By DAVE WOHLFARTH
Panhandle-Plains Basketball Magazine
The only new faces for the Falcons this year are the coach and a couple of sophomores. Everyone else is back. Connor Copley takes the reins at Bushland, succeeding Kendall Cogburn.
Copley was a three-time all-stater at Water Valley High School and a member of Water Valley’s 2014 Class 1A state championship team, coached by his dad, Andy Copley. Andy Copley later coached at Canadian (two state basketball championships) and Follett and now coaches the West Texas
High girls.
Connor Copley was the Class 1A player of the year and the state tournament MVP in 2014. He later played for two years at Wayland Baptist University.
He spent one year as an assistant at Panhandle, then became the head boys coach at Wildorado for three years. He brings a 57-34 head-coaching record to Bushland. Cogburn has moved to the new West Plains High School in the Canyon ISD to take the boys job there. Cogburn had been at Bushland since 2016 after he coached Happy to a state tournament berth in 2015-16.
Last year’s Falcons, under Cogburn, finished 18-10 overall and won District 1-3A with a 9-1 record. His team edged Childress 38-37 in bidistrict and crushed Alpine 73-37 in the area round. Shallowater stopped Bushland 68-48 in the regional quarterfinals.
“Won a lot of close games down the stretch,” said new coach Connor Copley. “Good playoff run and momentum heading into this season with everyone back.”
That’s right. No departures from last year. The Falcons have all five starters, including three honored players, and two other letter winners back.
Cole Purcell, a 5-10 senior guard, was the district MVP last year. He has a younger brother, 6-0 sophomore forward Tripp Purcell, on the team.
Baylor King, a 6-2 senior forward, and Brecken Reed, a 5-10 senior forward, both garnered all-district laurels last year. The other two returning starters are 6-4 senior forward Grant Whaley and 5-8 senior guard Tate Butcher.
Coach Copley recommends Cole Purcell, King and Whaley as all-state candidates. Reed, Butcher and 5-10 senior guard Aiden Sawyer, a letter winner, are other outstanding players to watch. Stockton Blount, a 5-8 senior guard, and Dawson Jaco, a 5-10 junior guard, also lettered last year.
This is the year for the Falcons, judging by their experience. They have seven seniors, one junior and two sophomores on he roster.
Athleticism, competitiveness, energy and defense are the Falcons’ strengths, according to Copley. He is concerned about scoring at times, shooting and consistency. “We need to compete in every game and find ways to win,” Copley said in assessing the keys for success this season. “Get
better as season goes on and peak going into February and March.”
Usually a contender in postseason football action, Bushland won’t open its season until Dec. 1-3 in the Nazareth
Tournament. The home opener is Dec. 6 against Stratford. The Falcons later will participate in the Dimmitt and
Littlefield tourneys. District 1-3A action begins Jan. 13. Bushland’s district remains a six-team conference although Highland Park was bumped down to Class 2A and Tulia replaced it in 1-3A because of UIL realignment.
Comments