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01-20-2012, 02:09 AM
West Carter senior rules the region in rebounds
Aaron Snyder
The Independent
OLIVE HILL â Ball ball ball, where's the ball? Ball ball ball, go get the ball!
Inside the head of the 16th Region's leading rebounder lies a quiet energy, and his thought process, while simple, serves as a driving force behind his dominance on the glass.
What does West Carter senior Derek Lawson think about as a missed shot descends from the basket?
He thinks about retrieving the rebound "no matter who is in the way," he said.
He thinks about his "horrible" basketball ability in his younger days.
He thinks about his grandfather, his "biggest fan," and the final few words that still fuel him.
Those are the reasons Lawson, at 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, is averaging nearly 12 rebounds a game despite being slightly undersized in the post.
Ball ball ball, where's the ball? Ball ball ball, go get the ball!
West Carter coach Jeremy Webb approached each possession the same exact way when he played.
"He's really a joy for me to coach because I was, myself, a good rebounder of the basketball," said Webb, who recorded 13 rebounds a game as a senior Comet in 1996. "I kind of have that understanding in regard to what he's thinking as well."
After Lawson grabbed a school-record 25 rebounds against Menifee County on Dec. 19, Webb and the coaching staff sat in amazement while reviewing film.
"Teams do not get 25 rebounds in a game," Webb said. "Going back and watching (Lawson), you see that this kid just goes after the basketball regardless of where it's at.
"Good rebounders block out," added the coach. "Your great rebounders, they check their man and they go and watch the basketball and get it. When Derek is focused, he's going around people and doing whatever he has to do to get himself in position."
The more physical the game, the more Lawson thrives. He craves contact like a tiger stalks prey.
"There's nothing funner than going up and getting the ball off the board with a bunch of bodies down there," said Lawson, who's amassed 14 games of at least 10 rebounds this season.
Lawson recalled his offensive atrocity in grade school as a main reason for his romance with rebounds.
"That's all I could do, was rebound," said a fidgety Lawson, anticipating a homecourt clash with Boyd County, in which he accumulated 22 points and 14 boards last Thursday. "That's what made basketball fun for me."
As was his maternal grandfather, Paul Lewis, Lawson is an avid Kentucky basketball connoisseur. They watched Wildcats games together, and when Lawson was on the court, Lewis was in the stands.
Even after Lewis fell ill with cancer, he tossed any pain and discomfort aside to make sure his grandson had his No. 1 supporter in attendance. Watching Lawson served as an escape, a temporary cure.
As many can attest, if Lewis wasn't talking about Kentucky basketball, Lawson and Comet basketball dominated his side of the conversation. Lewis was a former basketball player himself â he graduated from Olive Hill High School in 1971.
"He was my biggest fan," Lawson said. "He inspired me and still does."
Shortly before Lewis's demise, the 57-year-old spoke five simple words from a Hospice bed that will stick with Lawson forever. They were the last words spoken to his favorite player.
"He said, 'Keep up the good work,'" Lawson said. "I'll never forget that. That was something special to me."
Webb noticed that Lawson was affected by his loss, which occurred in October 2010, but not necessarily in a negative way.
"I think it helps motivate him, to know that (Paul) is still watching him play basketball," Webb said.
Ball ball ball, where's the ball? Ball ball ball, go get the ball!
As a freshman, and then as sophomore in his first year of starting varsity, Lawson displayed a surprisingly mature sense to waver from forcing offense.
"He knows his limitations on the floor, and I think that's a testament to his knowledge of the game and skill level," Webb said. "Dennis Rodman was probably the best rebounder in the game. He had that defensive mindset. He knew what he could do on the offensive end."
Maybe it's his mental toughness, as teammate Kyle Brown conveyed, that has allowed Lawson to emerge from an offensive shell. He's improved in his scoring (14.8 PPG compared to 11.1 in 2010-11), and his free-throw shooting (75.5% from 54.1% in 2010-11).
"He's just a blue-collar player," Brown said. "It all starts with rebounding with him.
"He always likes to say, 'What doesn't kill you makes you stronger,'" Brown said. "That's the kind of player he is."
Lawson lifts weights during the season, something most players stray away from.
"He's put on strength every year and worked on his body," Webb said. "That shows his dedication and commitment."
Region region region, where's the region? Region region region, go get the region!
Lawson recognizes West Carter's realistic goal of winning the 16th Region, but that's the big picture.
His focus remains on each and every pixel of that picture, each and every possession, each and every opportunity to get to the basketball.
AARON SNYDER can be reached at [email]asnyder@dailyindependent.com[/email] or (606) 326-2664.
