Semoball

Richland (Essex) hoops pack potential, talent

Richland player Damon Ivy makes a pass against Scott County Central last season at the MSHSAA Class 1 District 2 boy's basketball semifinal at Richland High School in Essex.
Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

A year ago, the Richland (Essex) High School boy’s basketball squad was comprised of a young roster with just one senior, and the Rebels were coming off a nine-win season, so expectations were tempered.

This year is definitely NOT last year.

Fast-forward to today, Richland has an experienced roster that has proven that it can win games.

“We’re young,” Rebel coach Matt Cline said of his team, “but I’m excited.”

He should be. The Rebels are coming off a 10-win season, but keep in mind, five of their defeats were by single digits. In addition, Cline only graduated one player from last year’s team.

In the Rebels’ final game last season, 73 of the 79 points scored were by players who returned this season, including 48 from now-sophomore forward Eric Williams and now-senior forward Damon Ivy, who each scored 24 points.

“We preach every day that we can’t take anything for granted,” Cline said. “Right now, they aren’t worried so much about what is going to go on in the wins and losses, right now, they are competing pretty hard for playing time, period.”

The Rebels have 20 players in their program, with three (Ivy, Hunter Deason, and Lennon Cook) being seniors.

“We have very good leadership out of our seniors,” Cline said.

Richland has talent, throughout its grades, though, and none more so than the 6-foot-1 Williams.

“(Williams) does a good job of running the floor,” Cline said. “He is really active inside. He can score in the high post, and he is active on the glass.”

Williams will be joined inside by junior Jaden Pope (6-foot) and sophomore Jacob Walley.

“Jaden has quite a bit of experience,” Cline said.

Pope has been starting since he was a freshman, while Cline referred to Walley as “a workhorse.”

On the perimeter, sophomore guard Hunter Sanders “shoots the ball pretty well,” according to his coach.

“Hunter has come into his own this year,” Cline said. “He is leading pretty well and has come to grips with my expectations of him.”

Another sophomore, Tucker Hughes, has the versatility to play inside or outside due to his 6-foot-2 length.

Another lanky player is freshman Gary Tilley, who at 6-foot-2 is intriguing to Cline.

“He is thin as a rail,” Cline said, “so his body needs to mature. But he has come in and has worked extremely hard.”

Another freshman competing for time is Hayden Conner, who brings the proper mindset each day.

“His motor never stops,” Cline said of Conner. “He gets after it. If I say, ‘Go bang your head against the wall,’ then that is what he is going to do.”

The 10 victories in 2021-22 were the most by the Rebels in three years, while last year was only the second time in 12 years that Richland had won double figures.

The Rebels will begin their season on Tuesday at 6 p.m. against Chaffee in the Oran Invitational Tournament.

“The key with our bunch,” Cline said, “is that we have to limit turnovers and we have to rebound. That is what we preach and work on every day.”

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