ROGERS — Eight months removed from an appearance in the Class 7A State Championship basketball game, one would think there wouldn’t be a confi dence problem for Rogers High.

Yes, the Mounties lost several key starters from that 24-6 team, including Aaron Hawley, who is now playing at Division I Drake University. But Rogers has been to the playo◊s for four straight seasons while posting a 87-28 record.

But the 800-pound gorilla in the room is the two high schools in Rogers. Mounties coach Marty Barnes, who is entering his sixth season at the school, hears it around school and he hears it around town.

And the longtime high school and college coach is sick of such talk. For Barnes, it’s time to get past the split and look to the future.

“Since the split of the schools, you sense that we are a little too complacent around here,” Barnes said. “There is talk that we split schools and we are not going to be very good. That’s something that we have spent time talking about in the locker room quite a bit.

“We still have (high) goals and expectations. Obviously, the split is here to stay, and we need to quit using that as an excuse.”

But things are not all bad, Barnes said. Rogers returns three talented players in Tanner Kaza (6-foot-5), Casey Caton (6-3) and Graham Parker (6-3), and Barnes welcomes three sophomores who could break into the starting lineup.

“I think last year proved again to the kids about the confidence in the system and what we are doing,” Barnes said. “They got some valuable minutes in the state tournament. Parker played well the last three or four games ofthe regular season and then in the state tournament.”

Barnes used a seven-player rotation last season but is looking at a 10-player rotation this year. Sophomores Josh Anderson (6-5), Nathan Musso (6-6) and Corbin Sites (6-0) are expected to be in that mix, Barnes said.

“(Anderson) is going to be playing as a swing-forward,” Barnes said. “Anderson shoots the ball well outside and he has a good first move. Musso rebounds well and is very strong for a 10th-grader. Sites gives us some athleticism out front, especially on defense. That is something we haven’t had in a while.”

Barnes loaded up the nonconference schedule with a few heavyweights to get his sixth Rogers team some Class 7A-type experience. Subiaco Academy and Sherman, Texas, will both visit and the Mounties will also welcome a talented field to the annual Arvest Hoopfest Classic. A trip to a tournament in Rolla, Mo., is also on the schedule.

“The nonconference schedule will give you the indicators that you are looking for,” Barnes said. “We have a lot of new faces. Most of these kids don’t have varsity game experience. We will see how they perform at the7A level early on.

“Subiaco may be one of the best teams in (Class) 4A, and then you have Sherman coming here. We will be tested early and I can judge what we have.”

Sports, Pages 12 on 11/02/2009

Comments

To report abuse or misuse of this area please hit the "Suggest Removal" link in the comment to alert our online managers.

Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.