The matchup between the St. Elizabeth Hornets and the California Pintos in today's River Region Credit Union Shootout could turn into a track meet.
"We hope that we can come here and make it a competitive game and give ourselves a chance," California coach Ron Lebel said ahead of today's 4 p.m. tip-off at Fleming Fieldhouse.
The California boys have averaged 80.5 points in their last two Shootout games, winning 91-72 against Eldon in 2017 and 70-67 last season against Iberia.
"We've had some luck over here," Lebel said.
However, the Pintos have also allowed more than 80 points in their two losses last week in the Tri-County Conference Tournament.
"They like to get up and down, they like to shoot the 3," St. Elizabeth coach Dillon Tenholder said. "I know that a lot of times you'll end up in a track meet with them. If you're not in shape, especially early in the season, then they'll look to capitalize on that and run you out of the gym."
The Hornets are returning to the Shootout for the first time since 2013. They played the very first game in Shootout history, beating Harrisburg 64-48 in 2010.
"For us to be invited back and get back in it says a lot about where our program is right now," Tenholder said.
California (2-2) lost seven seniors to graduation from last year's team, which posted a 15-10 record. Among the leading returners for the Pintos are seniors Trevor Porter and Jordan Bondurant, who scored 14 points in last Saturday's 88-64 loss to Hallsville in the Tri-County tournament fifth-place game.
"We graduated seven seniors, and those are the two guys coming back with significant playing time," Lebel said. "Other than that, the rest of them were JV players (last year)."
Sophomore Calen Kruger, one of the newcomers for the Pintos, had a team-high 18 points against the Indians.
St. Elizabeth (5-1) is ranked No. 2 in Class 1 in this week's Missouri Basketball Coaches Association state poll. The Hornets' loss came earlier this week against Class 5 Nixa.
"I felt like last week with the Eugene Tournament and the Norm Stewart Classic, it was a great week of growth for our guys," Tenholder said. "They played four physical, tough games against good ballclubs."
St. Elizabeth returns all five starters from last year's team that finished 24-6 and took third place in the Class 1 state tournament.
Ross Struemph, a 6-foot-8 senior and the reigning Show-Me Conference MVP, is averaging 14.7 points and 11.0 rebounds per game. Sophomore Brock Lucas (13.0 ppg) and senior Brady Heckemeyer (11.3 ppg) also average double figures in scoring.
"Coming off a Final Four season, having everyone back, there's all kinds of excitement," Tenholder said. "People should be excited and there should be high expectations.
The two teams played each other two seasons ago in the California Tournament. St. Elizabeth won that contest 75-60.
"We've seen them quite a bit and we've run into them during the summer," Lebel said. "They're big, it's not a real great matchup for us. We're a fairly small basketball team. But hopefully we can create some turnovers or find some ways to stick around and make it a competitive game."