Experience, depth are pluses for Mustangs

Midland graduated just one senior in the spring, so the Mustangs have a good chance of making a better run in the playoffs this season as a result of the amount of depth and experience the team brings. “We are a senior-laden team with a lot of experience and depth,” head coach Eddie Beck said. “If we can get off to a good start this year, I think it will be a really fun year of basketball for us.” Returning starters for Midland include senior shooting guard and leading scorer Keagan Tharp, senior guard Logan Passmore, junior guard Seth Wood and senior post player Tristan May. “Keagan can score a lot of different ways and is good at getting to the rim,” Beck said. “He has a good midrange shot as well. “There were several games last year when he scored in the 30s.” Tharp averaged 21.5 points per game last year, as well as 7.5 rebounds. “He will play somewhere after high school,” Beck said. “Not only is he a really good player, he is a really good student, with a 4.0 GPA and a 27 ACT score.” May averaged just 5 points per game last year at post, but Beck said he is extremely athletic. “He is not the traditional size for a post player, but he is a good rebounder,” the coach said. “He plays center field in baseball, and receiver, safety and quarterback in football. “He is pretty much good in whatever he does.” Passmore averaged 4 points a game last year, but he is a better defender than scorer, Beck said. “He knows his role is to guard the other team’s best player,” Beck said. “Seth averaged 9 points and has really matured a lot this offseason. “He has kind of stepped up and has a more rounded game this year.” This season, Midland will consist of mostly seniors and juniors, but Beck said the team’s overall experience will prove valuable, as many played last year as a result of other players’ injuries. “Senior Eli Roberts probably started the first 10 games before suffering an injury, and Tyson Holt started after that, before he broke his nose,” Beck said. “Austin McAdams has spent a lot of time in the weight room and has gotten stronger.” Levi Ervin, a transfer from Southside Batesville, sat out last year but can score in bunches when he is on, Beck said. “He’s a real good scorer,” the coach said. Midland will open the season Nov. 10 against Mammoth Spring. “Our first game is Nov. 10 and first full practice is Nov. 3,” Beck said. “I want to see everybody come in and be ready to go, fully focused on basketball. “We need to be ready to jump into it.”