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 15th annual All-Glue Guy Basketball Team.

LUKE BONNETTE

Aurora, senior, 6-foot-3, forward

Coach Cody Calhoun: “Luke is the anchor to our interior offense and defense. In addition to what he is able to do from a skill standpoint, he is our most vocal leader, works relentlessly and comes with a great mindset every day. Luke is a guy that is willing to do whatever it takes to help our team and doesn’t let the amount of points he scores impact how he plays. He brings energy and toughness to the floor in every game and every practice. Luke pushes those around him to want to be better, was voted a captain by his teammates, and is someone who connects with everyone in our program.”

KYLE SHELHAMER

Crestwood, senior, 5-foot-10, guard

Coach Andrew Mertz: “Kyle is the hardest-working player I have ever coached and brings 100 percent effort to everything he does. His impact goes far beyond the box score. He is the vocal leader of our team, consistently motivating his teammates, keeping energy high and lifting others up during difficult moments. He plays with a scrappy, selfless mindset, never complains and always puts the team first. Kyle embodies what it means to be a glue player. He does the small things that lead to winning — effort plays, toughness, communication and leadership by example. He has helped establish an effort-first, hard-work culture within our program and that standard will continue to influence this team and future teams for years to come. He is a valuable and necessary piece of our success, and he will be a major part of everything this team accomplishes.”

JOEY CONROY

Field, senior, 5-foot-7, guard

Coach Alex Blake: “Joey is the type of kid that can change the energy in the gym at anytime. Whether at practice or in a game. He’s got a way of carrying himself that gives a positive energy to all our guys everyday. Not many will dive across a gym floor like he does, almost like diving for a baseball from a middle infield spot”

COLTON MILLER

Garfield, senior, 6-foot-4, forward

Coach Matt Hill: “Colton does all the little things that don’t always fill the stat sheet. He leads our team in charges taken. You know what you get with Colton. He comes everyday and works hard and gets after it. He has the respect of all of his teammates.”

EJ CHURN

Kent Roosevelt, senior, 6-foot, senior

Coach Curtis Black: “EJ is a player who is extremely dedicated to and invested in this basketball program. He has consistently put in the work to transform his game every single year. Since his freshman season, the qualities that have always stood out are his toughness, hustle, work ethic, rebounding ability and the unmatched effort he brings to the game every time he steps on the floor. We are very lucky to have him as a leader in this program and school.”

TYLER PENDERGAST

Mogadore, senior, 5-foot-10, guard

Coach Conner Wess: “Tyler has consistently brought positive energy to the gym. His locker room and team-huddle presence is keeping us together during times of adversity as he makes it a mission to be a leader everyday he comes in. His competitive mindset is something I hope every player in our program can take notes from and apply later on in this season.”

SEAN JORDAN

Ravenna, senior, 6-foot, guard

Coach Justin Raheim: “Sean is a exceptional athlete. He does everything that doesnt show up in the stats on a nightly basis. He keeps our team together on the court and off the court and is an extension of the coach. He leads our offense, puts everyone in the right spots and is an outstanding defender. Without Sean, we wouldnt be where we are today.”

MASON LISI

Rootstown, senior, 5-foot-10, guard

Coach Joe Siciliano: “Mason returns to the program after a few years absence. He brings a positive attitude and energy to the gym during every practice and during games. He has shown strong leadership throughout the season and keeps us together when things get tough. He tries to do the right thing every single day and has not complained once this entire season. Very blessed to have a kid like Mason on our team.”

DEVYN MILLER

Southeast, sophomore, 6-foot-1, forward

Coach Matt Dillon: “Devyn has started to mature, and he is understanding the game better. He is becoming a really good defender and his willingness to rebound and dive on the floor shows his loyalty to his teammates.”

ETHAN LARYEA

Streetsboro, senior, 6-foot-1, guard

Coach Nick Marcini: “Ethan does a little bit of everything for us. He’s our point guard, he guards bigs, leads by example, coaches younger guys up in practice, gets it done in the classroom. He is just an all-around great student-athlete and our glue.”

ISAAC HALL

Waterloo, senior, 6-foot, forward

Coach Gavin English: “Isaac has really emerged as a guy that is impossible to take off the floor. Isaac makes the game easier for everyone else. He is asked to guard everyone on the other team, 1 through 5. Every shot that goes up and every loose ball, he is right there. You don’t see too many guys diving on loose balls anymore, and whether it’s a game, practice or open gym in the summer, Isaac is full Superman diving for balls. Offensively, he helps our guys move. He never stands still and helps the other guys get into offensive position. Isaac is the definition of a guy that holds a team together.”

MATT KOLACZEK

Windham, senior, 6-foot-4, forward

Coach Cody Apthorpe: “Matt is a dominant player for us inside, and we rely heavily on him for his rebounding presence both on the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. He typically takes on the task of guarding the opposition’s big, which can be challenging.”