Fountain Lake Cobras

Conference: 3A 5

Coach: Chris Meseke (five years, 13 overall as head coach)

Assistant coach: Jake Dettmering

Last year’s record: 17-10 (third in conference)

Returning starters: The Cobras have a trio of returning starters from last year, but they don’t include the team’s offensive centerpiece, Casey Sheppard, and his 24 or so points per game average. Filling in that void will be senior point guard Michael Pope (6-1), junior guard Andrew Freeman (5-10) and senior post player Dylan Campbell (6-1).

Best inside players: Meseke pointed to Campbell, who has experience and this year is the team’s hard-nosed workhorse. “We’re looking for him to take more of an offensive roll,” said Meseke, who added that Campbell certainly has the work ethic for what’s being asked of him.

Best outside players: Returning starters Pope and Freeman. Pope, also the school’s quarterback, won’ be in until later, but “he’s a good kid, a leader. He’s a quarterback and a point guard, so that tells you what type of player he is. He likes ball in hands, and we need him to facilitate our basketball game,” Meseke said. Freeman is more of the athlete, Meseke said. “Things come more naturally to him. He’s got a lot of basketball savvy, and we need him to make plays for us.”

How will you match/exceed/fall short of last year’s success? Filling the offensive void left by Sheppard, Meseke said. “Obviously, our undetermined factor is offense — who we’re going to go to, who’s going to be able put the ball in the basket. If you can’t score, you’re going to have a tough time winning games.”

Strengths of the team: “Overall, I think our kids are really going to play hard. They know they’ve gotta do that in order to compete with folks on schedule,” Meseke said. “We’re going to match the physicality and intensity of other teams — if not rise above it — night in and night out.”

Weaknesses of the team: “We’re not going to be a very big team, so that poses us problems on the rebounding part of it, not getting second-chance points and giving other teams second chances on rebounds,” the coach said.

Games to watch: “The games to watch for us are also close to home, with our big rival Jessieville. Also, a lot of folks come out to Cutter. Because of the proximity, those are the two biggest rival games for us.”

Toughest opponent: “Baptist has won our league every year since I’ve been here, so obviously that’s the toughest game. Until somebody dethrones them, that’s the toughest game on our schedule.”

College prospects: None at the moment

In a nutshell: “I really like our team,” the coach said. “I think we have a lot of high-quality kids, and I know they’re going to play hard and do everything I ask them to do, so in that regard, it should be a good year. I know people are going to be proud of the way we play and how hard we play.”

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