JEFFERSONVILLE ' S GILLY POLK, LEFT, DRIVES TO THE BASKET DURING A REGULAR- SEASON GAME. AT RIGHT, JACOB WILKERSON PUTS UP A SHOT AT SILVER CREEK.
Third-year head coach Sherron Wilkerson, who faced similar expectations entering his senior year for the Red Devils in the fall of 1992, didn’ t want his players to look at the season as a sprint or a marathon. He wanted them to view it as a sprint and a marathon.
“ First, it’ s a sprint. And the sprint is the day-to-day challenges that we face,” he said.“ And the second piece that we talk about is the marathon. And the marathon, obviously, is reaching the pinnacle, and that involves a lot of mental toughness. Then, are you meeting those challenges of the sprints? That’ s when you are gauging your growth, in regards to the marathon. That’ s kind of how we’ ve explained it to them.
“ What we’ ve tried to prevent is them just solely focusing on a state championship, because I think when you do that then you miss the things that are immediately in front of you. So we talk about this sprint and marathon on a regular basis.”
The Red Devils quickly learned, though, that sometimes you have to clear a few hurdles along the way too.
In October, Singleton broke a bone in his ankle during a workout in front of then-University of Virginia head coach Tony Bennett. After it was surgically repaired with a plate and four screws, Singleton was given a timetable of eight to 12 weeks before he would be able to return.
“ WHAT WE’ VE TRIED TO PREVENT IS THEM JUST SOLELY FOCUSING ON A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP, BECAUSE I THINK WHEN YOU DO THAT THEN YOU MISS THE THINGS THAT ARE IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF YOU.
-SHERRON WILKERSON
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