By Rex Kirts
There's no doubt at all in Spencer Turner's mind that shooting begins with confidence.
But that confidence starts building with a tremendous work ethic that includes a lot of shooting.
Five years ago South coach J.R. Holmes said the best shooter in town might be a kid in middle school named Spencer Turner. At the time, Holmes had a pretty good sophomore shooter named Jordy Hulls, who went on to perform many fine feats and become Mr. Basketball.
There's no doubt at all in Spencer Turner's mind that shooting begins with confidence.
But that confidence starts building with a tremendous work ethic that includes a lot of shooting.
Five years ago South coach J.R. Holmes said the best shooter in town might be a kid in middle school named Spencer Turner. At the time, Holmes had a pretty good sophomore shooter named Jordy Hulls, who went on to perform many fine feats and become Mr. Basketball.
Spencer Turner
Turner stepped onto the court at South and became a four-year varsity player and one of the school's best long-range shooters ever, with a ball so high-arching that it silences the gym until it collides with net or iron.
This season season has had some downs as well as ups for Turner, who is shooting 36 per cent on 3s compared to 40 last year, 46 per cent during the state championship year and 43 per cent as a freshman. A lot of the downturn can be traced to just a couple of games, however. Lately the 6-4 senior has been back on target.
"Once you miss three or four it's almost like you've forgot how to hit a shot," said Turner. "The basket gets smaller. But I try to stay positive.
"SHOOTING ALL STARTS with confidence," Turner said. "The guys around me, Dee (Davis) is always picking me up and telling me to shoot the ball. And Joey (Forney). It's all in your head." It's been a positive season for the 6-4 senior and 17-2 Panthers. He's second on the team in scoring to Davis with a career high average of 16 points a game, is second on the team in rebounding to Desmond Marks and second in assists to Davis.
Turner and Davis were the obvious two for opponents to concentrate their defense on this year, but he said he's not being defended differently.
"We saw a lot of triangle-and-2 last year but not much this year. I think we'll see it in the sectional," he said. "When they do that, trailing you and face-guarding you, you almost have to become a screener to get open shots for other guys. You've got to screen hard and screen well.'
If the triangle shows up, that should mean good looks for Ben Stowell, Marks and Forney. All have shown the ability to take advantage of such opportunities.
During the pre-season Holmes said this is one of the toughest schedule he's ever had. That's OK with Turner.
"I DEFINITELY GET UP for some teams more than others," he said. "You've got to get up for someone like Center Grove. I think the stats show I play tougher against better teams."
He slumped in the Hall of Fame loss to Center Grove but bounced back for a 24-point night in the winning rematch meeting last week.
Center Grove is one of the "pothole" games Holmes has highlighted for this season.
"We wanted to fill the potholes on the white board," Turner smiled. The Panthers just finished a three-game homestand with a Conference Indiana win over Columbus North, the rematch win over Center Grove and a victory over a talented Warren Central team.
This weekend is a challenge, too. They can win the conference championship Friday at Perry Meridian and on Saturday afternoon host LaPorte LaLumiere and IU recruit Hanner Perea.
Few players enjoy practice as much as Turner, and he likes to joke around. But he's totally serious at game time.
And he's still waiting to see what happens when everyone hits their stride at the same time.
"I don't think we've reached our peak yet," he said.
Turner stepped onto the court at South and became a four-year varsity player and one of the school's best long-range shooters ever, with a ball so high-arching that it silences the gym until it collides with net or iron.
This season season has had some downs as well as ups for Turner, who is shooting 36 per cent on 3s compared to 40 last year, 46 per cent during the state championship year and 43 per cent as a freshman. A lot of the downturn can be traced to just a couple of games, however. Lately the 6-4 senior has been back on target.
"Once you miss three or four it's almost like you've forgot how to hit a shot," said Turner. "The basket gets smaller. But I try to stay positive.
"SHOOTING ALL STARTS with confidence," Turner said. "The guys around me, Dee (Davis) is always picking me up and telling me to shoot the ball. And Joey (Forney). It's all in your head." It's been a positive season for the 6-4 senior and 17-2 Panthers. He's second on the team in scoring to Davis with a career high average of 16 points a game, is second on the team in rebounding to Desmond Marks and second in assists to Davis.
Turner and Davis were the obvious two for opponents to concentrate their defense on this year, but he said he's not being defended differently.
"We saw a lot of triangle-and-2 last year but not much this year. I think we'll see it in the sectional," he said. "When they do that, trailing you and face-guarding you, you almost have to become a screener to get open shots for other guys. You've got to screen hard and screen well.'
If the triangle shows up, that should mean good looks for Ben Stowell, Marks and Forney. All have shown the ability to take advantage of such opportunities.
During the pre-season Holmes said this is one of the toughest schedule he's ever had. That's OK with Turner.
"I DEFINITELY GET UP for some teams more than others," he said. "You've got to get up for someone like Center Grove. I think the stats show I play tougher against better teams."
He slumped in the Hall of Fame loss to Center Grove but bounced back for a 24-point night in the winning rematch meeting last week.
Center Grove is one of the "pothole" games Holmes has highlighted for this season.
"We wanted to fill the potholes on the white board," Turner smiled. The Panthers just finished a three-game homestand with a Conference Indiana win over Columbus North, the rematch win over Center Grove and a victory over a talented Warren Central team.
This weekend is a challenge, too. They can win the conference championship Friday at Perry Meridian and on Saturday afternoon host LaPorte LaLumiere and IU recruit Hanner Perea.
Few players enjoy practice as much as Turner, and he likes to joke around. But he's totally serious at game time.
And he's still waiting to see what happens when everyone hits their stride at the same time.
"I don't think we've reached our peak yet," he said.
