Basketball Feature: Whiteoak Wildcats
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Two seniors for the Whiteoak Wildcats have been chosen to be the leaders this season in Tyler Williams and Justin Emery, and for good reason.
These two seniors have been a part of successful teams on the basketball court and in other athletic fields, so in their final high school season, Williams and Emery want to make the most of their season. They also want to use the leadership skills they were taught by others to help bring the program back to where it was last season.
Both players, who began playing basketball in the fourth grade, just want to get the most out of their final high school year, as each spoke about why they've continued to play the game for this long.
"Basketball is something I've always been halfway decent at, and it is just fun for me," Emery said. "The competition is a big part of the game for me also."
"I just like the game, and I like the people on my team," Williams said. "We are pretty much like brothers, and I'd like for us to continue that this year."
Williams and Emery were each a part of the 2012-13 Southern Hills Athletic Conference champion team that won 12 games total, including nine in conference play. Both seniors spoke about that experience from last season.
"That was probably the best experience we're probably going to have," Emery said. "We lost a lot since last year, but there was a lot of talent on that team."
"Last season was very moving," Williams said. "Seeing Doc (Seip) score his 1,000th point and playing with Gage (Carraher) and Luke (Taggert) … it is a big class to follow."
The senior class from last season were a big influence for this current senior duo, as they spoke candidly about how those seniors helped them become better leaders for this upcoming season.
"They taught us a lot of leadership traits," Emery said. "One being helping out the underclassmen. Another is they taught us moves on the court to use and different ways to get the ball where you want it to be."
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"They showed us that younger players see what we do and how to do things the right way," Williams said.
Both have played games at varsity since their sophomore year, and now two seasons later, the duo looked back at the experience of that level of competition two years into their high school lives.
"It was very nerve-wracking the very first time I played varsity," Williams said. "Now, it is just an everyday thing."
"The same as Tyler said … you go out there, and it was a lot different ball game than JV," Emery said. "You are up against bigger, faster, stronger people, but now it is more even."
Emery and Williams each know the team as a whole needs to continue to work to improve throughout the season.
"We need to shoot the ball better and learn how to protect the ball more," Emery said. "Our scrimmages have shown us where we need to improve, so we need to keep at it and go from there."
"Defense is going to be our biggest key," Williams said. "If you have good defense, you can win the games."
These two also have had success on the baseball diamond, as they were a part of a WHS team that reached the regional semifinals of the baseball season last spring. In the regional game, Williams hit a home run. They were also league and district champions last spring.
"That was probably my greatest high school experience, being a part of that team," Emery said. "Making it to the Sweet 16 and being ranked ninth in the state … it was a huge accomplishment."
"It was very exciting, and there aren't very many people who were a part of a team like we were," Williams said. "Hitting the home run in the regional was pretty awesome … that ranks up there with one of the best experiences of my life."
Back to the upcoming season on the court, the seniors ended by saying they are the ones who have to step up like the seniors before them have.
"We have to step up now," Emery said. "We have to be able to control the game and and teach the underclassmen what we know so they can take over next year."
"I know I have to step up and lead through example," Williams said.
These two seniors have been a part of successful teams on the basketball court and in other athletic fields, so in their final high school season, Williams and Emery want to make the most of their season. They also want to use the leadership skills they were taught by others to help bring the program back to where it was last season.
Both players, who began playing basketball in the fourth grade, just want to get the most out of their final high school year, as each spoke about why they've continued to play the game for this long.
"Basketball is something I've always been halfway decent at, and it is just fun for me," Emery said. "The competition is a big part of the game for me also."
"I just like the game, and I like the people on my team," Williams said. "We are pretty much like brothers, and I'd like for us to continue that this year."
Williams and Emery were each a part of the 2012-13 Southern Hills Athletic Conference champion team that won 12 games total, including nine in conference play. Both seniors spoke about that experience from last season.
"That was probably the best experience we're probably going to have," Emery said. "We lost a lot since last year, but there was a lot of talent on that team."
"Last season was very moving," Williams said. "Seeing Doc (Seip) score his 1,000th point and playing with Gage (Carraher) and Luke (Taggert) … it is a big class to follow."
The senior class from last season were a big influence for this current senior duo, as they spoke candidly about how those seniors helped them become better leaders for this upcoming season.
"They taught us a lot of leadership traits," Emery said. "One being helping out the underclassmen. Another is they taught us moves on the court to use and different ways to get the ball where you want it to be."
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"They showed us that younger players see what we do and how to do things the right way," Williams said.
Both have played games at varsity since their sophomore year, and now two seasons later, the duo looked back at the experience of that level of competition two years into their high school lives.
"It was very nerve-wracking the very first time I played varsity," Williams said. "Now, it is just an everyday thing."
"The same as Tyler said … you go out there, and it was a lot different ball game than JV," Emery said. "You are up against bigger, faster, stronger people, but now it is more even."
Emery and Williams each know the team as a whole needs to continue to work to improve throughout the season.
"We need to shoot the ball better and learn how to protect the ball more," Emery said. "Our scrimmages have shown us where we need to improve, so we need to keep at it and go from there."
"Defense is going to be our biggest key," Williams said. "If you have good defense, you can win the games."
These two also have had success on the baseball diamond, as they were a part of a WHS team that reached the regional semifinals of the baseball season last spring. In the regional game, Williams hit a home run. They were also league and district champions last spring.
"That was probably my greatest high school experience, being a part of that team," Emery said. "Making it to the Sweet 16 and being ranked ninth in the state … it was a huge accomplishment."
"It was very exciting, and there aren't very many people who were a part of a team like we were," Williams said. "Hitting the home run in the regional was pretty awesome … that ranks up there with one of the best experiences of my life."
Back to the upcoming season on the court, the seniors ended by saying they are the ones who have to step up like the seniors before them have.
"We have to step up now," Emery said. "We have to be able to control the game and and teach the underclassmen what we know so they can take over next year."
"I know I have to step up and lead through example," Williams said.