Raiders tip off season at Olney Central

A one-point loss to Moberly Area Community College in last year’s Region 16 tournament ultimately was the final touch on an 18-11 season for the Three Rivers College men’s basketball team in 2021-22.

The hope for third-year head coach Brian Bess is to see a revamped roster maintain a years-long program mojo and accelerate past last year’s standard when the new campaign tips off 7 p.m. Tuesday at Olney Central College in Illinois. The Raiders home opener is set for 7 p.m. Friday against Richard J. Daley College.

“Last year, turned out to be a success considering we were .500 at the break and then went on a little streak,” Bess said. “Having four guys go Division I and a couple of guys go NAIA, we had a successful year in terms of helping our guys move on. We also had to bring in a lot of new guys.”

Sam Houston State, Niagara, Eastern Illinois, and Kennesaw State were the final NCAA Division I destination for a quartet of those who moved on.

Bess said the team has gone about .500 through the preseason and sees great potential for the Raiders. Of course, a lot will have to be learned as the roster only has one player back off from last year’s squad — sophomore Lamont Jackson.

“We have a lot of work to do and we need our guys to buy in and believe in our system and we will continue to get better,” Bess said. “We really need to improve our rebounding and taking care of the ball. We have had way too many turnovers in the preseason. We have the potential to be great defensively and be a good half-court offense.”

Bess’ concern with the rebounding is based on a lack of size and technique and a need to get tougher.

“It’s a fundamental you can teach, but it also takes time,” Bess said. “You have to make them hungrier and more competitive, but it is a skill you can teach.”

Without a dominant chairman of the boards, Bess said all five players on the floor will need to be actively involved in the rebounding efforts in a “gang” effort.

The ballhandling foibles were not necessarily crippling to the Raiders’ attack, but the process of learning better decision-making and handling under pressure will take some time.

“It’s a brand new team and most of the players are still trying to figure out their role,” Bess said, noting that the team is also trying to learn each other’s ways of playing.

The new-look roster includes sophomores B.J. Francis, Mo Niang, Nate Spivey, Mario Fleming, Makur Jongkuch, and freshmen Darian Webb — of Poplar Bluff High School — Caleb Young, K.D. Curry, Jordan Hamilton, Kendall Hamilton, D.J. Prater, and Maurice Washington will have to go toe-to-toe with a tough schedule.

Jordan Hamilton said that it’s been a challenge having all eyes on him and the other freshmen considering they all must step up to lead.

“At first it was a little different,” he said. “I’ve been playing well so I will keep doing what I am doing. I have seen a major change in my body — I’ve lost about 15 pounds and put on a lot of muscle. I am a lot more explosive and am doing better at getting at the rim.

“My midrange game has really evolved these past few months. It’s my bread-and-butter I would say. I have been watching different NBA guys.”

Jordan Hamilton said the team is coming along well despite all being thrown together to see all new faces staring back at them.

“We have to take a backseat to be more team-oriented,” he said. “Just like me, I need to get used to playing with all these many good guys at the same time. You got to get used to it.”

Webb expressed his happiness with being able to play in his hometown in front of family and friends and to get the opportunity to play at the next level.

He also is happy with how the team and his game are coming together.

“We’ll be fine,” Webb said. “I will bring energy (with his defense) and should be able to contribute with my shot.”

Bess said Jackson has come in handy as the lone returner after playing in the rotation off the bench as one of the top subs. Jackson’s knowledge of how things are done in Poplar Bluff has helped the coaches try to get the new roster acclimated to what is needed.

“We overscheduled and have a schedule for a team with 10 guys back,” Bess said. “We will figure it out and we have a lot of things to still get ready for game one.

“We have the right pieces and have guys that are skilled – we have bigs that can handle the ball. We just haven’t figured out our identity yet and how we want to play. It’s going to be a process.”

He believes that the Raiders should challenge to be a part of the upper echelon of Region 16 while Bess says Moberly and Mineral Area Community College should be in the mix for the title.

Bess is also proud of the fact that he has been able to help his last two assistants find jobs at 4-year schools at the Division I level.

Next up is Trey Rakes.

“I have no idea where he will go next,” Bess joked. “I am really good at finding good assistants and then I am really good at losing them.”