After graduating all five starters and its sixth man from last year’s squad, Steelville High School’s boys’ basketball team will look to replace over 50 points of scoring per game heading into this season. 

Seniors Will Bailey and Max Harmon are the only upperclassmen on the varsity team this season, and the rest of the roster will likely be filled out with 10 sophomores.

“I really like our team this year. We’re young and have some inexperience but I feel like these guys have really bought into our program and our culture,” said Josh Pritchett, entering his third season as the Cardinals’ head coach. “I think that as the season progresses, we’re just going to get more experience, get better and compete with some teams.”

Steelville will return three players with significant varsity experience from last year’s team that finished 11-14 overall after falling to Laquey 62-57 in the quarterfinals of the Class 3 District 8 Tournament.

The Cardinals are reigning Gasconade Valley Conference (GVC) champions after beating Cuba twice, blowing out Bourbon and winning arguably its biggest regular season game of the season in overtime Feb. 10 against a 23-win Belle team.

Steelville lost reigning GVC CO-MVP Malakai Bruno and all-conference selections Jackson Woods, Hunter Starbeck, and Nate Gambill, who graduated in May. Gambill is currently a freshman on the Missouri Baptist University men’s basketball team. Steelville also has to replace senior starters Landon Rutledge and Trentin Garrison along with off-the-bench contributor, Blaze Alexander.

Those returning lettermen who figure to step into starting positions this season include Bailey, 6-5 sophomore forward Chace Grayson and 6-0 sophomore guard Trey Gambill. The others who will make up the rest of the starting lineup and varsity rotation were mainly featured on last year’s junior varsity team, coached by Roger Siwak.

Pritchett mentioned sophomore guards Lane West, Cameron Wallis, Carter Wallis and Ripken Halbert along with 6-5 sophomore forward Silas Evans as players he envisions playing large roles for his team.

When asked which players have taken leaps between their freshmen and sophomore seasons, Pritchett said, “We have about 10 sophomores on the team and I think every single one of them has taken a big leap. We’re definitely going to see some scoring leaps from Chace Grayson, who was the only freshman last season to get varsity experience. Trey Gambill also can really score the ball for us.” 

The Cardinals will bring additional toughness and physicality this season, as Bailey, Harmon, Gambill and Halbert are all coming off their first high school football season playing for the Cuba Wildcats, after the schools agreed to a co-op partnership

Pritchett, a former football and basketball player at Rolla High School, said that he advocates for his athletes to play multiple sports.

“I’m a big believer in multi-sport athletes, especially in high school,” Pritchett said. “I think all of the guys who have been playing football have gotten tougher, stronger and figured out what it’s like to play at the varsity level. I think it’s good for them to experience other sports and learn how to respond to adversity.”

The Cardinals will get their first taste of competition at the Nov. 17 Kingston Jamboree, which is scheduled to tip-off at 5:45 p.m. at Kingston High School.

Steelville will officially open up the season on the road against Dixon Nov. 24, which is expected to be a chippy matchup, following intense showdowns between the two schools during the past few years.

The Red and White will then compete in the FCNB Bank-It Tournament in Sullivan, which will take place from Nov. 30 to Dec. 4.

After playing in the Sullivan Tournament, The Red and White will host Sullivan Dec. 8 for its home opener, which begins a stretch of six games in 11 nights. 

The Cardinals are scheduled to also compete in the 70th Annual Bob Sechrest Jr. Christmas Tournament in Park Hills from Dec. 25 to Dec. 30 and in the St. James Invitational from Jan. 18 to Jan. 23. The Cardinals’ opponents and schedule for the tournaments are currently TBD and will be updated accordingly.   

Steelville will host St. James on Jan. 8 for its Courtwarming game and will have its senior night Feb. 2 against Union. The Cardinals final regular season home game is scheduled for Feb. 4 against Kingston before the team plays its final three games on the road against Belle, Bourbon and Pacific, respectively.