Q & A with EPC Warrior Tyrus Reel. By: Ryan Fletcher
1. Congrats on a successful high school basketball career. What’ s it feel like now that it’ s over? Thank you. It’ s sad knowing I played my last game as a Warrior and with my teammates, but I very am thankful that I made it to my last game in both sports. 2. EPC has now won back to back state championships. What is that feeling like to win two in a row? It feels great to be back to back state champs; a lot of people didn’ t even get us a chance to win one state title and to have two of them is fantastic. 3. Discuss what it was like winning the won last year vs. the title you won this season. Was the feeling different? Last year felt unreal because it was my first time winning a state title. This year didn’ t feel like last years because I’ ve won in state games and I’ ve lost in them as well so I know how it feels to be on both sides. 4. You played in the toughest region in class 2A. You also played in a fairly tough conference and played some very difficult nonconference games. What was it like playing against so many great teams this past season?
It was great playing all the teams. It was a good challenge every game to see what me and my team needed to work on. Those games helped us in the playoffs to play against the teams we played in our region.
5. You also have some really great teammates that helped propel you guys. Talk about your team and what they mean to you along with Coach Jamarcus Thaxton.
My team means a lot to me along with Coach Thaxton. I am very thankful that I got to play with them and none of this would’ ve been possible without them.
6. 3 / 5’ s of your starting lineup has the last name Reel. What is it like knowing your family plays a significant role in making school history at EPC? It feels great winning back to back state titles with my cousins( Doug and Ashton). We’ ve been around each other so much. We just know where each other is going to be at on the court and on the field. We know what each other can and can’ t do that’ s what make our chemistry so good.
7. You were named as the state’ s most valuable player. What was it like to receive such an honor and talk about your performance in the state title game. I am very thankful to be the MVP. I did what my team needed which was rebound so I did that. Ashton had the hot hand the whole game so I was just trying to get him the ball.
“ I can’ t say enough good things about Tyrus! First off he has been a great student since 7th grade. I can’ t remember one time he has ever been in any kind of trouble, always had great reports from teachers and good grades. On the sports side he was in a small senior class that never had very many kids play in that group, but he was always the leader and worked hard. I’ m not sure how much he really wanted to play football, but he knew we needed him, and he always stepped up. He was a big part of our success for four years. Tyrus is a great student athlete that has always represented our school and programs in the best way. If I had to describe him it is simply he’ s been consistent. He shows up and works hard, takes care of the classroom, puts his team first and is consistently successful at everything he does. I’ m so proud of the young man he has become and will miss his presence our school and the team next year!”- EPC Football Coach Brandon Powell