Metia Valley’s Senior Alex Dinhal is one of the players who prefer to call people of Basketball Coach Program.
They are children whose names do not appear on a variety roster in their career for a long time, and when they do, they rarely get any infamous.
Danehl spent the last season on Metia Valley’s Junior Varity Team, but did not expect that he would find time to play Versity in a day. They have done so and earn a lot, small ahead.
“In the beginning of the season, I was very, very excited,” said Dinhal. “I was ready to work. I trusted all the work I had put in the offshine and open gym.
“It was just a next-man-up mentality. I was given a place, and I can’t let it slip with my hands.”
Dainhal has a firm understanding in his early place and has rarely noticed the role, helping Mustangs win 19 games. It did not surprise Junior Forward Jake Nosec, before and during the season in countless workouts, Dainhal’s practice partner.
“He has always been a very hardworking worker,” Nosek said. “He was a JV man last year, but he never complained. He used to work, and he was the leader of that group.”
Nosek said that he and Danehl are close, which led to an easy coordination.
“We were all in the gym in summer,” Nosek said. “We worked twice a day every day, so he earned that role.”
Alex Dinhal (20) of Metia Valley appears to pass through the baseline as Connor Sands (24) of Neparville Central defended on Wednesday, 14 February 2024 during a Duppage Valley Conference game in Arora. (John Cunningham / Neparville Sun)
Danehl contributed eight points, six rebounds and two theft on Wednesday night as hosts Mustangs won the 45-34 dupage valley conference against Neproville Central at the conclusion of a regular season in Aurora.
Both teams shot poorly, but Mustangs (19–10, 6-4) strongly with their hard-nosed defense. Redhox (9-22, 0–10) scored just nine points after a halftime.
“When the shots are not falling for us, our main thing is defense,” said Dainhal. “In the first half, we were doing a lot to the ball and not protecting much.
“In the second half, we had 12 stops in a row. From this, we were using energy from defense to get from crime.”
Metia Valley Senior Standouts Will Ashford and James Parker led aggressively with 11 and 10 points respectively, and Nosek added nine points and 11 rebounds. But Dinhal, who made 3 out of 8 shots, proved to be particularly effective on defense.
“If you can’t shoot, if you can’t score, try to find something else to impress the game, and I was talking tonight,” said Danahal.
He was tasked to guard the conver -man Sands, a junior, the initial center of the Football Team of Nepearville Central. Sands attempted just three shots, all from the 3-point range, and three were rebounds.
“He is a strong man,” said Danehl. “One of the main things, especially for football players, is that they are not the best for dragging. So I tried to laying her a little, tried to put her first step on it, and he is driving her, so he will only shoot open thresh.”
Redhox made only two of them. Apart from senior center Jackson, who had 15 points and 13 rebounds, no player was aggressively effective.
But Danehl had its own moments. He made a assistance from Parker to give Mustangs a 35–27 lead after three quarters and left two free throw with 2:25 in the fourth quarter after his fourth aggressive rebound and increased the edge to 41–32.
“He played well,” Nosek said. “He has always been a scary child. He goes there and raises things, trying to get a deflection, and he has got long weapons.
“He is going to try to contribute in a positive way, whatever it was. He knew that there was another way to influence the game, and his aggressive rebellions were very large.”
It has been a recurring theme for Danehl.
Yashaya Davis, coach of Metia Valley, said, “He is a scary and difficult and a competitor.” “He works hard, and he has done a good job to fill that early role this year. He has played well last month.”
Alex Dinhal (20) of Metia Valley laid the Jack pride of Nepella Central on Wednesday, February 14, 2024 during a Duppage Valley Conference game in Aurora. (John Cunningham / Neparville Sun)
Danehl’s competitive game career will soon end, but he would like to win two more domestic victories in the seventh seed Mustangs playoffs. They host a class 4A regional next week, which begins with the semi -final against the 11th seeded plainfield North on Wednesday.
Danehl said that he is ready.
He said, “We have four days of preparation, and we are closed.” “One thing you cannot teach is hard work. Just always work hard, and will be great things.”
Matt Le Crane is a freelance reporter.