Rick Peck
Special To McDonald County Press
It was a two-for-one special on May 4 at McDonald County High School for Ozark Christian College.
The Ambassadors signed MCHS seniors Drew Harmon and Brittney Stone to letters of intent to play basketball and volleyball, respectively.
Harmon started for the last 10 games of his freshman season and had been the point guard for the Mustangs ever since. He earned Big 8 All-Conference honors twice and all-district three times and was also named the district player of the year as a junior.
But Harmon said the thing he is most proud of was being the undefeated Big 8 Conference champions this past season.
"I have spent a lot of hours in the gym and this day means a lot," Harmon said. "I started playing when I was 4 years old. This is a goal that I have wanted to achieve for a long time. It's an exciting day."
Harmon said OCC's location in Joplin was a factor in his choosing the Ambassadors.
"It's a good program and a good environment," Harmon said. "My family will be able to come watch me."
Drew attended a tryout in April, and men's basketball coach and athletic director Chris Lahm liked what he saw.
"He did a great job," Lahm said. "Our upperclassmen were very impressed with him. They said, 'Coach, he is one we have to get.' I told Drew he would be able to come in and contribute right away. I was really impressed with his court presence. He seemed to be able to run the show -- so to speak -- as a point guard should. He also has the ability to knock shots down and has good range but also has the ability to put the ball on the floor. He is going to have to be stronger at our level, but that will happen."
Harmon averaged 11.8 points and 3.7 assists as a senior and 11.4 points and 3.1 assists as a junior under Trent Barratt at MCHS.
"Drew has been the leader of the team for the last three years," Barratt said. "He ran a lot of our open gyms and helps with communicating with players. He has a great work ethic and has been a great ambassador of Mustang basketball. He is a true point guard. He has good vision and is a good ball handler. He will do well at OCC."
Stone has played volleyball at some level for 12 years, including the past four at MCHS. She earned second team all-conference honors and second team all district this year while leading the Lady Mustangs in kills.
"It's exciting to sign and it definitely makes me understand that God works in mysterious ways because it came out of nowhere," Stone said. "It makes me very appreciative of everybody."
Stone said she visited OCC just two days before the signing to meet the new head coach (Breann Stephens).
"Coach Lahm said he was coming down to sign Drew today and he asked if I wanted to go ahead and sign then," Stone said. "I said sure. I just went to meet the new coach and all of a sudden I am signing."
Stone was coached by Kacha Kuhn for all four years of her career at MCHS.
"I am proud of Brittney for pursing her volleyball career at the next level," Kuhn said. "I'm sure she will be a great asset to the program at OCC."
"I don't know a lot about Brittney," Lahm said. "I officiate high school volleyball and was really impressed with her ability to hit the ball. I know our team coming back needs some outside hitters. I think she will be ready to jump in and play right away."
Lahm stressed that, in addition to athletic ability, a students' character is very important at Ozark Christian.
"If you don't have great character, you are not going to make it at Ozark Christian," Lahm said. "Both Drew and Brittney are good students and good kids."
Sports on 05/12/2016