School record in hand, Hill focuses on team
Dec. 17,
2012 |
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Lance Hill Reminder Publications photo by Chris Maza
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By Chris Maza
chrism@thereminder.com
WILBRAHAM – Now that setting a school record is out of the way, Minnechaug Regional High School basketball player Lance Hill hopes he can get back to focusing on what he's really concerned with – winning.
Hill scored 35 points in the Falcons' season-opening loss to Amherst on Dec. 10, eclipsing Dylan Fryar's 47-year-old school scoring record of 1,166 points, but admitted that even in the days that followed, he hasn't thought about it much.
"I don't think it's even really sunk in for me yet. It's early in the season and I'm just thinking about getting wins right now and trying to go to the playoffs," he said. "Maybe after the season and after I graduate it will sink in more."
That's Lance Hill, Minnechaug coach Michael Orzech said – always focused.
"Number one, he's about the team," Orzech said. "The moment that comes to mind is when he did break the record, the game stopped and guys were congratulating him and the first thing he said was, 'I don't care about any record right now. Let's just worry about winning this game.'"
Hill said that while he's never doubted his own abilities, the success he has enjoyed has been a direct result of those around him.
"I think it's because my teammates feed off of me and let me play my own game," he said. The same thing goes for the coaches. They know my abilities and they try to do things that will help me be a better player and help my teammates."
As a four-year member of the team, Hill's abilities are well known in the Minnechaug program and throughout Western Massachusetts and Orzech explained that the team's philosophy flows through Hill's capabilities at the point guard position.
"Within the confines of what we do, obviously Lance is extremely talented and as a coach, I give him the freedom to do a lot of things and he creates a lot of things on his own," he said. "But as our point guard, he understands the importance of the team game and getting everyone involved to be successful. That's the biggest piece of it. I think he knows when to get guys involved and when it's time for him to take over."
Hill and Orzech both said that winning 10 games and getting into the playoffs was the first goal the team set for the season and while not a lot of experience returns, Hill said he expects good things.
"I think we have a better team this year. I think we are a more athletic team," he said. "We only have three returners this year, so I think as the season goes on, I think it will come together and by the playoffs, we'll see how good we are."
With just three returners, Hill said that he recognized his responsibilities as a leader.
"Since this is my fourth year on the team and I'm the captain, I think I have to be more of a vocal leader," he said. "I have to let everybody know what we have to do to make it to the playoffs and win games and let them know how hard it is to win games in Western Mass. There's a lot of good teams, especially in the league we're playing in."
Orzech said the challenge of being that all-around leader the team needs is something Hill has embraced.
"The last two years he was by far our leading scorer, our leader in assists, our leader in rebounds, so he led us in stats," he said. "This year, his senior year, I have challenged him to step up and be a true leader and a vocal inspiration to the younger guys, both on and off the basketball court. He understands it's a team game and for us to be successful, he has to gain trust in his teammates and his teammates have to gain trust in him so they are working as a unit."
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