With a new head coach and a slew of returners, the Richland Bear boys are hoping for a fresh start this winter.
It was a rough season in 2024-25, as the Bears suffered growing pains during a 3-19 record, including an 0-8 Frisco League mark.
However, they hope last season’s struggles will produce success this time around, as the team returns seven players with varsity starting or key playing experience. And several of those players were pushed into varsity action as freshmen a year ago.
Austin Porter takes over the Bear program in his first season as a head coach.
“We will put a premium on putting our players in the best spots to be successful,” Porter said. “We want to play at a good pace and work together to get the best shot for our team that we can get. Defensively we want to build a tough, hard-nosed group that guards as a unit. Our goal on this end of the floor is to get teams to take tough, contested shots and be great at rebounding them.”
Back for Porter to build around include 6-0 senior Braden York, 5-8 senior Aden Pallai, 6-4 senior Ethan Butteris, 5-10 sophomore Mason Alexander, 6-0 sophomore Easton Payne, 5-8 sophomore Brailynn Walters and 5-10 sophomore London Smith.
Newcomers to the rotation hoping to play key varsity roles are 6-2 senior Kaden Cohen and 6-3 senior Jeramya Stephens.
Alexander is the top scorer back, having averaged 11.0 points and 1.5 steals last season while Butteris averaged 4.8 rebounds and Pallai 2.5 assists.
“Mason is a quick and athletic guard who saw significant minutes as a freshman last season, and had a great summer for us,” Porter said. “We are excited to see him continue to grow as a player and a leader for us. Kaden is a strong, skilled big who can be very versatile for us. Braden is a senior guard who we will look to for leadership and consistency. Ethan is a mobile big man who can stretch the floor with his shooting ability. Aden led the team in assists last season, looking to take on a bigger role in scoring. Brailynn is a shifty, mobile guard and a high IQ player. London is an improved shooter with a lot of time spent in the weight room and gym this summer. Easton had a lot of time and hard work spent this summer to improve his shooting. Jeremya is an exceptional hard-worker and leader on and off the court.”
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