STEELVILLE — Steelville High School’s boys basketball team played in the Kingston Jamboree on Nov. 18 in a preseason test, one week before their season officially tips off against Dixon.

The Cardinals played two quarters against South Iron and Kingston and appeared to find their rhythm as the night went on. Official statistics weren’t kept for the scrimmage, but multiple Cardinals stood out with their performances, led by its seniors. 

Returning All-Conference selection Malakai Bruno asserted himself throughout the evening and was clearly the Cardinals’ lead guard. He showed the ability to get to the hoop and also hit shots from behind the three-point arc. Bruno was also a pest defensively, using active hands to get numerous steals throughout the evening. 

 Landon Rutledge, fresh off an All-State cross country performance, showed that his athleticism translates from the course to the court. He started next to Bruno and provided defensive tenacity and shot-making prowess. 

Jackson Woods didn’t start in the first match-up against South Iron, but found his confidence and shooting touch as the evening went on. Woods knocked down multiple three-pointers, and showed his versatility as a shooter — knocking down catch and shoot opportunities and shots off the dribble.     

Fellow seniors Trentin Garrison and Hunter Starbeck started in the front-court for the Cardinals and played like dependable glue guys — moving the ball well on offense, grabbing rebounds and playing stout defense. 

Junior Will Bailey also started for Steelville and looked the part of a reliable wing player, showcasing the skills to shoot from distance and attack the rim. 

Freshman Chace Grayson, who’s the Cardinals’ youngest and tallest player at 6-foot-4, flashed his potential as an athletic big who efficiently rebounded and fearlessly attacked the rim. 

Steelville head coach Josh Pritchett said that he was proud of his team’s effort and performance during the jamboree.

“I thought the jamboree went well for us. We found out a lot about where our team stands and what we need to improve on before our first game,” Pritchard said. “I was proud of the way our team fought and the effort they gave. It’s exciting to get back on the court.”

Steelville’s boy’s JV team, varsity team and girl’s varsity team all played in their season opener on Nov. 25 against Dixon, which will be detailed in next week’s edition. The Cardinals will then begin an almost two month stretch of road games, starting with a trip to Sullivan on Dec. 1 to compete in the FCNB Bank-It Championship Tournament. Steelville will play Warrenton at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 1, and the rest of the tournament’s schedule is TBD. The Lady Cardinals will host North County at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 3 in their second game of the season in head coach Phillip Gambill’s first year at the helm.