Rest Of The Pack Provides Bite Reserves Complete Winning Formula For Timberwolves As They Prepare To Open State

The Lake City High boys basketball team has its share of standouts.

But the Timberwolves wouldn’t be 20-3 overall and headed to the State A-1 tournament without their role players.

Ideally, role players are those who help provide chemistry on a team.

In the worst-case scenario, they can turn a team into a bunch of individuals by their bickering, back-stabbing or whining because of their lack of playing time.

Ideally, they are players who step up when one of the usual contributors is struggling. They are the ones who provide invaluable minutes while the starters - or the stars - catch their breath on the bench.

They rarely stand in the spotlight. But they’re counted on to help hold up the spotlight.

For LC, the supporting cast consists of junior Conor Hammons (point guard), junior Brian Longwell (guard), senior Tyler Chisholm (wing), junior Luke Anderson (post) and senior Chris Carper (forward).

If LC is to achieve its goal at state, the bench must continue its supportive play. The T-Wolves take on defending state champion Pocatello in their opener Thursday at 2:15 p.m. PST at Nampa’s Idaho Center.

The starters - seniors Kevin Quinn (forward), Jake Lenz (point guard), Daryl Wilder (guard) and Tom Dennis (post) and sophomore Matt Dlouhy (wing) - average a combined 49.1 points per game. The reserves average a modest 12.4 ppg.

The bench isn’t counted on for its scoring - although the subs have provided key baskets from time to time. More than anything, they allow the starters to gain valuable rest.

It took LC coach Jim Winger until after the Christmas break before he could fit all the pieces of his team puzzle together.

“The bench struggled early, but that wasn’t their fault, it was mine,” Winger said. “We didn’t have the type of rotation that we have now, and the minutes were not as much early. When it finally all clicked, we took off.”

The subs were as responsible for LC’s 12-game midseason winning streak as the starters. The T-Wolves have won 17 of their last 18.

Of the five reserves, Hammons, Chisholm and Anderson have provided the greatest contributions.

Initially, Hammons wasn’t part of Winger’s plans. He began the year as a starter on the junior varsity. Just before the Christmas break, though, Winger knew something was missing.

“Conor had been getting better and better every week,” Winger said. “We needed to get Jake off the floor and give him some rest. Having Jake come out has helped his production. Jake would be the first one to tell you that it’s helped him a lot.”

Hammons plays 8-12 minutes, usually spelling Lenz early in the second and fourth quarters. Hammons’ minutes increase when Lenz gets in foul trouble.

Lenz has averaged 8.5 points and 5.5 assists per game. Combined, the point guards average 11 points and nearly eight assists.

“It’s been a positive thing,” Lenz said. “He pushes me in practice. It’s helped me out a lot.”

Hammons says he’s the one who’s benefitted the most.

“He’s (Lenz) a great player, so going against him every day in practice has made me better,” said Hammons, the heir apparent. “He’s a great leader. I’ve been able to learn against the best.”

Hammons has earned considerable praise from Winger.

“I told him the No. 1 thing I wanted him to do is get the ball up the floor,” Winger said. “He’s done exactly that. Everything else is gravy.”

Hammons’ best game came when he scored a season-high 14 points in Lake City’s regional-opening win against Lewiston.

“I try to make the most of the opportunity while I’m out there,” Hammons said. “I love to shoot the ball, but there are others who shoot it pretty good on the team. I just want continue to do the same things I’ve been doing.”

Chisholm’s minutes were inconsistent early. By midseason, he had found his niche coming in for Quinn and Dlouhy.

“I feel like as a senior I bring stability to the second group,” Chisholm said. “I’m out there because of my ability to help my teammates, not for my scoring.”

Winger appreciates Chisholm’s acceptance of his role. Of all the T-Wolves reserves, though, Chisholm is the one Winger wishes he could find more minutes for.

“In the first half of the season his minutes weren’t consistent,” Winger said. “A lot of things about Tyler is comfort. You’ve got to have minutes to get comfortable.

“Every year you look back and there’s always a kid that you wish you could have gotten more minutes. You never do it perfectly as a coach. Last year, it was probably Daryl (Wilder). This year, Tyler probably should get more minutes. But only five can play at one time.”

As Winger solidified his substitution pattern, Chisholm’s contributions became valuable.

“Early, he didn’t look as good as he looks now,” Winger said.

Anderson has been the late bloomer. A carryover injury from football coupled with him missing the first week of practice because of a family vacation resulted in Anderson spending a lot of time on the bench the first half of the season.

His contributions started to increase a month ago when he learned the true source of his hamstring problem. A doctor discovered that Anderson has had scoliosis (curvature of the spine) all his life.

“I’ve been overcompensating for it and not knowing it,” Anderson said. “I haven’t been able to run full-bore. It’s limited my agility and jumping.”

Over time, the 6-foot-4 post can improve his condition with therapy and weightlifting to strengthen muscles around his spine.

Anderson’s breakout game came in LC’s regular-season finale at Lewiston. He scored 10 points and had seven rebounds while holding the Bengals’ 6-5 post Dan Haines scoreless for nearly three quarters.

Winger considers Anderson a key element to LC’s hopes at state.

“We knew at the end of the season that if we were going to do well at (regionals) and do something at state we needed another body to go with Tom (Dennis),” Winger said. “I always felt that Luke had the body structure to get it done, but he struggled early. Now we know the reason he struggled.”

Anderson is looking forward to fulfilling his role at state.

“I’m supposed to get in there and bang around with the bigger boys,” Anderson said. “My main job is to rebound and play defense. I think the second group has been very valuable.”

This sidebar appeared with the story: State A-1 basketball

Thursday at Idaho Center, Nampa

Skyline (11-13) vs. Skyview (20-5), 12:45

Lake City (20-3) vs. Pocatello (23-3), 2:15

Borah (17-9) vs. Madison (14-11), 5:30

Highland (14-10) vs. Timberline (12-15), 7