'Any night can be anyone's night': Roosevelt basketball's depth is its greatest strength
RAVENNA — Curtis Black's second team at Roosevelt reminds him a lot of the teams his father led.
Black recalled that when his dad, Cameron, was Rough Riders coach, depth was central to their success. In his second season at the helm of Roosevelt's boys basketball program, Black is seeing similar things with his current roster.
“It was a geese mentality,” Black said. “Like geese always fly, and if even one drops off, someone else takes the lead, and that's exactly how we are and that's what we stress. No one is a star on this team. It can be anybody's night and we got to have guys ready to go if someone gets cold.”
That was certainly the case in the Rough Riders' 2023 finale when 10 Roosevelt players scored in a 61-49 win at Ravenna.
“You don't see that a lot in our league,” senior Tyrel Ellington said. “We have guys that can go off at any moment. I feel like any night can be anyone's night honestly with this team.”
Wednesday was anyone's night and everyone's night. It wasn't just the balanced scoring column. It was the way the Rough Riders came in waves, like Lake Erie crashing ashore on a windy night.
Anthony Helton and Jack Smith took over early as playmakers and scorers, with Helton scoring seven first-half points and adding assists on two of Smith's three 3-pointers. Ryan Slocum and Ellington took over after halftime, scoring 11 of Roosevelt's 16 third-quarter points. And sophomore Gavin Peeps made huge plays late.
Just like that, the same Rough Riders team that was trounced in its opener at Hudson had its fifth straight win — a streak that includes beating Revere, last year's Suburban American champion.
“I think [it’s] just guys rallying around our coaches,” Ellington said. “Our practices are sometimes harder than our games, so I think that's a big thing. Our coaches preach going 1-0 for the day, one percent better every day, and I feel like once guys bought in and started trusting the process, you guys see the results. It's a five-game winning streak. We're looking to make it six.”
Selflessness key to Roosevelt's success
Depth in sports typically requires selflessness.
Ten players can't score unless the players on the floor are willing to share the ball and the minutes.
Ellington is a key part of that story as well, recently giving up his starting role to become a burst of energy (and scoring) off the bench, much like Jamal Crawford and Caris LeVert.
“He's giving us big plays, offensively and defensively,” Black said. “He's an electric player and it almost brings a James Harden Oklahoma City-esque type of guy off the bench.”
Some players might take such a move as a demotion.
They might disengage.
Not Ellington.
“He's a guy that's bought completely into his role on this team and he's aware that he may not be the guy that is starting the game, but it's going to be tough to not finish a game with him on the floor,” Black said. “It's not about who starts. It's about who finishes.”
Ellington's role change was one of many on a team that has incorporated a number of new weapons, including Anthony Helton and Jack Smith from Woodridge and Stow-Munroe Falls, respectively.
Helton has had huge moments already, providing spirited post play, along with a beautiful spinning dish to Smith for 3 against the Ravens.
“He's doing extremely well," Ellington said. "I'm super proud of him. Just by the way he plays, the way he adapts to new situations, he's very coachable, likable and just a hell of a player to play with.”
Smith, as demonstrated by his three 3-pointers at James L. Coll Gymnasium, is heating up as well.
“Jack knows his role on this team and I feel like he plays it extremely well when he needs to,” Ellington said. “Jack never tries to overstep his boundaries. You won't see too many mistakes out of Jack.”
Smith added another strong shooter to a backcourt that already featured the explosive Jeremiah Lepp and another steady ballhandler to a backcourt that already boasted Grant Leslie.
And to go with Jaden Dennison and Ellington, who can score at every level for the Rough Riders.
Helton has added to a frontcourt already stacked with capable players like Carter Foreman, Peeps and Slocum.
The list goes on.
The list of capable playmakers.
The list of wins, too.
“[It’s] just a great feeling, just to especially experience that with all my brothers,” Ellington said. “We go through war every single day at practice, no days off, and to come out here and execute how we did and do the good things, [you] can't beat times like that. Can't beat it.”
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Roosevelt boys basketball has won five straight, fueled by its depth
