By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

Basketball games are filled with all kinds of winning plays.

The most noticeable are the points scored and while those hold a high level of importance, they are not the only plays that have an impact on wins and losses.

There are many, many more.

And most have nothing to do with the actual act of scoring.

They are simply known as basketball plays — and coaches love them.

Rebounds, deflected passes, bumping cutters.

Proper passes into the shooting pocket, screens off the ball, moving without the ball.

Being the first on the floor for a loose ball, grabbing a bouncing ball instead of dribbling it, making the extra pass.

Disciplined eyes in the huddle, leadership in the locker room, leadership in the classroom.

Being a vocal leader, being a leader by example, being a positive leader in the midst of a game’s tough moment or even after losses.

Positive body language no matter what, the one with an uplifting message to a dejected teammate, the first to run over to pick up a teammate on the floor.

None of these basketball plays are part of a box score, but they have just as much to do with a win, if not more.

And the more of these types of players a team has, the more wins they will collect and the harder they will play.

These players are the ones who believe anything is possible, then get their teammates to believe the same thing.

They are the glue that holds a team together — no matter what the circumstances are.

It is not an easy description to fit into, but these players do.

I proudly present my 14th annual All-Glue Guy Basketball Team.

JOHNNY TRIVISONNO

Aurora, 5-foot-11, guard, junior

Coach Cody Calhoun: “Johnny has always been a great athlete, but worked hard in the off-season to expand his offensive game. He has turned into one of our leading scorers offensively, and we can play him in different positions. What makes Johnny so important to our team is what he brings on the defensive end of the floor. He typically has to guard the other team’s best player, regardless of position 1 through 4. He also sets the tone for our team in practice and games. When he brings the energy on both ends of the floor, the rest of the team tends to follow.”

AUGIE SCHWEICKERT

Crestwood, 5-foot-9, guard, senior

Coach Josh Jakacki: “Augie has been a mainstay on our team for his entire career. He is gritty, tough and works as hard as anyone on the team. He does all of the ‘little things’ very well and is as fundamental as they come. He is a leader and his communication and willingness to ‘teach’ his teammates is second to none. He is as valuable a piece of the puzzle as we have. He does everything and more for our program. Augie is a main reason why we have enjoyed success, and we are blessed to coach him.”

BRAYDEN RONOWSKI

Field, 5-foot-10, guard, senior

Coach Alex Blake: “Rono is a charismatic guy, and he always has something clever to say. He shows up each day bringing something different to the table. Whether he’s got jokes or is the one getting roasted. He sure does bring the glue for our group on and off the hardwood. On the basketball floor, his energy gets our other seven guys going at any given time.”

NICK EDIC

Garfield, 6-foot-3, forward, senior

Coach Andrew Olesky: “Nick is the quintessential glue guy. His impact on the team cannot be measured in statistics, as he contributes in literally every facet of our team. Nick is someone who helps handle the ball, he sets screens, he rebounds, and he makes the extra pass. This season, like the previous two, Nick has drawn the assignment of guarding the opponent’s top players, which is a job he relishes. His blocked shot total also has risen this year. Offensively, he has taken the next step this year. He is aggressively taking the ball to the hoop and has knocked down several big shots so far this season. He is hard to take off the floor.”

DEONNE DICKERSON

Kent Roosevelt, 6-foot-2, forward, senior

Coach Curtis Black: “Deonne is an incredible teammate. He is someone who truly embraces their role and stars in that role every single day. He shows up and works hard, and he cheers on the successes of his teammates constantly. He is not a transactional leader; he leads by supporting everyone around him. Although he may not get much time on the court, he attacks each day as a star player. When his number is called, he will always be ready. We are extremely happy to have a guy like Deonne as a part of our program.”

NICK STEPHENSON

Mogadore, 6-foot-4, center, senior

Coach Russ Swartz: “Nick is a three-year starter for us. He began starting a few games into his sophomore season because Mason Williams had shoulder surgery. We finished 20-6 and were district runner-up. His junior season, we finished 21-4 and were Portage Trail Conference champions. Nick has been involved in winning basketball games throughout his high-school career. He leads by example and competes hard each night and always tries to do things correctly. What he might lack in some skills, he makes up with for in his effort and energy level. He continues to lead us in rebounding with 11 per game and shots blocked at 2 per game — just like he has done the previous two seasons. We are counting on him to score more this season, which he has done by scoring double-digits in four of our six games.”

JAXON KELLY

Ravenna, 6-foot, forward, senior

Coach Marlon Jones: “Jaxon will give it his all from the beginning tip until the final buzzer. No matter what. He is the type of kid who doesn’t mind doing the things that don’t show up in the stat book. He is the definition of a team player. His dedication to his team is unwavering, regardless of personal gain.”

ETHAN WHITE

Rootstown, 5-foot-11, guard, junior

Coach Bobby Staudt: “Ethan has a large impact on games defensively, which doesn’t show up in the box score. He takes on the challenge of guarding one of the other team’s leading scorers every night and his defense has been a main reason for some of our wins this year. He looks forward to any challenge that the opponent creates. His competitiveness and toughness is contagious throughout our team. He continues to develop his offensive game, and he will be a big part of whatever success we have the next couple years.”

BRAEDYN WALDEN

Southeast, 5-foot-8, guard, sophomore

Coach Matt Dillon: “Braedyn has begun to mature. He is listening to the coaches more and his improved attitude has allowed him the opportunity to also improve as a player. He is starting to understand how to play fast, but also under control. His defense has also improved and Braedyn enjoys being in the gym and working with his teammates. The coaching staff is very proud of the progress he is making.”

TREVOR MURRAY

Streetsboro, 5-foot-10, guard, senior

Coach Nick Marcini: “Trevor is the epitome of a glue guy. He does all the little things. He works his tail off in practice every day, oftentimes walking out with floor burns. He competes at a very high level defensively , and he never misses a box out. He is a great student, teammate and member of the community. All of which do not go unnoticed by the coaches and his teammates, which has become contagious in the gym. On top of all that, he is shooting the 3 at a 50-percent clip right now and is leading our team in free-throw percentage, as well. Needless to say, he is a very valuable piece to our puzzle.”

LANDON MCCLAIN

Waterloo, 5-foot-8, guard, senior

Coach Gavin English: “Landon is one of those guys who you wish could stay forever. He holds it all together for us. He is one of our primary ball-handlers, who always looks to facilitate for others first. Defensively, he does it all for us. He is the conductor, the loudest guy on the floor, telling the other guys where they need to be. He guards 1 through 5 and is always tasked with the other team’s biggest threat. He’s always the first one on the floor for a loose ball, and he’s always around the ball.”

CARLOS BRUTON

Windham, 6-foot-1, guard, senior

Coach Cody Apthorpe: “Carlos is a guy who has been a contributing part to our program from an early age. He has developed into a great athlete, and his work, competitiveness and effort in practice this year has gone to a new level. He has a lot of natural ability and has combined that with dedicated effort to improve his skills throughout his four years of high school.  He has been a three-year starter for us and a critical component on our team on both sides of the floor.”