High school basketball is a sport predominantly dominated by veteran grade 12 players; players that have paid their dues and developed over two, sometimes three, SHSAA basketball seasons before reaching veteran status and starting roles with their respective teams.
On the 2015/16 YRHS Raiders, however, things are a little bit different.
Sure, there are veteran stalwarts such as Caleb Bymak and Tyson Black in the starting five, as well as skilled grade 11 athletes like Dylan Sharp.
Among them however, are Matthew Balysky and Matthew Mandziuk - a pair of grade 10 players that have burst onto the SHSAA basketball scene seemingly out of nowhere, shocking players and fans alike with their speed, aggressiveness and tenacity all while still being eligible to play junior basketball. 鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty impressive that they can play so well at the senior level as grade 10 players,鈥� YRHS head coach Jason Payne said when asked about his two junior eligible players, adding that they鈥檝e been a welcome addition to the team, especially with the season-long injury to grade 12 starting point guard Nick Payne. 鈥淲e needed some guys to step up with Nick out, and stepping in as a grade 10 and playing guard is not an easy thing to do, but they鈥檝e done a good job all season long.鈥�
But while both Mandziuk and Balysky have developed into quality senior high school basketball players over the course of the season, Payne said that initially that wasn鈥檛 the case. 鈥淭hey had a hard time at the start with the size and speed of the players at the senior level,鈥� remarked Payne, continuing, 鈥淏ut they worked hard and improved greatly over the season to where they are now difficult to play against.鈥�
The pair of grade 10 guards agreed with their head coach鈥檚 statement, but added that while they did have a hard time at first with the pace of the senior game, the fact that they both played senior football for the YRHS Raiders football team this past season helped them acclimate quicker than expected to the speed of senior basketball. 鈥淚t definitely gets you used to it quicker,鈥� offered Balysky. 鈥淔ootball is more physical, there鈥檚 more contact, but it also makes basketball a whole lot easier because you鈥檝e already played against guys older and stronger than you.鈥�
Mandziuk echoed Balysky鈥檚 statement, but added that while senior football helped prepare them for playing senior basketball, it was also the presence of the injured Nick Payne on the bench and in their ear that helped them improve their game. 鈥淣ick, he鈥檚 played the game for three years. He鈥檚 in grade 12 here, and so I guess you can say he鈥檚 kind of seen it all and because of that he knows a lot,鈥� mentioned Mandziuk, adding that the injured grade 12 point guard has been a great teammate to look up to. 鈥淗e鈥檚 been a really good role model to all the younger players and without him I鈥檓 not sure if we鈥檇 be at the level we are now.鈥�
鈥淗e鈥檚 got great presence and even though he鈥檚 not playing he still knows the game really well and when you make a mistake he鈥檚 there to help you and explain what happened,鈥� said Balysky on Nick Payne. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just like having another coach; he knows the game really well.
鈥淗e helps prepare you for the game and he instills a lot of confidence into you if you鈥檙e not feeling good about yourself or how you鈥檙e playing.鈥�
Still, having veteran leadership and prior senior sport experience is not enough, as both Mandziuk and Balysky are fully aware of.
To achieve the level of ability that both grade 10 Matthew鈥檚 have reached, hard work and determination is key. 鈥淵ou really have to work hard, harder than most,鈥� mentioned Balysky. 鈥淗aving the good seniors on our team like Nick (Payne), Tyson (Black) and Caleb (Bymak) is great because they have good leadership and they鈥檙e always really helpful, but there鈥檚 just a lot more work you have to put in being a grade 10 on the senior team because you鈥檙e smaller than most guys and we did that.鈥�
That dedication and work ethic is something that coach Payne says has definitely brought a new level of compete to not only the two grade 10 guards, but the entire team.
In addition, Payne feels that if both Balysky and Mandziuk continue on their upward trends, they will not only start for the Raiders for the next two seasons, but for the Provincial team as well. 鈥淚 just talked to the U16 Provincial coach and told him that both of them are good enough to play at that level,鈥� said Payne. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e both great players and I have no doubt they鈥檇 be able to compete with the best in the province.鈥�
However before either Matthew can turn their attention to the U16 Provincial team, they have to do one thing: help get the Raiders to Hoopla. 鈥淕etting to Provincials is the goal right now,鈥� offered a rather confident Balysky. 鈥淢atthew and I need to keep working hard here so that we can help our team advance this weekend.鈥�
鈥淲e should be fine. We should come out victorious if we play hard like we have been doing this weekend,鈥� said an even more confident Mandziuk. 鈥淲e need to play some tough defence and hit our shots, because I know the rest of the guys will, but with the home crowd behind us we should be doing pretty good.鈥�
