As a central part of the Wright City junior varsity basketball team a season ago, Dylan Lenoir isn’t unfamiliar with success.
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As a central part of the Wright City junior varsity basketball team a season ago, Dylan Lenoir isn’t unfamiliar with success.
On that level, Lenoir hit his fair share of game-winners.
This season, though, the 5-foot-6 junior guard admits things are a bit different.
“It’s way faster up here,” Lenoir admits. “Junior varsity games always seemed to move at a slower pace. It’s not like that up here. Having played a couple of games now, I feel more comfortable with (how the varsity game is played).”
After scoring five points in a season-opening loss to Hermann on Nov. 25, Lenoir stepped up his game, just as the Wildcats did in game No. 2.
Lenoir not only doubled his point total to 10 in the team’s 56-44 win over Missouri Military Academy on Dec. 3, but he also pitched in four rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Fellow junior TJ Hamel praised Lenoir for his hard work through the earliest part of the season.
“He does it all,” Hamel said. “He can score, pass, play defense and handle the ball. It’s everything you want from a point guard.”
Lenoir said that he uses the on-court savvy he’s developed over his years of playing basketball to best benefit himself and his team.
He said he looks for small details in defenders' positioning to find the easiest path for the ball to the basket.
“I try to fake the ball to the corner to do a euro step for an open lay-up,” Lenoir said. “If they try to come towards me, I can kick it to one of my teammates so they get their shot. There is (always somebody open). It is (about finding the open player).
“I have to be able to move the rock around and find open teammates,” Lenoir continued. “I’ve been playing basketball since I was four. I’ve done this for a while and I just love the game.”
Wright City coach Ken Brown didn’t mince words about his feelings on Lenoir and what he can continue to mean for the Wildcats’ success.
After all, the most significant difference between the team’s win and its loss has come down to guard play and how effortlessly the sets flow and how effectively the offense can run with a capable leader on the floor.
“He keeps us in the game, just getting the ball reversed,” Brown said. “His scoring has picked up. He’s done a good job keeping us afloat.”
Brown added that Lenoir’s basketball acumen is evident when he’s out there playing the game he loves.
The coach said that while points, his six assists and five steals – which are both second-best on the team – are essential, Lenoir’s ability to take on any opponent without hesitation is valuable.
Even though the game has changed from junior varsity to varsity, Lenoir is already adapting quite well.
“He’s a special player, for his size, he does a lot of good things for us,” Brown said. “He’s a fearless player who is always going to play hard. I never have to worry about that from him.”
