference), Kooper Hornaday (8.8 ppg, Honorable Mention All-Conference), and Avery Campbell (3.9 ppg) are expected to lead Putnam County in its quest to repeat.

Juniors Daxton Smith (1.0 ppg) and Diego Lopez (1.2 ppg) and sophomores Mathew Blanchard (0.5 ppg) and Sawyer Morgan are newcomers in the main rotation for the Midgets.

Coach Kyle Fleshman said, "I'm hoping to see everyone step up and inhabit their new roles on this year's team. Some of the returning players will be asked to expand their roles from last year and contribute in other ways, especially on the offensive end. Some of the newcomers will have to make the big leap from JV to finding a way they can contribute on the varsity team."

Gallatin

Gallatin had many players who had to take on expanded roles last season. They started the season slowly but won six of their last eight games. They were district runners-up, falling to Maysville in a close game. The Bulldogs have higher expectations after finishing 14-11 overall and 3-3 in GRC.

Gallatin will replace two starters, Boston Bell (12.6 ppg, 2^nd Team All-Conference, All-District) and Jaden Wilson (8.6 ppg), but they will return starters Gavin Wilmes (15.1 ppg, 1^st Team All-Conference, All-District), Pryce Johnson (6.5 ppg), and Brody Bird (7.4 ppg). Last year's sixth man, Jack Donovan (5.1 ppg), also returns. Wilmes led the team in scoring last season and set the tone. Johnson is the point guard who sees the floor exceptionally well. Bird is one of the top defenders, and Donovan is a threat from three.

Reid Henry (1.3 ppg), Sullivan Bird (1.1 ppg), and Wade Houser (are among the players expected to take on an expanded role. All of them will see more time to help replace the production left by Bell and Wilson's departure.

Coach Tanner Smith said, "I'm excited for our returning players to have a chance to continue to build off our success from late in the season. I expect us to compete and play extremely hard at both ends of the court. We have a group that has played a lot of basketball together throughout their lives so I expect us to play well together and to be a tight-knit group. We're going to be a fun team to watch with the way we share the basketball and push the tempo.

Polo

Polo Panthers last had a winning season in 2011-12. They finished last season 10-12 overall and 2-4 in the GRC. They lose starters Logan Raby and Hunter McGee but return the GRC leading scorer in Maverick Gentry (1^st Team All-Conference, All-District, 1^st Team All-Cliff Notes Podcast, KMZU Dream Team). Gage Gilbert (2^nd Team All-Conference, Honorable Mention All-Cliff Notes Podcast, KMZU Dream Team) also returns to the starting lineup. Brandon Wallce and Carson Thompson will be asked to play a bigger role for Polo this season. 

Coach Josh Junco said, "This team has talent in multiple places, and we should be much more diverse this season with the newcomers and growth the team has made. We have a capable and athletic sophomore class, and joining them will be a good freshman group fighting for starting and bench minutes. We should be a dangerous team that is competitive every game. I expect this team to challenge for a conference title and more."

Brookfield

Brookfield Bulldogs were 8-17 overall and 1-6 in the Clarence Cannon Conference last season. As they enter their new conference, they must replace Hank Parks (Honorable Mention All-Conference, KMZU Dream Team) and John Walgren. They will return Hayden DeJong (2^nd Team All-Conference, All-District, 2^nd Team NEMO Media All-District, KMZU Dream Team), Bryson Shoop, and Kendrell Carter. Newcomers for the Bulldogs include Phoenix Jordan, Brayden Shoop, and Riley Hinkle. 

Coach Dray Starzl said he expected to "compete at a high level every game. We need to keep building on the previous years and continue to get better. It will be an exciting year. Joining a new conference and getting familiar with the new teams will be a good test for us. We appreciate all the support and can't wait to hit the court!"

South Harrison

South Harrison had one of the most demanding schedules in Northwest Missouri last year. They faced six teams with 18 wins or more in addition to three Class 4 and one Class 5 opponent. They had a total of eight games against district champions. Despite finishing 8-17 overall and 1-5 in the GRC, the Bulldogs pulled off big wins over Brunswick and Lawson, two district winners. 

South Harrison will have to replace Braxton Booth (9.6 ppg) and Isaac Williams (13.8 ppg, Honorable Mention All-Conference, All-District, Honorable Mention All-Cliff Notes Podcast, KMZU Dream Team) in the starting lineup.  Returning for the Bulldogs are Jett Cornett (14.8 ppg, 1^st Team All-Conference, All-District, Honorable Mention All-Cliff Notes Podcast, KMZU Dream Team), Brody Templeton (4.0 ppg), Khale Taggart (2.1 ppg), and Cooper Johnson (2.7 ppg).  They will be joined by newcomers Paxton Pack, Ashton Ebersold (0.7 ppg), Marshall Holtzclaw, Trevor Henry, and Brysan Quinley.

