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March 14, 2012
Warriors’ Justin Epperson played his role to perfection
By STEVE CORNELIUS, CJ Sports Editor
Commonwealth Journal

Lexington — Throughout his athletic career at Southwestern High School, Justin Epperson has always been one of the top players in the Warriors’ basketball program.

He has always been a starter, and last year he was selected to the CJ All-County Team.

However this year, in the new Steve Wright regime, Justin Epperson found himself on the bench and religated to a substitute with limited playing time, while his twin sibling — Cody Epperson —still remained in the starting line-up.

But Justin Epperson never complained about his own personal playing time, nor did the 2011 All-County player get upset about losing his coveted starting position.

Mature beyond his teenage years, Justin Epperson has always accepted his role on this year’s Warrior basketball team and he soon began to realize that his new role was for the betterment of the team’s overall succes.

Yesterday, Justin Epperson’s role became the deciding factor in the Warriors’ amazing second half run in their State Tournament first-round win over Hopkinsville.

Coming off the bench on Wednesday at Rupp Arena, Justin Epperson scored a game-high 18 points — with 14 points in the pivotal second half. The senior was 6-of-6 from the free throw line, 6-of-7 from the field and pulled down 6 rebounds in an effort that earned him the Subway Sub of the Game Award — which was presented to him at halfcourt at the conclusion of the game.

“On every team you can only play five guys at a time, and every team has 7 or 8 players that can play,” Southwestern coach Steve Wright said. “Sometimes guys have to wait their turn, they have to be patient and sometimes they don’t get what they want. And sometimes players have to buy into that concept and do what is best for the team.”

“At times, Justin Epperson has had to wait to get his playing minutes,” Wright continued. “Sometimes when some of our other players were playing good, Justin literally got left out of the game.”

“Justin Epperson has been the ultimate team player, because he has not complained one time,” Wright continued. “He has bought into everything I have asked him to do. This is a special moment for me as a coach, because Justin Epperson waited his turn, he had a great game and he deserved it.”

“This is a great lesson for younger players,” Wright added. “You are not always going to be the ‘man’ and you have to wait your turn, if the team does come first.”

Yeah, being a ‘role player’ sounds a little more glamorous coming out of the mouth of a seasoned basketball coach like Steve Wright. But sometimes young players incorrectly perceive the word ‘role player’ as just another fancy word for ‘sitting the bench’.

“It is tough sitting on the bench and watching my teammates play, but I root them on the best I can,” Justin Epperson explained. “Then when I get my opportunity to get into the game, I try to work my hardest. Coach (Wright) always tells me to be a force on the boards. I tried to do that today, and good things seemed to happen as a result.”

“Playing in Rupp Arena is a dream come true. When you are in middle school or elementary school, you dream about playing here,” Epperson added. “I have came here a couple of times as a spectator and we came so close last year. I wanted to come back so bad, and it feels good to be here and win our first game.”

With players like Justin Epperson sitting on their bench and waiting to contribute for the betterment of the team, Southwestern could well be a force to reckon with this weekend at the Boys Sweet 16 State Basketball Tournament.

It is not who starts the game that is important. It is who finishes the game that really matters.

Justin Epperson finished the game — in a big way — for the Warriors on Wednesday.

http://somerset-kentucky.com/localsports...perfection