Metamora HS senior does 'great job' of running the show for the basketball team
METAMORA – Increased experience, leadership and strength accompany Drew Tucker into his senior season.
And a lot more muscle for that matter.
The Metamora senior made a concerted effort to improve his power in the offseason, hitting the weight room religiously and training harder than ever. He points to the double-overtime loss to Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin in the Class 3A title game as motivation.
“That was the huge key in just the playoffs and the state championship game,” Tucker said of the physicality level. "We all kind of got beat up and pushed around.”
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Tucker is noticeably bigger, having added a considerable amount of mass to his 6-foot-2 frame. Metamora coach Danny Grieves noticed the time his point guard spent honing his craft.
Early in the season, Tucker’s explosiveness in the paint ranks up there with some of the state’s best Class 4A schools.
“Last year, he was not quite as strong physically,” Grieves said. "Now, he’s as good as anybody I've seen going to the rim whether it be (Chicago) St. Rita or Joliet West or us. It's good to have him healthy and playing strong.”
With the graduation of Zack Schroeder, who was Journal Star Player of the Year last season, Tucker has been called upon for added responsibility. He was recently named team captain with junior Tyler Mason. But fully expect Ethan Kizer, Tyson Swanson and Matthew Zobrist to all play roles in steering the ship this season.
Tucker says he’ll use his three years of varsity experience to direct his teammates.
“Missing Zack, it’s a huge difference,” Tucker said. “He was extremely vocal and just had a great sense for the game.”
Metamora opens Mid-Illini Conference play against rival Washington on Tuesday.
The Redbirds, who are ranked No. 4 by The Associated Press, are playing a schedule that includes a trip to Mississippi at the end of the month. This comes after facing teams from Florida and Texas over Thanksgiving at The Kevin Brown Memorial Tournament of Champions. Metamora also plays Sacred Heart-Griffin on Jan. 16 in a rematch of last year's state title game.
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This past Saturday’s 64-52 win over Chicago Lincoln Park was a test for Metamora, which got eight points, four assists and two rebounds from Tucker.
“He's a guy that’s done a great job of running our show (as) point guard,” Grieves said.
Consistency throughout the season will be important. Every team will be giving the Redbirds their best shot based off last season’s success. Maintaining a high level of play from the opening tip to the final buzzer remains the emphasis.
“We need to keep our focus throughout the whole game,” Tucker said. “We, at times, we don’t look like we don’t want to be out there. That can’t happen. When we’re having fun, we play a lot better.”
Once basketball ends, Tucker will make his return to track and field. He’s played baseball for the last three years and this upcoming spring will be allowed to be a dual-sport athlete.
After winning the IESA Class AA high jump state title as a seventh grader, Tucker, whose sister, Carly, is on the Illinois State women’s track & field team, has only practiced jumping. He cleared 6-foot-5, a height that would placed him third in the state this past spring.
“It’s really exciting,” he said of jumping again. “I’ve missed it, kind of.”
Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA basketball: Metamora senior does 'great job' of running the show
