Week of January 19, 2011
What an entertaining season its been for the Anamosa boys basketball program already this winter.
I’ve had the chance to cover games at all three levels (freshman, JV and varsity), and have been thoroughly impressed with not only the high quality of play, but how deep each team is with regards to scoring and defensive options.
Kevin Barnes, back in his first season with the program after a three-year hiatus from the high school game, seems to have picked up right where he left off when he decided to resign after 13 competitive campaigns as the Blue Raider boys basketball boss.
The team boasts a 5-9 record heading into a challenging stretch that sees the Anamosa boys play state-ranked opponents in three of their next six dates.
The Raiders are coming off a contest against fourth-ranked Mount Vernon last Tuesday that showed just how far the club has come.
The Mustangs, one of, if not the top team in the WaMaC this winter, were trailing host Anamosa in the first quarter of play and even as deep as the third, saw the Raiders still within striking distance.
The key to Anamosa’s success this season is no surprise to anyone familiar with the program. Perimeter shooting!
Anamosa is blessed to have one of the state’s top 3-point shooters in junior Spencer Barnes, the coach’s son.
Barnes has already made a name for himself on the AAU summer circuit as one of the region’s top perimeter threats playing on some high level squads against top-notch competition, but this Anamosa team is not a one-man shooting show.
Barnes has plenty of talent around him with Aaron Krapfl, Josh Schulte and Bryce Switzer, who can all stroke the 3-ball with the best in the WaMaC. Sophomore J.C. Ditch, who recently suffered a hip injury that apparently will keep the star guard on the sideline for the rest of the season, is another all-around skilled player that bodes very high for the Raiders’ future.
If the perimeter game isn’t working (and it rarely hasn’t been this season with those stars shooting the lights out in most gyms), Tyler Crofoot, Michael Maruga and Robbie Takes add post power for the Raider boys.
A solid JV club and improving freshman group makes this program one to watch right now, as well as in the future. Coach Barnes has things going quite nicely!
