Ronnie Olson has spent his tenure making defense the identity of his Shady Spring basketball program.
His leading star, junior Braden Chapman, has personified that effort, becoming one of the state’s top players. It was reflected in the Evans Award balloting as he tied for second in voting, finishing runner-up. But even that was a result of being a two-way player.
On defense Chapman was smothering as an on-ball defender and worked perfectly within the team dynamic, averaging over four steals per game.
For his efforts Chapman has been named the Boys Basketball Lootpress Defensive Player of the Year by the Lootpress sports writers.
Chapman’s play on the defensive end is a large part of the reason why the Tigers have become one of the state’s top programs. He’s continuously accepted the task of guarding the team’s best player when called upon and excelled at doing so.
“I just feel like I’m a dog,” Chapman said. “I just like getting in their grills and making it hard on them and I think it helps our team win.”
The Class AAA semifinal game against Wheeling Central was a testament to Chapman’s defensive prowess. With his team struggling to score, he began ripping passes out of opposing players’ hands. His defense on Wheeling Central point guard Leyton Toepfer made running half court sets an impossible task at times.
He followed that up the next game by making life difficult for Fairmont Senior point guard Zycheus Dobbs. After the sophomore standout scored 10 points in the first half against Shady, Olson let Chapman know that Dobbs would be his responsibility before switches. Dobbs scored just six points in the second half with four of them coming against players other than Chapman.
Being a lockdown defender doesn’t happen overnight though.
It’s a mentality that requires full buy in.
“I think it’s about effort, energy and being able to read what the offense wants to do,” Chapman said. “So it’s about cutting them off and knowing they’ll want to spin back to their other hand. It’s just effort and energy and a little bit of being smart.”
Half the battle is won on the court but Chapman takes an advantage into that battle through his tireless preparation. A cerebral player on both ends of the court, he uses film study to gain an advantage.
“Before games I try to watch as many games of opponents as I can,” Chapman said. “When I know who I’m guarding I watch what they do and it’s sort of like watching what you do wrong on offense and it just relates to that. It’s knowing what you can do better on defense and what your opponent is going to do.”
Chapman’s aggressive approach on defense blends well with Olson’s vision for the program.
A firm believer in defense and what it can do for a program, Chapman has long held the same beliefs as his head coach and it’s part of what’s made the duo as successful as they are. Olson, a vocal leader, coaches hard and makes sure his message is received in doing so. He does so to make sure he gets the best effort from his team but it also requires a level of trust from his players.
They have to look past the emotional delivery and receive the message.
Chapman is able to do that, making the pairing so effective.
“Man, it couldn’t have been any better,” Chapman said of the pairing with Olson. “We’re both like minded and we both try to get after it on defense. It’s been great.”
Chapman will be honored at the Spring Lootpress Awards Banquet – along with the other winter and spring sports award winners – on Saturday, May 28 at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center. He will also receive a $500 scholarship from the Lootpress Foundation.
Email: tylerjackson@lootpress.com and follow on Twitter @tjack94
