Month: December 2020

Most people, likely, think, that this would be my number one.  Most of the time, they would be right.  After leading the Reeds Spring football program to its most successful run in school history, Lance Gosch decided to step away from the field and concentrate his duties on his role as Activities Director.

Gosch was first an assistant on Brian Moler’s staff.  His arrival completed the transformation of the program that Moler had set into motion.   His defenses were always among the most prepared that I have witnessed at the high school level.  His ability to put kids in a place that they could succeed, both individually, and as a team was amazing.

When Moler stepped down from the head coaching position, Gosch moved in, with what really was an extremely smooth transition.  Gosch delivered Reeds Spring their first outright conference title in 36 years.

He is the all-time winningest coach in school history, both in total wins and winning percentage.

You could easily argue that there is no better, more consistent coach in the tri-lakes than Ken Elfrink.  Year in and year out his Lady Bulldogs are extremely competitive.

The 2019-2020 version was that and so much more.  They won 20 or more games for the fourth consecutive year and claimed their Third straight District Title.

After falling to Hartville in the opening round of the State Playoffs in 2019, this version of the Lady Bulldogs were not going to be denied.  They traveled to Carthage and took down College Heights Christian in the Sectionals.  Three days later it was, up to Republic, and a 60-46 beatdown of Mansfield that sent these Ladies to the Final Four.

They  ran into a tough Tipton team in the Semifinals that was played in a limited seating, Hammons Student Center and had the third place game cancelled, as this was the beginning of the Covid-19 challenges in the nation.

Although it may have not had the complete fairy tale ending… It was another great season for a special group of Young Ladies.

It was a year of change for Branson Volleyball but a year that will be remembered for a number of reasons.

Hall of Famer Francie McBride was brought in to run the program and they reached across the lake and plucked Hollister head coach Alexis Mitchell to be her assistant.  That change, enough, would have been enough to get them on this list.  However, the Lady Pirates were not about to stop there.

They won the West Plains Tournament.  And, just when they were about to hit the stretch run they had to cancel the final two weeks of their regular season.  But, when the curtain was lifted for Districts, the Lady Pirates showed no signs of rust and claimed their first District Championship in 28 years.

The Lady Pirates were not done, yet.  They took down Harrisonville to start sectionals before falling to eventual State Champion Willard in what amounts to be the State Quarterfinals.

Lesson number 634 from Scott McCaulley is that we (announcers) are never the story.  We simply tell the story.  So, he would argue that he does not belong on this list, in reality, he should probably be higher.  While 2020 has been a rough year on everyone, one of the highlights was seeing Scott inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

For over 30 years the voice that tells you “Thats another Branson Pirate Touchdown”  has been that of Scott McCaulley.  What was supposed to be a stepping stone job turned into THE JOB, as McCaulley has become an area fixture.

While Football may gain the most attention, he has been behind the mic for Basketball Final Fours: for Hollister, Forsyth, and Blue Eye and the broadcast coordinator for the NAIA National Championships while the tournament was held at College of the Ozarks. He is also the Main Voice for Bobcat and Lady Cat Broadcasts and lets not forget the sport he really loves, baseball.

And perhaps his most difficult task:  He took a short, overweight, guy with an Oklahoma twang, that loved sports but had no idea what he was doing, and molded him into, what, at least some, would consider a respectable announcer.  That guy is the same one that is typing this story.

Thanks again Scott for everything you have done for me…  And best of all Congrats on a well deserved honor…

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After spending six years as the Head Coach at Springfield Catholic Steve Hancock returned to Branson as an assistant coach.

The Hall of Fame Coach built the Branson Football Program  He spent 28 years as the leader of the Pirates winning 193 games and taking the Pirates to two State Championship games.  Along the way he touched the lives of countless students, parents, co-workers, and fans in the Branson area.

As I said when he left for Catholic, Steve Hancock is Branson Football and Branson Football is Steve Hancock.  And although he had success and I am sure touched lives at Catholic.  To this biased fan he never looked the same in Green and white as he does in Red and Black…  So happy to have him back HOME!!!!!!!!

He joined Anthony Hays’ staff as an offensive assistant.

The Forsyth Panthers had a football season to remember.   The Panthers had a lot of firsts.  It was their first year under Coach Kris Conley, it was their first winning season, their first chance to host a District Playoff Game, and their first District Win.

Coach Conley was able to take advantage on the foundation that Andy McFarland placed in his one year as head coach.  Conley installed a flex-bone attack and the kids bought into the process.  The Panthers rolled to a 7-4 season record, including victory over Willow Springs to open District Play.

Many times when you lose the most prolific Goal Scorer in School History, the team takes a bit of a hit that next season.  Many thought that would be the case with the Branson Soccer Team.

However, the Pirates, led by a great group of seniors had their own version of what they wanted this season to be.  That group helped propel Carlton Epps to an offensive season like no other in Pirate Soccer History.

Epps set a single season mark for Goals by a player in a Branson uniform.  The junior forward, found the back of the net 39 times on the year.  He picked up All-Conference, All-District, All-Area, and topped it off with first team All-State honors.

With the single season mark in hand and a full year still to play, Epps will set his eyes on the career mark, set just a year ago, by Kyle Sutton.  But more importantly, trying to lead Branson to their first District Title.