High-Flying Bayless Basketball Squad Back To Show Last Year Was No Fluke

With a roster full of players no one had ever heard of, and with names no one could pronounce, the 2010-2011 Bayless High boys basketball squad was the surprise team of the season.

The Bronchos came from virtually nowhere to go 23-7 last year, with a number of high-profile upset wins, to go along with MSHSAA district and sectional championships, before ending their remarkable year in the Class 3 state quarterfinals.

It truly was a magic carpet ride kind of season, for a program that’s more used to winning big on the soccer field than on the basketball court.

“It was a great run,” Bayless head basketball coach Pat Triplett said. “And it was a testament to the hard work we put in. I’m very proud of the year we had.”

One big reason for Bayless’ sudden rise up the local boys basketball ladder was the emergence of freshman power forward Edin Mehmedovic.

Last year, the 6’4, 235-pound phenom led the Bronchos in scoring with a 17.5 points/game average, while also leading the team in rebounding with 13.8 rebounds/game.

“The big boy is just unbelievable,” Triplett said. “Anytime I needed a basket, I knew we could just throw it to him, and it didn’t even have to be a good pass. He’s got great hands. He’ll catch anything, and then he’s going to score.”

Mehmedovic earned himself a bunch of hardware last year as well.

He was named to several all-conference, all-district, all-state, and all-city teams, and he was named the St. Louis American Newspaper’s Freshman of the Year.

“I think he had five games with at least 20 points and 20 rebounds,” Triplett said. “And this year, people are going to see his three-point shot. He’s got a great basketball I.Q., and he only takes them when he knows he should, and he knocks them down every time.”

Another key for Bayless last year was the top-flight play of seniors, Edin's brother Enis Mehmedovic and Lamont Davenport, a pair of four-year varsity starters, that averaged 15.8 and 10.8 points/game, respectively for the Bronchos.

This year though, those two players are gone. And now it will be up to some new names to step up and keep the new Bayless winning tradition going.

First on the list, is the coach’s son Patrick Triplett, Jr., a 6’3 sophomore, who’ll start at point guard after averaging 9.9 points and 6.0 rebounds a game last year.

Also back this year are seniors Edmir Oric (5’11) and Laron Harris (6’5); juniors Edin Husic (6’1) and Billy Tran (5’6); and sophomore Muhamed Poljo (6’3).

New to the Bronchos varsity this year will be 5’10 defensive specialist Excell Harris and 6’0 shooter Munir Hirkic, a pair of exciting sophomores that Triplett the coach believes will be able to handle the rigors of varsity basketball right away.

“I could probably start five sophomores if I wanted to,” Triplett said. “They all work hard. And they all understand what it takes to play at the level we want to play at.”

Bayless will begin its 2011-2012 season with an appearance in the Southside Classic Tournament at Mehlville High School, beginning on Monday, November 28.

That night, the Bronchos, who were named the No. 1 seed for the tournament, will open up with a 3:30 p.m. game against Bishop DuBourg High.

Should Bayless win its opener, it would then face the winner of the St. Mary’s versus Hancock first-round game, in the tournament semifinals on Wednesday, November 30, with the Southside Classic championship game set for Friday, December 2.

The Bronchos’ first home game will also be a matchup against DuBourg, on Friday, December 9, at Bayless High School at 6:30 p.m. 

“I think I’ve got a good group here,” Triplett said. “We’re going to play an exciting brand of basketball. I think we’re going to have a good year.”