Blair Oaks boys feature a veteran group this season

Quinn Kusgen of Blair Oaks drives toward the basket during a game last season against Helias in Wardsville.
Quinn Kusgen of Blair Oaks drives toward the basket during a game last season against Helias in Wardsville.

WARDSVILLE - The Blair Oaks Falcons are coming off back-to-back Final Four appearances, and they return both of their all-state players from last season.

It's safe to say things are looking up for the Falcons as they begin the 2021-22 season today against Eldon in the Tri-County Conference Tournament in Boonville.

"The kids are hungry to make another run," Blair Oaks coach Ryan Fick said. "But they also understand that you can talk about it, but it's about putting the work in every day and showing up, and not wasting days.

"We understand the road is going to be tough."

Blair Oaks' roster of 12 players features all upperclassmen, including three returning starters among the seven seniors.

"All seven guys are going to be able to contribute," Fick said.

Luke Northweather, a 6-foot-10 senior forward, is a returning all-stater who averaged around 27 points and 12 rebounds per game last season.

"He's that rare combination of size and athleticism, and skill on top of that," Fick said. " He's a gym rat, he gets in the gym and works at his craft, and he continues to get better."

Blair Oaks' other returning all-stater, Quinn Kusgen, is a senior combo guard who Fick said is also going to garner a lot of attention on scouting reports this season.

"He gives us versatility from the guard position and has the ability to knock down the perimeter jump shot," Fick said. "But what makes him so good is he's very good to the basket."

Brysan Jeffries, a 6-2 senior forward, is the Falcons' other returning starter in the post.

"He's always played that complementary role," Fick said. "He passes very, very well. He is actually one of our better defenders as well, he can guard on the perimeter and in the post."

Jeffries is one of four football players who missed the entire basketball preseason last year due to Blair Oaks' state title run. With the Falcons' loss in the district title game earlier this month, the football players have been able to have two full weeks of practice prior to today's opener.

"We've gotten eight practices with the football players, and usually it's none," Fick said. "We've been able to slow down a little bit more and teach some things."

Rounding out the starting lineup are senior guard Zach Herigon and junior guard Zach Henry.

"They have the ability to knock jump shots down," Fick said.

Junior Dylan Hair could find his way into the starting lineup shortly. Saturday was his first full practice after suffering a concussion during football season.

"He's going to be able to guard one of the other team's best guards, locking him down with his quickness," Fick said. "On the offensive side, he handles the ball really well."

Fick said it will be a point guard by committee of Kusgen, Herigon and Hair.

Junior Alec Wieberg will miss the start of the basketball season after suffering a hairline fracture in his leg, an injury compounded by a sprained ankle at the end of the football season.

"We've got several guys that have been waiting for their opportunity," Fick said. "They've played a lot of JV minutes in the last year or two. You can tell in practice that they're ready for their turn."

One of those players is senior forward Gavin Brandes, who will be getting his first playing time since early in his sophomore season after suffering ACL injuries in both knees.

Other post players include junior forwards Chase Schnieders (6-5) and Carter Widhalm (6-4). Schnieders will be an inside-out player, while Widhalm is more of a traditional "back to the basket" play, Fick said.

"Both give us some length off the bench," Fick said.

Rounding out the varsity roster are senior guard Thomas McCauley, who Fick says is a "spark plug off the bench," and senior guard Brayden Lehmen, who will be a spot-up shooter.

Blair Oaks bulked up its strength of schedule by adding the Nixa Invitational in late January. The Falcons will play in three shootouts, starting next Saturday against East St. Louis (Ill.) in the Norm Stewart Classic at Mizzou Arena.

Blair Oaks will also play Cardinal Ritter in the Harrisburg Shootout and Capital City in the Central Bank Shootout.

"Everybody's schedule last year took a hit because of COVID, and we were all scrambling to find games," Fick said. "Some of the marquee games that we had last year fell through because of COVID. This year, it looks as if we'll be able to play those games.

"The biggest thing in our mind is trying to prepare us for whatever situation we may be in down the road."

Blair Oaks learned it will be in Class 4 District 9 with Boonville, Father Tolton, Fatima, Fulton and Southern Boone. All six teams won at least 16 games last season.

"Our district is, I would argue, one of the toughest in the state in our class," Fick said. "One through six, I think every team is going to have a winning record come district time. Hopefully the schedule we play before that will prepare us for the gauntlet of what that district could be."