Every Player Has An Important Role
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jerad Shaw-
It’s a rare occasion that Mangas misses a shot in the paint, and regardless of how mentally tough someone is, a play like that can sit with you awhile. That is unless you are surrounded with people that understand the situation and step up to help you through a moment in a magnified spot.
As Warsaw called time out after the next Crown Point possession I noticed something that I’ve seen all year. It’s something that can go unnoticed in a moment of chaos but it’s something that is no small task by any means.
Sam Miller, a junior on Warsaw’s varsity boys basketball team, was the first person to jump off the bench and head onto the court. He wasn’t heading out to give out high-fives and chest bump his teammates. Miller had a purpose. Miller always has a purpose. He ran straight to Mangas with his fingers pointed at his head, encouraging him to keep his head in the ball game. Even for someone equipped with Mangas’ mental toughness, the encouragement of teammates and the acknowledgment of Miller having his back is always uplifting.
It can be tough for a player when you don’t know when the next time your number will be called. The easy thing to do would be taking your seat on the bench and enjoying your front row seat. For a team that refuses to do the easy thing, Miller is no exception.
Coach Doug Ogle stated earlier in the year that Miller is vocal leading going into and coming out of timeouts. Normally a head coach would scoff at someone giving advice as his team was heading back on the floor but he said that it’s refreshing. That’s because the advice Miller gives is generally right.
He’s not alone by any stretch either. Aaron Sandoval and Miller have become two valuable pieces to this Warsaw puzzle.
A team can’t execute the way the Tigers do without going against tremendous competition during the week at practice. Whether emulating the opposing team or just competing against the starting group, guys like Sandoval, Miller and Braxton Minix are invaluable to a team that is looking to get better throughout the year.
That’s what it’s about. In order to have success at the varsity level, you must have all hands on deck. The product you see on the floor doesn’t become a regional champion without guys pushing to get better all year.
Teams often hit plateau after Christmas break and settle, while champions continue to improve in any and all opportunities they’re given. This Warsaw Tigers group can’t continue to improve without this group coming in and pushing them to get better.
This team has been exactly that since November, a team. You can go along the bench and see the impact that each one of them has had throughout the season in order for the Tigers to get to where they are this weekend. This is a special group that has a well-earned spot in Tiger Basketball history.
They’ve collectively brought back the memories of the rich history of such a storied high school basketball program.
The banners in the Tiger Den tell a story, and this is the type of team to add another chapter come Saturday.
Will the last person out of town please turn out the lights?[[In-content Ad]]
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It’s a rare occasion that Mangas misses a shot in the paint, and regardless of how mentally tough someone is, a play like that can sit with you awhile. That is unless you are surrounded with people that understand the situation and step up to help you through a moment in a magnified spot.
As Warsaw called time out after the next Crown Point possession I noticed something that I’ve seen all year. It’s something that can go unnoticed in a moment of chaos but it’s something that is no small task by any means.
Sam Miller, a junior on Warsaw’s varsity boys basketball team, was the first person to jump off the bench and head onto the court. He wasn’t heading out to give out high-fives and chest bump his teammates. Miller had a purpose. Miller always has a purpose. He ran straight to Mangas with his fingers pointed at his head, encouraging him to keep his head in the ball game. Even for someone equipped with Mangas’ mental toughness, the encouragement of teammates and the acknowledgment of Miller having his back is always uplifting.
It can be tough for a player when you don’t know when the next time your number will be called. The easy thing to do would be taking your seat on the bench and enjoying your front row seat. For a team that refuses to do the easy thing, Miller is no exception.
Coach Doug Ogle stated earlier in the year that Miller is vocal leading going into and coming out of timeouts. Normally a head coach would scoff at someone giving advice as his team was heading back on the floor but he said that it’s refreshing. That’s because the advice Miller gives is generally right.
He’s not alone by any stretch either. Aaron Sandoval and Miller have become two valuable pieces to this Warsaw puzzle.
A team can’t execute the way the Tigers do without going against tremendous competition during the week at practice. Whether emulating the opposing team or just competing against the starting group, guys like Sandoval, Miller and Braxton Minix are invaluable to a team that is looking to get better throughout the year.
That’s what it’s about. In order to have success at the varsity level, you must have all hands on deck. The product you see on the floor doesn’t become a regional champion without guys pushing to get better all year.
Teams often hit plateau after Christmas break and settle, while champions continue to improve in any and all opportunities they’re given. This Warsaw Tigers group can’t continue to improve without this group coming in and pushing them to get better.
This team has been exactly that since November, a team. You can go along the bench and see the impact that each one of them has had throughout the season in order for the Tigers to get to where they are this weekend. This is a special group that has a well-earned spot in Tiger Basketball history.
They’ve collectively brought back the memories of the rich history of such a storied high school basketball program.
The banners in the Tiger Den tell a story, and this is the type of team to add another chapter come Saturday.
Will the last person out of town please turn out the lights?[[In-content Ad]]
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