Coming off its lowest-win season since 2020, the Cassville boys basketball team is under new management, and new Coach Mike Ray brings more than two decades of coaching experience to the floor as he looks to rebuild a program hungry for success.

Ray, who has 16 years of head coaching experience and 27 years coaching overall, said turning around the Wildcats’ fortunes begins with a commitment that extends beyond the regular season.

“Simply put, basketball needs to become important to the players in the offseason,” he said. “Without that, the skill level will continue to be below par for a Class 4 team. I have no doubt they want to have success, but that success is built in the offseason.”

The Wildcats return several players with varsity experience, led by senior Tyson Bohmke.

“As far as returners are concerned, Tyson is our lone senior and was a key player last year,” Ray said. “Tyson has a good shot and is active on the offensive and defensive ends. It is a tough situation for him, as he is the lone senior, and with a coaching change, but he has worked hard and we will need him to take ownership of this year’s team.”

Ray said a trio of juniors who saw significant time last season will also be called upon to step into bigger roles.

“Juniors Cheney Kelley, Carlos Barrientos and Jaren Stearns played significant roles for the Wildcats last year as sophomores, and we are hoping with that experience they can build on that,” he said.

Ray said Kelley’s steady presence and leadership potential will be key.

“Cheney is a quality shooter and steady guard who we will need to improve his ball-handling skills to take the next step for us,” Ray said. “He is someone who we think can help build a culture here as he has leadership skills.”

Barrientos’ athleticism, Ray said, gives him a high ceiling as he grows more consistent.

“Carlos is an excellent athlete with great instincts on the court, so this year, he will garner more attention from other teams, and he must adjust,” Ray said. “Carlos has the skill to be an excellent high school player, but sometimes, he gets in his own way, which we are working with him on.”

Ray said Stearns’ versatility and defensive ability will also be vital for the Wildcats.

“Jaren is steady and athletic, and we’re hoping he can take a step forward for us and be a leader defensively,” he said.

Beyond the returning core, Ray said there is opportunity for several players to earn meaningful minutes.

“After those returners, the varsity minutes are wide open, as we have several young players and returning JV players competing for that time,” he said. “Among the returning JV players who are in the mix are Masin Bryan, Easton Hughes, Wyatt Hollingsworth and Grant Varner.”

Ray said the incoming freshman class could also make its presence felt early.

“We also bring in a freshman class that has had success before but must keep on working and expanding their games to have success at the high school level,” he said. “Among those freshmen who will be in the running are Aiden Whittington, who is a true gym rat — which we have very few of here — Spencer Drollinger, Brayden Phillips and Jayden Ritchie.”

One newcomer with varsity experience joins the mix as well.

“We also have added a transfer student this fall in Elijah Keeney from Southwest, who will also be a factor for us,” Ray said.

Ray said effort and competition will define the team’s identity early on.

“Our biggest strength, we hope, will be maximum effort on defense,” he said. “Also, with the lack of experience among the players, we expect to have competitive practices.”

To succeed, Ray said the Wildcats must continue developing their skills and adapt to new systems and roles.

“Since the summer we have really focused on individual skill level of ball handling, shooting and decision-making, so we will need to continue to improve on that,” he said. “A lack of experience could be a factor early in the year, a lack of size which will be new to Cassville after the graduation of Eli Stokes, and then for the players and coaches to adjust to each other and a new system.”

Ray said success this season will be measured by progress and culture rather than wins alone.

“By the end of the season, we want to establish a culture of finding players who want to get better and are willing to put in the time to get better,” he said. “We also want to establish mental toughness to handle when things do not go as planned.

“We believe there is a core here to get those things done and to bring some excitement to the boys basketball program.”

Despite the challenges, Ray said the team’s attitude has given him optimism heading into the season.

“These are good kids, and we have a group who have been open to new ideas and learning,” he said. “Those will be the ones that are the foundation to build up the program.”

The Wildcats will get their first taste of regular-season action on Dec. 1 in the Strafford Invitational Tournament. The home opener is Dec. 16 against Springfield Catholic.