Senior Sequints a leader in more ways than one for his Sho-Ban team
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FORT HALL — The Sho-Ban High School boys basketball team, led by senior Bam Sequints, is one victory from securing its first winning season in a decade.
If they can beat Grace Lutheran (8-6, 3-6) Thursday, the Chiefs (8-7, 3-5) will do exactly that.
Sho-Ban is an especially young team, starting three sophomores — one of whom, Sky Cree Medicine, is in the midst of his first year of basketball. So they rely on the senior leadership of the other two starters, Cordell Wahtomy and Sequints.
Wahtomy, according to head coach Pam Coby, is the quiet, stoic presence who leads through his consistent and reliable play on the court. Sequints, she added, is the vocal and emotional leader, who tells his teammates what to do and where to be, and when the situation calls for it, makes the big play and fires up his team with his energy and intensity.
“He’s an intense player, and that’s what we need,” Coby said. “I tell him, ‘Every time you walk on this court, you need to put that intensity on that court, no matter what.’ … He brings everything to this court.”
Sequints is also the team jokester, according to Coby, and they need it. The coach told EastIdahoSports.com that, due to limited facilities, the Sho-Ban boys, girls and middle school teams share one practice gym, meaning the boys team’s practices often don’t end until around 10 p.m.
Sequints has been a part of the Sho-Ban basketball program since middle school, and over the past few years has emerged as a star. He is the team’s primary scorer, and defensive leader.
During last week’s senior night game against Taylor’s Crossing, Sequints led all scorers with 27 points. He also grabbed 14 rebounds and swiped three steals, and led the charge as the Chiefs overcame a nine-point second-half deficit to send the game into overtime.
RELATED | Taylor’s Crossing overcomes potent tandem of Sequints, Cree Medicine to beat Sho-Ban in OT
Near the midway point of the fourth quarter, he finished a go-ahead layup through contact for the and-one opportunity, letting out a boisterous yell as the shot fell, bringing his teammates, coaches and a full gym to its feet. As the entire Sho-Ban team did all night, Sequints missed the free throw, which would have given his team a two-point lead.
The Chiefs missed the majority of their free throw attempts — around 80% of them, Coby said — leading to an overtime period that would not have been if they were more productive from the stripe.
Despite the lost points, every time things looked bleak for the home team, Sequints made a play to right the ship.
“I’m proud of him. … He’s been kind of down on himself,” Coby said, noting that he has been dealing with the recent death of a family member. “He’s working through it. He’s such a — he just wants to win. He picks everybody up.”
Sequints and Cree Medicine both fouled out during the four-minute overtime period, leaving Sho-Ban with limited options on offense. They eventually fell to the Eagles on a last-second tip-in by Sergio Salinas.
Still, the Chiefs look to finish their regular season on a high note at home against the Royals Thursday night, creating momentum for the pending district playoffs. If they are to win, and secure the program’s first winning season since the 2014-15 school year, it will take another strong effort from their leader.
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