Solid foundation

0

For The Tribune

Seymour’s Quenton Stoner said he feels like the boys basketball program has turned the corner for a bright future, and is pleased to have had a hand in the progress.

The Owls had a four-game win streak in January a three-game win string in February, and won eight games, making the most wins the team has had since the 2010-11 team who won eight games.

“It’s been fun getting to know a lot of people and becoming friends with them,” Stoner said. “I did a lot of learning and growing.”

[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]

Late in the season, Stoner was named a starter on senior night against visiting Columbus North.

There are five seniors on the team, and Stoner has tried to be a senior leader and work with the younger post players on the squad.

Stoner started playing basketball in first grade while attending Redding Elementary School, and he has been a post player throughout his career.

At 6-foot-5, Stoner was the tallest member on the Owls’ varsity roster.

“I’ve always been quite a bit taller than everybody else,” Stoner said. “I just like the one-on-one part of it and seeing who’s better, pretty much.”

The senior prefers playing against man-to-man defenses when he has the ball, and he likes playing man when the Owls are on defense.

Since he’s left-handed, Stoner tries to catch the opposition off-guard with his shots.

“I like to set up on the right side,” Stoner said. “I can open up with my right shoulder and shoot left-handed.” He said sometimes early in games he catches opponents by surprise with a move to his left and drive to the basket.”

One of Stoner’s greatest strengths is collecting rebounds.

“I just work him out of the lane and get in position,” Stoner said. “Usually I just spin around them.”

He also said he likes to get a defensive rebound so he can start a fast break. “We like to get the ball down the floor and get an easy bucket.”

He said he feels like he has quick hands and is able to deflect passes and cause turnovers.

When the Owls set up in a full-court zone press, Stoner plays back near the opponents’ basket.

“I just try to stop the long passes and keep everybody up, on the other side of the court,” Stoner said.

Stoner played for coach Scott Miller his freshman and sophomore years, before playing under coach Kyle Clough the past two seasons.

“We’ve done some different drills, but we’ve kept a lot of it the same with transition and full-court drills and stuff,” Stoner said. “Practice is really important for preparation for the next game to make sure we do everything right.

This past summer, Stoner traveled to games to play with his teammates.

Stoner said you to have a positive mental approach to sports.

“It’s really important because when it comes down to the last few seconds you just can’t think about winning the game,” he said “You’ve got to think about just trying to make it and not being so nervous about it. Just do what you’ve practiced to do.”

[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”On the hardwood” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]

Parents: Jay and Angie Stoner

Siblings: Lauren

Sports: basketball 4 years

Athletic highlights:

Organizations: band

Plans after high school: attend Indiana University Purdue University-Columbus, study mechanical engineering

Favorite away gym: Franklin

Favorite food: pizza

Favorite singer: Erich Church

Favorite movie: Saving Private Ryan

Favorite athlete: Paul George

Favorite teams: Indianapolis Colts

[sc:pullout-text-end]

No posts to display