When Tom Evans took over the Westside basketball program last summer, he knew it wouldn’t be rebuilt in a year.
But in the first year there was noticeable growth.
After losing to foe Wyoming East by 27 points on Feb. 11, nearly a month later the Renegades pushed East in a 52-46 loss in the opening round of sectional play.
During the open summer period Evans has seen his team pick up where it left off in March.
“We played there at the (Beckley) armory the first time and they were shell shocked,” Evans said. “They were completely overwhelmed with the environment and with the game. Overwhelmed with the hype and the second time around, they were embarrassed the first game. They buckled down and played defense and they shot the ball with confidence. Just overall they’ve grown up a lot. I know that’s a simplistic way to put it but a lot comes with maturity and playing games together. Our seniors, they really weren’t part of my system but these fellas are some guys I’ve coached before so they know kind of what I’m expecting so it just feels better from the get go.”
While still in the early stages of the rebuild, Evans likes what he’s seen from his roster over the last six months as he implements his system and philosophies. His players have taken to the changes and it’s led to growth on multiple fronts.
“I’m seeing growth, not only physical but mentally on the basketball side too,” Evans said. “We’ve got guys that have already put on some pounds and inches. Basketball has gotten better and we just feel more like a team. We’re passing the ball, looking for each other and giving pats on the hind end and high fives instead of individual type play. All around it just feels better.”
In their second year under Evans, and second full offseason, the Renegades have a feel for what works and what Evans hopes to accomplish with each possession. There are still growing pains when breaking in a younger team but the unselfish play has stuck out as a highlight throughout the summer.
“I’m seeing the sharing of the basketball as the main thing,” Evans said. “I don’t have anyone that’s trying to dominate the ball, trying to score tons of points or trying to do things they’re not capable of. Overall they’re sharing the ball and they’re being a team. That’s something we didn’t experience last year or it went in spurts. Some games we looked really, really good and then we lost games we shouldn’t have lost. Overall their confidence is higher and their attitude is better. They’ve been in the gym since the day after the season ended. They’ve been bugging me to death to train to shoot or do something. We’ve literally played in tournament s since the season ended.”
The constant churn has contributed to that continuity and unselfish play Evans hops carries into the season. But even outside of organized team activities the Renegades have shown a hunger to improve which has translated to the improvement displayed throughout the summer.
Winners are built in the offseason and the passion for the sport is on display. When the Renegades played in Tuesday’s shootout at Shady Spring, several players took the time to get in some work between games to the extent Evans had to slow them down.
“That’s what it feels like,” Evans said. “Being around sports, you’re either a gym rat or you’re not. I’d stay around after football practice for hours and they’d have to make me leave. Basketball is the same way. We’re between games right now and they’re out there playing three-on-three and I’ll have to sit them down here in a minute just because they’re going to wear themselves out, and I’m up for that. I told them I’d invest my time as long as they invested their’s and we seem to be on the same page and everyone’s gotten bigger, stronger and faster.”
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