Ready, willing, able - Seymour Tribune

December 31, 2013

CROTHERSVILLE

T o Crothersville High School senior Tyler Banks, it doesn’t matter where he plays on the basketball court. He just wants to do whatever he can to help the Tigers win.

If he had to pick, though, he prefers to play on the block or high post at the free-throw line.

“Whatever is working for us that night is where I play,” Banks said. “If (the opponent is) a good defensive team, I’ll play down low, or I might play high and look for shots. It just depends on the other team’s defense.”

Banks said he likes shooting from the right side of the court and feels comfortable shooting 3-pointers.

His high-point games have been 13 against Springs Valley this season and 12 against Martinsville Tabernacle last season.

“I like playing against a zone because I feel like, in our zone offenses, we can reverse the ball many times,” he said. “We can get something done on the block, or we can get an open shot. It depends on how well we play offense and rotate the ball.”

While playing down low, Banks tries to get in position to rebound.

“You’ve got to be strong down there,” he said. “You’ve got to be tougher than your opponent, and you’ve just got to want to rebound. You have to do it.”

When the Tigers are on defense, Banks said he prefers playing man-to-man.

“If we communicate a lot, the defense will take care of itself,” he said. “If somebody gets screened, just communicate and go help out. Communication is the main key. One of the main things our coaches tell us every day is communication.”

For the Tigers to have a winning season, Banks said, it is going to take teamwork.

“We’re just going to have to get it together,” he said. “People are going to have to communicate more. People are going to have to come together as a team. We’ve had a couple players injured, but they’ll be coming back, and people have just got to do what they’ve got to do, and we’ll come together.”

Banks also plays baseball at Crothersville. He started that sport at an early age.

“I’ve played baseball ever since peewee league,” he said. “In peewee league, I played first base and catcher, and when I got to pony league, I didn’t catch anymore.”

For the past two seasons, he has been the Tigers’ starting first baseman.

“I’m really good at digging baseballs out of the dirt,” he said. “I’ve always had a little bit more length than the other kids.”

He also has spent some time on the mound.

“Last year, I pitched in about three games. I came in in relief,” Banks said. “I’ve got a good fastball, and I’ve got a decent cutter. I like to start off showing (a batter) that I can throw strikes.”

In his junior season, he hit third or fourth in the order.

“I like high pitches,” he said. “I like them up because I don’t like to golf it. I like them up to where I can stretch my arms. I can usually put a bat on it wherever it enters the plate.”

For the Tigers to have success on the field in the spring, Banks said, “Everybody is going to have to come together and have more plate discipline. Kids in the past haven’t gone to the plate with real strong discipline.”

In both sports, Banks said, he has had teammates who are familiar with each other. That has made it a good experience.

“I’ve had most of the same teammates from peewee league,” he said. “I’ve played with the same boys. It’s been all different teams. That’s the thing we do here in Crothersville: We split up on all different teams, and then when we went to AAU games, they took the best players and put them on one team.”

[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Senior Focus” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]

Name: Tyler Banks

School: Crothersville High School

Parents: Stephanie Brumett

Sibling: Morgan

Sports: Basketball, four years; baseball, four years; cross-country, one year

Athletic honor: In baseball, most improved award

Home basketball games: “Our crowd is really supportive. We have really good fans at Crothersville. When the JV starts out good, it just gets the crowd more into it. People come together, and it gets loud in here.”

Favorite away gym: “Probably Springs Valley. I like some of the sunken gyms.”

Goals: “I just want to improve and win the school’s first sectional. I’ve been playing with the same group since eighth grade, and we’ve done real well. We’ve came all this way, and I want to prove something.”

Career: “I’ve enjoyed having played basketball with all these boys and all the fun I’ve had here. I’m going to miss all the coaches. It has been a lot of fun. I wish it could slow down, but it’s going to be over here soon.”

Attending CHS: “I really have enjoyed it. I really like being in a small school because I know everybody and everybody knows me. I get along with all my teachers. It’s just nice.”

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