Aaron Snyder
The Independent
OLIVE HILL â Ball ball ball, where's the ball? Ball ball ball, go get the ball!
Inside the head of the 16th Region's leading rebounder lies a quiet energy, and his thought process, while simple, serves as a driving force behind his dominance on the glass.
What does West Carter senior Derek Lawson think about as a missed shot descends from the basket?
He thinks about retrieving the rebound "no matter who is in the way," he said.
He thinks about his "horrible" basketball ability in his younger days.
He thinks about his grandfather, his "biggest fan," and the final few words that still fuel him.
Those are the reasons Lawson, at 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, is averaging nearly 12 rebounds a game despite being slightly undersized in the post.
Ball ball ball, where's the ball? Ball ball ball, go get the ball!
West Carter coach Jeremy Webb approached each possession the same exact way when he played.
"He's really a joy for me to coach because I was, myself, a good rebounder of the basketball," said Webb, who recorded 13 rebounds a game as a senior Comet in 1996. "I kind of have that understanding in regard to what he's thinking as well."
After Lawson grabbed a school-record 25 rebounds against Menifee County on Dec. 19, Webb and the coaching staff sat in amazement while reviewing film.
"Teams do not get 25 rebounds in a game," Webb said. "Going back and watching (Lawson), you see that this kid just goes after the basketball regardless of where it's at.
"Good rebounders block out," added the coach. "Your great rebounders, they check their man and they go and watch the basketball and get it. When Derek is focused, he's going around people and doing whatever he has to do to get himself in position."
The more physical the game, the more Lawson thrives. He craves contact like a tiger stalks prey.
"There's nothing funner than going up and getting the ball off the board with a bunch of bodies down there," said Lawson, who's amassed 14 games of at least 10 rebounds this season.
Lawson recalled his offensive atrocity in grade school as a main reason for his romance with rebounds.
"That's all I could do, was rebound," said a fidgety Lawson, anticipating a homecourt clash with Boyd County, in which he accumulated 22 points and 14 boards last Thursday. "That's what made basketball fun for me."
As was his maternal grandfather, Paul Lewis, Lawson is an avid Kentucky basketball connoisseur. They watched Wildcats games together, and when Lawson was on the court, Lewis was in the stands.
Even after Lewis fell ill with cancer, he tossed any pain and discomfort aside to make sure his grandson had his No. 1 supporter in attendance. Watching Lawson served as an escape, a temporary cure.
As many can attest, if Lewis wasn't talking about Kentucky basketball, Lawson and Comet basketball dominated his side of the conversation. Lewis was a former basketball player himself â he graduated from Olive Hill High School in 1971.
"He was my biggest fan," Lawson said. "He inspired me and still does."
Shortly before Lewis's demise, the 57-year-old spoke five simple words from a Hospice bed that will stick with Lawson forever. They were the last words spoken to his favorite player.
"He said, 'Keep up the good work,'" Lawson said. "I'll never forget that. That was something special to me."
Webb noticed that Lawson was affected by his loss, which occurred in October 2010, but not necessarily in a negative way.
"I think it helps motivate him, to know that (Paul) is still watching him play basketball," Webb said.
Ball ball ball, where's the ball? Ball ball ball, go get the ball!
As a freshman, and then as sophomore in his first year of starting varsity, Lawson displayed a surprisingly mature sense to waver from forcing offense.
"He knows his limitations on the floor, and I think that's a testament to his knowledge of the game and skill level," Webb said. "Dennis Rodman was probably the best rebounder in the game. He had that defensive mindset. He knew what he could do on the offensive end."
Maybe it's his mental toughness, as teammate Kyle Brown conveyed, that has allowed Lawson to emerge from an offensive shell. He's improved in his scoring (14.8 PPG compared to 11.1 in 2010-11), and his free-throw shooting (75.5% from 54.1% in 2010-11).
"He's just a blue-collar player," Brown said. "It all starts with rebounding with him.
"He always likes to say, 'What doesn't kill you makes you stronger,'" Brown said. "That's the kind of player he is."
Lawson lifts weights during the season, something most players stray away from.
"He's put on strength every year and worked on his body," Webb said. "That shows his dedication and commitment."
Region region region, where's the region? Region region region, go get the region!
Lawson recognizes West Carter's realistic goal of winning the 16th Region, but that's the big picture.
His focus remains on each and every pixel of that picture, each and every possession, each and every opportunity to get to the basketball.
AARON SNYDER can be reached at [email]asnyder@dailyindependent.com[/email] or (606) 326-2664.
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