Low Country Showcase: Teaching Life Lessons
It was a well balanced attack for Greenville HS as 11 different players got into the scoring column. 5’10 2020 Quentin Johnson led the way with 15 points while teammate 6’0 unsigned senior Dorian Williams chipped in 13 points. For West Ashley, it was the 1-2 scoring punch of 6’2 senior Marlon Hill and 6’6 senior Devin Ramsey who scored 17 and 15 points respectively. For many, reading about the score of the game is the main storyline. However, sitting at the scorer’s table for the Low Country Showcase, we learned just a little more.
Prior to the game, we were getting the starting five for coach Mike Anderson of Greenville High School in Greenville, South Carolina. Coach Anderson stated several of his “usual starters” would not be starting. Why, because they were late for breakfast and I quickly replied “rules are rules.” After the game started, the “late for breakfast” starters entered the game midway through the first quarter. As they were getting ready to check in, I jokingly stated, “I bet you won’t be late for breakfast or a team meeting again.” They took the comments in jest and replied “yes sir” which also stuck me in a very positive way. I proceeded then to say, “you will thank your coach one day for this moment.”
For these young men from Greenville, South Carolina, their basketball coach Mike Anderson was teaching them life lessons. There are rules set in place and there would be consequences as well. For me personally, this was refreshing to see. During the game, coach Anderson did a masterful job of coaching and showing good sportsmanship, he even complimented the officials on a “good call” that even went against his team. However, the most important thing he did was after the game. Coach Anderson made sure his bench area was clean and all the trash was picked up for the next team. As the old saying goes, he left the bench as clean for the next team as it was for his team. Basketball is just a game for many, but for Coach Mike Anderson is also about teaching life lessons!