Hammer Time back in the day. Left to right, Ian Smith, Nevin Miranda, Hammer, Ben Hayes, Tyler King and, in front, Scott Davidson.
Forever a star. (Laura Chan photo)
675 days is a lifetime.
Feb. 10, 2011 Hunter Hammer and his Coupeville High School teammates walked off the basketball court in Port Townsend with a swagger to their steps and a smile on their lips. They had just bounced their hosts 49-41 and were advancing on to the next round of the playoffs.
Hammer had dominated as only a six-foot-seven Tower of Power can, shredding the Redskins for 19 points and 10 boards and leading a second-half comeback in what would turn out to be the final win in Wolf coach Randy King’s twenty-plus year coaching career.
A loss to University Prep in the next game brought an end to Hammer’s high school hoops days. With him went Ian Smith, Tyler King, Ben Hayes and one of the best basketball-playing classes in school history.
Now, two years, and 25 more losses down the road, that victory seems far, far away.
But, as the current Wolves fight to get that elusive first win, Hammer offers a few reflections on his own time in the red and black. Thoughts that encompass the joy of winning, but also why you take the court in the first place.
Hah, your right, that has been some time away.
A thing I notice now is just how important those high school days are. How basketball may just be about the wins and losses. But even though the wins are great, the memories outlast it all.
Basketball may have united us, but winning or losing didn’t separate us.
Truth is, basketball and other sports are just games. But that doesn’t mean we give up on those games. Play hard, not just for yourself, but for the players wearing the same jersey.
It’s easy to get caught up in high school. Once it’s gone, you miss the days with the boys on the courts and fields.
My senior class was huge — Ben Hayes, Ian Smith, Tyler King, Nevin Miranda, Nic Anthony, all players who started playing Swish back in the day. That including junior Dalton Engle at the time.
I’ve won and lost many sports games with these guys, but the bonds and friendship we built over the years outweigh the sports.
The Port Townsend game was a fun one. One that almost ended our season.
Have fun with it, play with all you have, leaving it all on the court. The season may not be bright but there is a purpose to everything. Play for the love of competition and the sport.
Coupeville Sports 