The Wellsville-Middletown boys and girls basketball teams went in different directions this winter.

The boys increased their win total from last year, while the girls suffered their first 20-loss season in more than a decade. The boys finished 7-20 after winning just two games the year before and the girls were 6-21.

Both teams had new coaches this year. Josh Albregts took over head coaching duties for the boys, replacing Steve Lasman, who took over the girls after coaching the W-M boys for seven years. Todd Cripe retired as the Tigers’ girls coach after the 2023-2024 season.

The W-M boys started the Albregts era on a high note, beating Community R-6 61-40 on Nov. 26. After a five-game losing streak, the Tigers got back on the win column with a 55-46, double-overtime win over Liberty Christian in their home opener on Dec. 13. W-M also had a pair of wins over Bevier, one in the third-place game of the Keytesville Tournament and the other in a Class 1, District 10 quarterfinal game at Madison. It also had wins over Norborne, New Haven and Mark Twain.

The Tigers defeated Mark Twain 53-41 on Jan. 24 for their only Eastern Missouri Conference win. Last year, they didn’t get any conference victories.
W-M increased its roster this year with 12 players after having just seven the year before.

Seniors Cooper Henderson, Gage Marshall, Jonah Slovensky and Brennan Cash and sophomores Shane Joles and Gage Nichols returned from last year’s team and were joined by newcomers Willard Shireman, a sophomore, and freshmen Chandler Parker, Brandon Murphy, Garrett Poage and Olyn Davis.

Henderson was the Tigers’ lone representative on the all-conference team, receiving second-team honors. It’s the second year in a row Henderson was named to the all-league team. Henderson had several outstanding efforts, including a 26-point performance in the Tigers’ win over New Haven on Jan. 24 and a 23-point showing against Community R-6.

Marshall was also an offensive threat for the Tigers this season. He scored 17 points, including 10 in the overtime periods, to help his team pull off the double-overtime win over Liberty Christian.

Both Henderson and Marshall played all four years with the W-M boys program. When they were freshmen, they were part of a W-M team that placed fourth in the Class 1 Show-Me Showdown.

The Tigers’ season ended with a loss to Cairo in the district semifinals. They finished with their third straight losing season and their second consecutive 20-loss season.

The W-M girls lost their first three games before topping Bowling Green in the seventh-place game of the Montgomery County Invitational Tournament for their first win. They also beat Liberty Christian, Prairie Home, Southwest, Norborne and Wright City.

The Tigers finished second in the Keytesville Tournament after losing to Higbee in the finals. They ended their regular season with a 55-54 win over Wright City on Feb. 20 for their only EMO victory.

Seniors Keigan Hall and Hallie Guzy, junior Helanea McKenzie and sophomores Elly Cash and Aubrey Harmon returned this year and were joined by newcomers Alivia Stewart and Julia Dias, both seniors.

Hall earned her first all-EMO award after she was named on the second team. She and Guzy played with the girls program all four years.

John Slovensky served as an assistant coach for both boys and girls teams.