Cassville aims to build on youthful accomplishments

By Kyle Troutman

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The Cassville girls basketball team is entering new season with experience, depth and returning production, looking to build on last year’s success and district title game appearance.

“We had a very good mix of experience and talented youth,” Bagby said about last season. “We had four seniors that had played basketball for 4 years that were team-first players, and we had younger players who also brought experience from their freshman or sophomore years; and, we were able to use that experience and depth to our benefit in a lot of games.”

Bagby said because of the experience his younger players gained in 2024, there are high expectations coming into the new campaign.

“We have high expectations for ourselves going into the year returning 2.5 starters and a lot of experience, and about 65% of the offense returning in the five letterman,” Bagby said. “Our overall athleticism and returning experience will be a plus for us. With the sophomores and juniors that have been around now, and a good summer, we already have a solid base to start adding to it from the beginning of the season.”

The Lady Wildcats also look to develop the next wave of talent behind last year’s senior class.

“We lost 4 senior contributors from last year, and depth will be important for us, and finding those girls that are going to step up and earn those minutes that we graduated,” Bagby said. “We also expect to be playing some freshman and sophomores, so continuing to mature, handle adversity and understand the game will be important.

“As we look to fill spots this year, and with some younger girls playing, we expect there to be bumps along the way, but as long as we are improving throughout the season and put ourselves in a spot to compete at a high level in conference and district, that will be a good indicator of success.”

While youth will be a factor, Bagby said the team has players with experience excited about playing basketball and seeing what the team can do.

“We have an overall competitive group from top to bottom,” Bagby said. “That makes going to the gym every day fun.”

Among the returners, junior Audrey Kennedy continues to be a key player for Cassville.

“Audrey is just a really good and tough athlete,” Bagby said. “She can score the ball at all three levels and is a great defender. Her starting experience and playing as a freshman definitely helped her as a sophomore be ready for the grind of the season. We expect more of the same from Audrey and to continue to improve as her confidence and aggressiveness continues to grow.

“Audrey can play anywhere we put her, she has the ability to make moves around the basket, can guard anyone, and handles the ball well.”

Senior Aubrey Stoufer — coming off being named All-State as a softball pitcher — also returns as a key leader.

“Aubrey is what you want your upperclassmen to be,” Bagby said. “She shows up every day in the summer and in season, one of the hardest workers on the team, and wants and expects to win. If you could pick a player for your younger athletes to model, she would be a prime example.

“She was our leading rebounder last year out of a guard position, which exemplifies her toughness,” Bagby said. “She wants and expects to win, and she is going to do everything she can to make those plays that help her team win, and while a lot of what she does shows up on the stat line, she provides a lot that doesn’t also. Her height (5’10) out of the guard spot also makes her a tough guard for other teams. Like Audrey, she can play all over the court on both sides of the ball as well as handle it.”

Junior Taylor Kennedy enters the year with an expanded role.

“Taylor has lettered her first two years off the bench, and we expect her to step into a starting role this year,” Bagby said. “She is known for her shooting, but she also provides length on the defensive end and can be a tough guard.”

Sophomore Alex Holycross also returns with varsity experience, including in the district title match against Aurora last season.

“She is a very good rebounder, and we expect to see her take steps on the offensive side this year with a year of experience,” Bagby said.

Fellow sophomore Brylee Gross looks to build on her freshman year.

“Brylee is a very quick guard that averaged 5 points a game as a freshman before missing the last few games with injury,” Bagby said. “She is a good shooter and defender that should take a step forward as a sophomore.”

Competition remains open for additional varsity roles as the season gets underway.

“We have a handful of players that we expect to compete for varsity playing time beyond those players, and whichever ones come to practice wanting to win those spots and put in the work will have the opportunity to earn minutes,” Bagby said.

Big 8 Conference and district competition are expected to be strong again this season.

“Nevada split the conference championship last year and has a large amount of returners, and McDonald County has what many consider to be two of the better players, so conference will be tough this year,” Bagby said. “We are replacing an excellent group of senior leaders from last year’s team, but with health, we expect to compete night in and night out and hope to be playing our best by time Conference rolls around and end of the season.”

The longtime rivalry with Monett also continues.

“Cassville and Monett is always fun and a rivalry,” Bagby said. “We have met multiple times the last few seasons and we are both bringing back a lot or adding production to the mix. It should be interesting again this season.”

Cassville opened the season at home on Tuesday against Branson, with the result not available at presstime. 

Following the 6th Annual Crane Lady Pirates Invitational Dec. 1-6, Cassville will host Reeds Spring on Dec. 8.