Woodland boys preview: Cardinals have number of holes to fill

~ Gaines is the only returning starter for Woodland, and he will move from point guard to shooting guard this season.

The Woodland boys basketball team enters the season with many question marks.

The Cardinals were 9-16 last year and return only junior Seth Gaines from its starting lineup.

Gaines moves from point guard to the shooting guard this year with senior Chantz Barham taking over at point guard.

Gaines is a proven scorer on the varsity level, as he shared the scoring lead last year with Cody McCraw by averaging about 18 points per game.

"Seth can do a lot of things," Woodland coach David Mirly said. "He is a good shooter but he can also create for other players."

The rest of the Woodland roster is unproven.

They will be undersized, as only senior Cody Barrett is over 6-foot at 6-3. And Barrett is one of three varsity players who are playing for the first time on the high school level.

Senior guard David Otero and junior forward Michael Dowd are the other first-timers.

"There are so many questions with our inexperience and lack of size," Mirly said. "Last year we had some height. This year we will need to rely on our quickness and outside shooting.

"We are looking good in practice, but we will go through some growing pains for sure, especially at the beginning of the season."

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WOODLAND BOYS

Coach: David Mirly, third season

Assistant: Michael Butler

Last season: 9-16

Conference: Stoddard County

Returning starters

Seth Gaines 5-10 Sr. G

Rest of roster

Chantz Barham, 5-10, Sr., G; Cody Barrett, 6-3, Sr., C; David Otero, 5-10, Sr., G; Jeremy Hutson, 5-10, Jr., F; Michael Dowd, 6-0, Jr., F; Willie Piatt, 5-9, Jr., G; Jordan King, 5-11, So., F

Schedule

Nov. 28-Dec. 2 -- Woodland Invitational

Dec. 6 -- Leopold, 6 p.m.

Dec. 9 -- at Chaffee, 6 p.m.

Dec. 13 -- at Bernie, 6 p.m.

Dec. 16 -- Kelly, 6 p.m.

Dec. 26-30 -- SE Missourian Christmas Tournament

Jan. 6 -- Dexter, 6 p.m.

Jan. 10 -- at Jackson, 6 p.m.

Jan. 13 -- at Meadow Heights, 6 p.m.

Jan. 17 -- Bell City, 6 p.m.

Jan. 23-27 -- Stoddard County tournament

Jan. 31 -- Delta, 6 p.m.

Feb. 2 -- at Clearwater, 6 p.m.

Feb. 7 -- Advance, 6 p.m.

Feb. 10 -- at Zalma, 6 p.m.

Feb. 14 -- Puxico, 6 p.m.

Feb. 17 -- Richland, 6 p.m.

Feb. 21 -- Oran, 6 p.m.

Feb. 23 -- at Bloomfield, 6 p.m.