Coach Aaron Fitzpatrick said, "With a good core of young players that played significant minutes in 2023-24, South Harrison looks to take a step forward in conference play and throughout the season this year. One of our expectations is just to compete at a more consistent level and continue to improve throughout our roster."

Milan

After six straight seasons with a winning conference record, the Milan Wildcats struggled to finish 7-18 overall and 2-4 in the GRC. In addition, they will have to replace most of their scoring this season with Ahmet Niasse (18.8 ppg, 1^st Team All-Conference, All-District, 2^nd Team All-Cliff Notes Podcast, 1^st Team NEMO Media All-District), Jared Gonzalez (8.5 ppg, 1^st Team All-Conference, Honorable Mention All-Cliff Notes Podcast), and DonDivin Ngombo (3.0 ppg) graduating. Ethan Bennett (4.8 ppg) is the main player returning from last season and will be joined by a lot of players with limited varsity experience, including Keaton Weter (3.5 ppg), Macky Sow, Hunter Reed (1.5 ppg), Danny Castellon, Aziel Alcantara, Memphis Cole, and Jesus Cirino. 

Trenton

Trenton Bulldogs' 9-win season last year was their most wins in five years and a 3-win improvement over the season before. They finished 9-14 overall and 2-4 in the GRC. The Bulldogs hope their continued improvement will give them their first winning season since 2017-18. They will have to replace four starters from last season with Gabe Novak (12.5 ppg, 2^nd Team All-Conference, All-District, 2^nd Team All-Cliff Notes Podcast), Bradyn Sager (6.2 ppg, KMZU Dream Team), Maverick Sole (6.4 ppg), and Seth Doolittle (3.3 ppg).

The lone returning starter, senior Kiefer Tolson (24.3 ppg, 1^st Team All-Conference, All-District, District Player of the Year, 1^st Team All-Cliff Notes Podcast, KMZU Dream Team), was the leading scorer for Trenton. Coach Jon Guthrie said, "Kiefer plays hard and is one of the best leaders on our team. He plays downhill and is a relentless offensive threat. Kiefer makes it to all of our offseason workouts and has done an amazing job helping us develop the younger kids in our program. He's like having a Coach on the floor and has the ability to score at all three levels, at the basket, mid-range, and from three.

Trenton will return senior Hunter Smith (4.2 ppg), junior Isaac Dixon (0.8 ppg), junior Elijah Miller (1.5 ppg), and sophomore Camden Skipper (1.3 ppg).  Smith will be playing post and can step out and hit the three.  Dixon was one of the top JV players during his first two years.  Miller will be expected to be a rebounder and rim protector.  Skipper is expected to be one of the top defenders.  Newcomers for the Bulldogs include senior Aiden Weyer, senior Jake Schmadeke, junior Logan Roberts (1.0 ppg), sophomores Graeme Sager, Kaideyn Schweizer, Matthew Kralicek, and Asher Pryor, and freshman Cayden Farmer.

Coach Guthrie said, "We expect to be very competitive this season, and compete hard in every game we play in.  Our team has had a great summer, competing in several shootouts, and have shown great growth and development throughout the year.  I'm really proud of how well Kiefer Tolson and Hunter Smith have led this team in the offseason, developing their skills while also developing the younger athletes and creating a positive team culture.   The GRC is a very good basketball conference in North Missouri, and we hope to finish well this season in our conference standings."

Marceline

Marceline Tigers will join the GRC this season after finishing 0-22 overall and 0-8 in the Lewis & Clark Conference.   New head coach Derrick Holt hopes to end the Tiger's 34-game losing streak in their new league.

The Tigers are still a young team this season with no seniors. They must replace Barrett Stearns (KMZU Dream Team). The other four starters from last year return, including junior Harrison Green (KMZU Dream Team). Green is expected to be in a rotation of seven players, including Baylor Stearns, Weston Molloy, Trent Ewigman, Josiah Mulliens, Brenan Fraiser, and Ty Gulley.

Cody Lower, Trace Huber, Payton Gladbach, and Ryan Cochran will also expect to see some varsity action this season.

Coach Holt said he is "trying to build a team that is 1-44 the last two seasons. We are a very young team with no seniors. We do have four returning starters, three juniors, and a sophomore. We are trying to be a defense-minded team playing man-to-man."