Hollister welcomes former Carl Junction coach

Hollister welcomed new basketball coach Lance Robbins Friday, just a few short days after he was given the heave-ho by Carl Junction after a successful tenure with the Bulldogs:

At Carl Junction, Robbins compiled a 138-102 record. The Bulldogs shared or won outright four Big Eight Conference championships on his watch.

He led Carl Junction to a 20-6 record this past season. The Bulldogs lost to Webb City in the Class 4 District 10 championship game, one of five seasons they finished as a district runner-up.

Carl Junction was 43-11 the past two seasons. Prior to Robbins’ arrival there, the Bulldogs had not won a conference title in 43 years.

Robbins started his coaching career at Sarcoxie and in the 1998-‘99 season guided the Indians to a 19-9 record and was named the Mid-Lakes Conference Coach of the Year.

His coaching philosophies begin on the defensive end.

“We will be very aggressive defensively and do things like trapping to try to create turnovers,” Robbins said. “And, we will switch up our defenses. About every four possessions, we will switch up and try to confuse offenses. On the offensive side, we’ll try to push the ball up the floor and play a fast-paced game, if possible.

“Obviously, I’ll have to see what kind of talent we will have and adjust to what is best for our team. But I guarantee we will play hard and try to put ourselves in position to win games.”

Robbins has never seen Hollister play, but got somewhat acquainted with the Tigers through Uhlmann, a center on Hollister’s Class 2 state runner-up squad in 1995-‘96 and part of teams that won seven straight SWCL championships while going undefeated in league play each season.

“I’m aware of the fact they have had a good history in basketball and that the community is passionate about basketball,” Robbins said.