Basketball Feature: Hillsboro Indians
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
The past two seasons as a member of the Hillsboro varsity basketball team have been full of celebration and success for Jarrod Hart.
In fact, the three-sport athlete has seen a lot of success on the athletic fields as of late as he was a four-year soccer player, a state-placer in the 800-meter run at the OHSAA State Track and Field Championships, and for the past two basketball seasons, Hart has been a part of HHS teams that at season's end are the South Central Ohio League champions.
Not a bad span of accomplishments with one last basketball season left this winter, along with a final track and field season awaiting this spring.
Hart enters his final basketball year as the only starter remaining from those championship teams as he leads the way for the Indians on the court as their point guard, a position for which he earned All-SCOL honors his junior season.
"Jarrod knows the system, so it's great having him back," HHS head coach Brett Prince said.
With the season on the brink of beginning, Hart spoke about his roots in the sports and how it all started.
"I was young when I started," Hart said, "My dad played basketball when he was in high school, so he got me into the sport really early. I played at the YMCA in a co-ed league and progressed from there.
"I played in the Gary Heaton league (elementary leagues), then to middle school and so on."
Being the only retuning starter for HHS is a bit different for Hart, as he's seen a lot of upperclassmen lead the way before him.
"I'm used to being the young guy and looking up and getting advice from the older players. Now I'm the one the younger guys talk to for advice and to be the coach on the court.[[In-content Ad]]
"It's something new, and I'm looking forward to it. They listen to me, and the guys show respect, so that's all I can really ask for. Our main goal for this team and the coaches is to win league again for the third year in a row."
How will HHS be able to accomplish that goal?
"We have to play defense and rebound well," Hart said. "We'll score points because we have good athletes and we are quick. We are small, though, and playing the tough competition we have to play on our schedule, we'll have to box out and play defense to be successful."
As mentioned earlier, Hart will be a three-year starter, a rare feat for any high school player in any sport, and that is something Hart doesn't take lightly.
"I know how quick and physical varsity basketball is now," he said. "I'm able to handle the loud atmospheres a lot better now, especially the ones on the road like at Greenfield. There is always a great atmosphere to play in when we go there.
"What I've learned from my time in all the sports I play is hard work pays off. Just work in the offseason, and that work will pay off."
The senior also reflected on the atmosphere of playing at Hillsboro, and the student section that attends each game.
"I love the student section at our gym," Hart said. "They are a big part of this experience. The best feeling in the world is having a huge student section. When they were here for the game-clinching win against Clinton-Massie last year for the league title, that was big.
"We have a great student section and a great crowd for very game, and they are the best in the league. It means the world having our fellow students cheering us. It gets us amped to play the game."
Hart finished by talking about the past two league titles and how they were his favorite moments in not only basketball, but any sport he's been a part of.
"Those two championships … there was no better feeling to go through that with the teams we've had," he said. "Hopefully we can go through that feeling again with this group of guys. It was probably better than running at state."
In fact, the three-sport athlete has seen a lot of success on the athletic fields as of late as he was a four-year soccer player, a state-placer in the 800-meter run at the OHSAA State Track and Field Championships, and for the past two basketball seasons, Hart has been a part of HHS teams that at season's end are the South Central Ohio League champions.
Not a bad span of accomplishments with one last basketball season left this winter, along with a final track and field season awaiting this spring.
Hart enters his final basketball year as the only starter remaining from those championship teams as he leads the way for the Indians on the court as their point guard, a position for which he earned All-SCOL honors his junior season.
"Jarrod knows the system, so it's great having him back," HHS head coach Brett Prince said.
With the season on the brink of beginning, Hart spoke about his roots in the sports and how it all started.
"I was young when I started," Hart said, "My dad played basketball when he was in high school, so he got me into the sport really early. I played at the YMCA in a co-ed league and progressed from there.
"I played in the Gary Heaton league (elementary leagues), then to middle school and so on."
Being the only retuning starter for HHS is a bit different for Hart, as he's seen a lot of upperclassmen lead the way before him.
"I'm used to being the young guy and looking up and getting advice from the older players. Now I'm the one the younger guys talk to for advice and to be the coach on the court.[[In-content Ad]]
"It's something new, and I'm looking forward to it. They listen to me, and the guys show respect, so that's all I can really ask for. Our main goal for this team and the coaches is to win league again for the third year in a row."
How will HHS be able to accomplish that goal?
"We have to play defense and rebound well," Hart said. "We'll score points because we have good athletes and we are quick. We are small, though, and playing the tough competition we have to play on our schedule, we'll have to box out and play defense to be successful."
As mentioned earlier, Hart will be a three-year starter, a rare feat for any high school player in any sport, and that is something Hart doesn't take lightly.
"I know how quick and physical varsity basketball is now," he said. "I'm able to handle the loud atmospheres a lot better now, especially the ones on the road like at Greenfield. There is always a great atmosphere to play in when we go there.
"What I've learned from my time in all the sports I play is hard work pays off. Just work in the offseason, and that work will pay off."
The senior also reflected on the atmosphere of playing at Hillsboro, and the student section that attends each game.
"I love the student section at our gym," Hart said. "They are a big part of this experience. The best feeling in the world is having a huge student section. When they were here for the game-clinching win against Clinton-Massie last year for the league title, that was big.
"We have a great student section and a great crowd for very game, and they are the best in the league. It means the world having our fellow students cheering us. It gets us amped to play the game."
Hart finished by talking about the past two league titles and how they were his favorite moments in not only basketball, but any sport he's been a part of.
"Those two championships … there was no better feeling to go through that with the teams we've had," he said. "Hopefully we can go through that feeling again with this group of guys. It was probably better than running at state."