New Salem boys preview: Defending state champions have holes to fill

New Salem Baptist Academy has a long road ahead in defense of its Missouri Christian School Activities Association Class 1A state title.

The Marble Hill school lost five players off its roster, including sophomore Boone Gaines, New Salem's all-time leading scorer who led the team with 19.5 points per game last season and has moved out of state.

New Salem coach Ken Jones, who also won a state championship with the Eagles in 2003, said it will take a collective effort from the six players on the roster to rebuild a state-caliber team.

"Last year we had balanced scoring," Jones said. "We had four kids who averaged in double figures, and it's going to be hard to replace that.

"It's one of those years that you just hope that some of the kids that didn't start last year are going to step up. Even last year we pretty much had six or seven kids that played most of the time."

Jones counts on his two seniors, Jeremy Rockhill and Joe Davault, as well as sophomore Brett Jones to be offensive catalysts.

"Rockhill and Davault are going to have awesome years," he said. "Brett will pick up some of the scoring. He's a tremendous shooter."

Jones said it will be a tall task to have as much postseason success as last year.

"We would like to win 20 games," he said, "but that's going to be a reach for us. I'd say we'll probably be over .500 for sure, but if all the kids work hard and dedicate themselves, we'll be one of the top teams in the state again possibly. It's going to be an uphill climb."

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New Salem Baptist ACADEMY boys

Coach: Ken Jones, 10th season

Assistant: Kevin Rockhill

Last season: 23-8, MCSSA Class 1A state champion

Conference: St. Louis Metro Athletic Conference

Returning starters

Jeremy Rockhill 6-2 Sr. C

Joe Davault 6-0 Sr. F

Brett Jones 5-6 So. G

Rest of roster

Tony Kuehnel, 5-8, So., F; Jacob Green, 5-7, So., F; Trent Jones, 5-5, 8th, G

Remaining schedule

Dec. 5 -- at Eagle Ridge Christian, 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 6 -- Liberty, 6 p.m.

Dec. 9 -- COS, 6 p.m.

Dec. 13 -- Westwood, 6 p.m.

Dec. 16 -- at St. Louis Christian, 6 p.m.

Dec. 20 -- Twin City, 6 p.m.

Jan. 6 -- at Arnold, Mo., Peoples, TBA

Jan. 7 -- Warrenton LCA, noon

Jan. 10 -- at Hillsboro COS, 5:30 p.m.

Jan. 16 -- Eagle Ridge Christian, 5:30 p.m.

Jan. 17 -- at Festus, Mo., Twin City, 5 p.m.

Jan. 20 -- Collinsville, Ill., 6 p.m.

Jan. 24 -- at Poplar Bluff, Mo., Westwood, 6 p.m.

Feb. 3 -- Liberty

Feb. 6-11 -- SLMCAA tournament, at Jefferson County, TBA

Feb. 15-18 -- MCSAA state tournament, TBA