A Look at the Ozark Mountain Conference

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Hoops Missouri continues its preseason previews with a look at the Ozark Mountain Conference in the SWMO area. The league features on of the state's top teams in [player_tooltip player_id='2873530' first='Logan' last='']-Rogersville and one of the state's top players in guard [player_tooltip player_id='2334901' first='Chase' last='Branham']. Bolivar, Hillcrest and Carl Junction return a solid group of players to have success this season. Marshfield figures to be improved while Branson will also be solid as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>THE STARTING FIVE</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2334901' first='Chase' last='Branham'] ([player_tooltip player_id='2873530' first='Logan' last='']-Rogersville): The talented 6'4 2027 point guard returns after leading the Wildcats to back to back third-place finishes in the Class 4 state tournament. He's a smooth playmaker who scores and creates at all three levels. He averaged 19 points and shot 38 percent from 3-point range. He has already given a commitment to Indiana.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2334926' first='Kyrese' last='Simpson'] (Hillcrest): A 5'10 2027 point guard who has quickness and the ability to create buckets with the best of them in the SWMO area. He keeps defenders off balance with his ability to change speeds. He averaged 24 points a game as a sophomore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2607456' first='Titus' last='Moore'] ([player_tooltip player_id='2873530' first='Logan' last='']-Rogersville): A 6'6 2028 forward who is one of the top young prospects in the state. He is solidly built at 230 pounds and he is a matchup nightmare with his physicality and excellent perimeter skills. He averaged 10 points and six rebounds as a freshman. Those numbers will definitely increase this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2715360' first='Colton' last='Ingold'] (Bolivar): A 6'3 2027 guard who returns to lead a very solid Bolivar team. He's emblematic of how the Liberators play as he passes the ball well, moves without the ball and he can shoot it from distance. He averaged-3 points and seven rebounds a game as a sophomore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2117605' first='Cannon' last='Thornhill'] (Marshfield): A 6'2 2026 guard who transfers over from Aurora. He will immediately become one of the top guards in the conference. He is an excellent playmaking guard with smooth handles and shot making ability. As a junior, he averaged 18 points, three rebounds and three assists a game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>BEST OF THE REST</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2887584,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/IMG_3443.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/IMG_3443.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2887584" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2706483' first='Marcus' last='Moore'] 6'7" [player_tooltip player_id='2873530' first='Logan' last='']-Rogersville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jared Kraft 6'3" West Plains</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2731391' first='Sutton' last='Shook'] 6'4" [player_tooltip player_id='2873530' first='Logan' last='']-Rogersville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brody Pant 6'0" Carl Junction</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carson Adams 6'4" Marshfield</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Matthew Giglio 6'1" Bolivar</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wyatt Campbell 6'4" Bolivar</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rashaad McDonald 6'2" Carl Junction</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Deacon Endicott 6'2" Carl Junction</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>James Collins 6'1" Hillcrest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Josiah Long 6'3" West Plains</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ethan Miller, West Plains</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Canyon Adams 6'3" Bolivar</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>******</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3046767,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/Jayven-Jones.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/Jayven-Jones.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-3046767" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jayven Jones 6'6" Hillcrest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2839177' first='Kolby' last='Martin'] 6'4" Carl Junction</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2701102' first='Griffin' last='Mehrhoff'] 6'4" Branson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Caden Cooper 6'3 Branson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2894237' first='Maddox' last='Shorter'] 6'0" Carl Junction</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2385254' first='Tred' last='Houston'] 5'10" Branson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>******</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2856895,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Evan-Coutchie.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Evan-Coutchie.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2856895" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Evan Coutchie 6'1" Marshfield</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2760029' first='Jack' last='Sutherland'] 6'0" Logan-Rogersville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dylan Kirby 6'2" Hillcrest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jett James 6'0" Branson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hudson Patillo, West Plains</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bryant Hanks 6'1" Carl Junction</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*****</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2029</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2889761,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/IMG_3409.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/IMG_3409.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2889761" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2898246' first='Kaivon' last='Alexander'] 6'4" Hillcrest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2932689' first='Derrick' last='Dailey'] 6'1" Hillcrest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>******</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Outlook: Logan-Rogersville has advanced to the Final Four of the Class 4 state tournament in the past two seasons, bringing back third-place trophies for their great efforts. The Wildcats are looking to take that next step and play for a state championship this season. They have the talent and depth to make it happen. Bolivar will be a fun team to watch as always as the Liberators really move that basketball and they have a number of players who can shoot it from the perimeter. Hillcrest should have another strong season with one of the SWMO area's most dynamic scorers in Simpson, along with a talented young supporting cast. [player_tooltip player_id='2701102' first='Griffin' last='Mehrhoff'] of Branson is an excellent young prospect who will lead Branson. Carl Junction has many good pieces, which should lead to a very competitive unit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->