Brian Rosener is the keeper of the Semoball Cup which is presented to the school with the most successful season. It is based on a formula that takes into account the combined winning percentage of all sports teams plus bonus points for advancement in postseason play for both teams and individuals. The bonus points are divided by the number of teams a school fields. Rosener has been the sports editor for the Daily American Republic in Poplar Bluff, Mo. since December 2001. He was born and raised in St. Louis, where he attended Lindbergh High School and Webster University. He is married to Jennifer, a Poplar Bluff native, has a son Jack and a dog named Satchel who stands in for his @semoballBrian photo.

Time to tipoff the season

Posted Sunday, November 19, 2006, at 5:19 PM

Basketball officially tips off Monday around the state of Missouri and we're frantically putting the finishing touches on a 16-page preview section.

Perhaps the toughest part in an undertaking like that is choosing a cover photo that best sums up the upcoming season.

Which teams will make the leap to district champs or an appearance at Mizzou Arena? Which players will have the most impact on their teams and earn state-wide recognition?

The season can't start soon enough in Doniphan where the boys will defend titles at Bloomfield and in their district while the Donettes will try to make a return trip to Columbia.

The Naylor and Van Buren girls teams also won district titles while the Greenville Lady Bears, Dexter Lady Bearcats, Clarkton Reindeer and Campbell Campbells had their season end in the finals.

Then there's Poplar Bluff:

Lady Mules coach Kirk Chronister has no seniors for only the second time ever and the Mules will start the season with their third coach in three years as Lamont Frazier takes over a program that has won five straight district titles.

To me, the Mules are the most intriguing storyline this winter with six seniors back but just one returning starter. Throw in the expectations following an unprecedented run of titles and wins, a new coaching staff and you've got a recipe for an interesting year.

Maybe that's why there was a good number of people at Peters Gym on Thursday night for an open scrimmage. I think the big question this season is, what are the Mules going to do?

Lots of people in Southeast Missouri think this will be Poplar Bluff's first losing season since 1999. And with a schedule that includes a defending state champ, a pair of teams that finished second in their class, two more that won district titles last season and, by the way, the Showdown and a return to the Glendale Invitational, the road is certainly going to be tough.

"It will be the first time in a long time Bluff has played without either of the Hansbrough brothers," writes Sikeston scribe Chris Moore on his semoball.com blog. "Bluff fans should witness a significant drop off."

Sound familiar? Last season it was Bluff couldn't win without Tyler. But they did, finishing 21-6 and winning the SEMO title by losing just once -- at Sikeston by five points.

One thing that has not left Poplar Bluff in the last few years is the ability to defend and like his predecessors, Frazier emphasizes defense.

Of Poplar Bluff's 20 games last season in which opponents were held to 60 or fewer points, the Mules lost only once -- 59-51 to Kirkwood in the state playoffs -- while they were 2-5 when giving up more than 60.

When the Mules won consecutive state titles, they were 40-7 when holding teams to under 60 points, losing to Greg Oden on ESPN2 (56-40) and losing four of their first five to start the 2003-04 season.

The first test is Nov. 30 at Webster Groves.

Brian Rosener is the sports editor for the Daily American Republic.

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i don't think anybody thought that PB would be bad last year or couldn't win. They had the best player in the state on their team. That's a good starting point for any squad. Anybody that saw Bluff last year would probably agree that they were a very good team.

This year, on the other hand, I agree with some of the naysayers. I think they're will be a drop-off, but only because they have to drop off some. It is a luxury for any team to be able to get a basket when you need it, or grab a rebound when you need it, like the Mules were able to with Ben H. last year. He was Mr. Show-me Basketball for a reason. He's now a starting (?) point guard in the SEC.

Coach Frazier will field a very competitive team. He was a competitor by nature and his personality will be reflected in his team. It may take until after Christmas to see it, but they'll be in the hunt for a 6th consecutive district title.

-- Posted by jean__valjean on Mon, Nov 20, 2006, at 10:08 AM

Brian Rosener's response:
Ben hasn't started in the first three games but he's averaging 22 min. and 9.3 points by hitting 60 pct. of his FGs and 44 pct. of his 3s.
Very solid start for him.Those are very good numbers for anybody, much less a kid playing a new position in his 1st week of big time D-I basketball..Ben, most likely, won't be an All-American and potential NBA lottery pick like big bro, but I see him having a VERY quality college career..I loved watching him play--relentless and such a winner...

-- Posted by jean__valjean on Mon, Nov 20, 2006, at 1:11 PM

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