Entering the 2011-12 season, 2nd year Head Coach Royce Bryan had a lot of holes to fill. After ending the 2010-11 season with a Midwest Christian College Conference (MCCC) first place finish and a 4th place finish at the Association of Christian College Athletics (ACCA), the Bears graduated five seniors, four of which were starters.

“We knew that we had our work cut out in order to replace the five outstanding seniors that we had last year. They will be missed greatly, but we are thrilled with the players that God has sent our way,” said Bryan.

The 2011-12 squad features only five players from last year’s team that finished 14-14 overall, 10-2 in the MCCC. Patric Garrison (Eldora, IA) is the lone senior and team captain. Bryan stated, “We are expecting big things from Patric this year. He is a hard worker and has as great basketball IQ, but we will lean most on his leadership skills this year.”

In addition to Garrison, post presence will have to come from returner junior Ryan Tarver (Eatonton, GA). Other returners are sophomore guards Austin Ogle (Newton, KS), Dave Nolen (Morristown, IN), and Tyler Mullikin (Legrand, IA).

Among the new faces are freshman guard/forward Charles Brodhead (Lompoc, CA), forward Brandon Howarth (Dodge City, KS), sophomore guard Aaron Taylor (Palm Bay, FL), sophomore guard Jeremy Smith (Great Bend, KS), junior guard Jesse Waller, and sophomore guard/forward Austin Zamarripa (Great Bend, KS).