Eagles will rely on quickness to compensate for lack of size

Members of the New Salem boys basketball team, from left: Front — Dillion Sutton, Brett Jones, Samuel O'Brien and Trent Jones; Back — team manager Andy Willard, Jacob Green, Boone Gaines, Jared Crist, Joshua Davault, Dillon Gaines and coach Ken Jones. (Submitted photo) [Click to enlarge]

New Salem Baptist Academy boys coach Ken Jones will issue a challenge to opponents at the beginning of each game this season.

Try keeping up with his Eagles.

"We're really quick," he said. "We defend well. You don't have to have a lot of height."

Jones plans to use his team's speed to overcome its lack of height, with his tallest player topping out at 6 foot 3.

"We'll probably be a running team," Jones said. "Our tallest kid is 6-3. We've got another 6-2. I have a freshman who will probably get some playing time and he's 6-2. Other than that, we're going to be from 5-9 to 5-11."

The Eagles' philosophy has worked so far this season. Because New Salem isn't part of the Missouri State High School Activities Association, it can play games earlier than MSHSAA members. The Eagles went 4-1, taking second, in an early season tournament.

"Up until the last game, we were holding the opponents' shooting percentage under 40 and we were averaging 20 steals," Jones said. "But no team has pressed us. It's pretty hard to press a team that's that quick."

The Eagles return three starters from last season.

"We're going to be balanced and some depth off the bench," Jones said.