Playoff experience seen as key for Cobden

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Cobden High School boys’ basketball coach Brett Barke is hoping experience competing in the state tournament series pays dividends to this year’s team.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">“From that state experience with baseball and soccer, they know how to win,” Barke said. “Hopefully, it converts to basketball wins.”</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Several players return from last years’ Class 1A Cobden baseball champion team as well as this year’s Class 2A second place soccer team. Cobden and Anna-Jonesboro co-op for a soccer team. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Three starters return from last year’s 12-16 Appleknocker squad.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The trio includes seniors Logan Spalt, a 6-1 guard; J.T. Moore, a 6-0 forward; and junior Austin Lewey, a 5-11 guard.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Part-time starter sophomore John Russell, a 5-10 guard, also returns.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Other seniors on the squad are Jacob Furlow, a 6-2 forward, and Dylan Duty, a 5-10 forward.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Sophomores who could contribute are Clayton Eck, a 6-3 center, and Connar Allen, a 5-11 guard.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">“Obviously, we don’t have a lot of height,” Barke said. “But we’ve got a lot of leadership.”</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Barke said a big hole to fill will be last season’s graduating Parker Flamm, who was the team’s leading scorer and rebounder.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The coach likes a big part of Cobden’s game.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">“We’ve got good shooters and good speed,” Barke said. “Our post play is a question mark.”</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Cobden opens it season in the Turkey Tournament at Christopher Friday, Nov. 27. The Appleknockers, the No. 4 seeded team, open tourney play against Wayne City.</span></p>