Conference: 2-3A
Coach: Zach Prothro, 1st year at school
Assistant coach: None
2012-13 record: 13-14 overall, 5-3 in conference play
Returning starters: Prothro isn’t exactly sure what he’ll have in his inaugural season because he hasn’t seen the majority of his team yet. Several players are still playing football, but Prothro is pleased with the way senior forward Tyler Mercer (6-foot-4) and senior guard Jake Pratt (5-8) have progressed during fall workouts. “Both of those guys are working extremely hard,” he said. “They’re really the only two I’ve got in here. But you couldn’t ask for anything better than what they’re giving me right now.”
Best inside players: Mercer emerged as a threat inside for the Ramblers last season and is expected to build off a strong junior campaign. The senior, who scored 12 points in Rose Bud’s season-ending loss to Jessieville in February at the Region 2 tournament, also sports a 36-inch vertical. That, alone, will make him a huge staple inside, Prothro said.
Best outside players: Pratt and Cole Robertson are expected to power the perimeter in Prothro’s system. Right now, it’s tough for the first-year coach to say who else will make significant impacts.
How will you match/exceed/fall short of your success from last year?: A new coach brings about changes, and Prothro understands that. How quickly the players adapt to those changes will determine how far the Ramblers can go. “It’ll be a transition year, and things may take a minute to get used to,” he said. “But once we get our fundamentals back down and find the right blend of leadership, we’ll be extremely competitive.”
Team strengths: Size will be a luxury for the Ramblers this season, which could dictate what kind of system Prothro utilizes.
Team weaknesses: Not being able to get his guys in may hurt the Ramblers early on, Prothro explained. Transitioning from one coach to another also could translate into some inconsistent play.
Games to watch: The Nemo Vista Tournament (Dec. 2-7) and the Greers Ferry Lake Classic (Dec. 27-30) are important games according to Prothro. The Ramblers will use that slate to prepare themselves for league play. “We’ve got to find out what we’re made of going in,” he said. “It’ll be challenging for us, especially with the new system. But we’ll have a chance to see where we stand before we open up conference in January.”
Toughest opponent: Harding Academy walked away with the Class 3A state title last March, and Prothro is anticipating that the Wildcats will again be the odds-on-favorite to not only repeat as conference champs but also state champs. “The entire conference will be nothing to sneeze at,” Prothro said. “We pretty much know that Harding will be up there again. But all the teams in this conference will be competitive, which means that every game we play will be a challenge.”
College prospects: The Ramblers could have a few players develop into prospects, depending on how quickly the players buy in to the style that Prothro wants to play. Mercer could benefit more than anyone in a system that prominently features big men.
In a nutshell: Prothro doesn’t quite know what to expect in his first season as a head coach, but what he does know is that he’ll have town support behind him. That support could go a long way in pushing the Ramblers to the same level that Prothro led them to in their 2008 championship run. “My goal every year is to make the state tournament and compete for a state title,” he said. “That was my goal when I played and that’ll be my goal as a head coach. We’ve got to do the little things that it takes to win games, and if we do that, then we’ve got a chance to be a very good team.”