Cards add weapons, looking to get back to state tourney
HASKELL -- The 2022-23 Harmony Grove Cardinals basketball team put together one of the best seasons in program history, finishing 22-9 overall and 12-2 in conference action -- good for a share of the league title.
The season performance also earned the Cardinals a trip back to their first 4A state tournament. Harmony Grove ended its year with a heart-breaking 40-39 loss to Charleston.
With the new season already in full swing, the Cardinals are off to another strong start at
4-0. Harmony Grove is averaging 56.5 points per game while its defense is allowing only 36 per contest.
“We would definitely like to get back to the state tournament,” said Head Coach Andy Brakebill. “We got a taste of it last year so our kids want to get back there.”
While aspirations are high coming into the season, the Cardinals will be trying to replace its big man Blake Ammons in the early going, which will not be an easy task.
“It’s hard to replace Blake who was 6-feet, 9-inches and was a rim protector and we will miss Luke and Jace who were hard-nosed,” Brakebill said.
While replacing Ammons may be a tall order, the Cardinals have gained some outside help to this year’s squad.
“We do have a couple of additions this year in Glen Rose transfer Ethan Stafford and Matthew Bainter, a former Bauxite Miner,” Brakebill added. “Both are talented additions and both of them are coming off good junior years.
“Tyler Mccormick is coming off a great season last year and has improved. Walter Browning has a year of experience and goes from a sophomore to a junior and has improved a lot. Dax Hammett has already started strong and is playing above his age as a sophomore. We are also counting on production from our bench from Lane and Whitt Richardson, Mitch Oldham and Sean Riedmueller.”
Brakebill said he is looking for leaders in Mccormick, Stafford and Bainter as seniors.
“They are all seniors with a lot of experience. They each have their own strengths they provide to our team,” Brakebill said.
While sitting at 4-0 and rolling so far, Brakebill said his team should be improved offensively versus last season.
“We should be better offensively,” he added. “Overall, we are very skilled and have high basketball IQ.”
On the flip side, Brakebill said chemistry is his team’s biggest weakness right now.
“Due to the addition of new players, our weakness is we don’t have a
lot of experience together yet,” Brakebill said.
Watching a stacked conference again this year, the Cardinals look to be facing tough competition in a number of teams.
“Prescott and Centerpoint will be really
good in our league,” Brakebill said. “Also, Jessieville has several players returning from their team last year.”
Jessieville split the league title with Harmony Grove last season.
The Cardinals will return to action following
the Thanksgiving holiday, taking on Caddo Hills at 7 p.m. Dec. 5 on the road.
Harmony Grove will begin conference action Dec. 14 at Prescott. Opening tip is set for 7 p.m. for that contest as well.