Jan 21, 2012
Tim Witcher knew something had to change. As a 155-pound junior for Sesser-Valier, he remembers being pushed around by Pinckneyville big man, Steve Brueggeman, during last season’s Benton Invitational Tournament. Thirty pounds of muscle later, Witcher is out to prove he belongs among the region’s elite big men.
“He went from being a scrawny little kid our freshman year into what he is now,” said fellow senior and Red Devils starting point guard Greg Jenkins. “He can shoot, play defense and rebound with anybody. He has worked really hard to improve.”
The 6-feet-5-inch Witcher is an inside-outside threat for the Red Devils. The extra bulk has helped him in the paint, but hasn’t hindered his exceptional 3-point range. His versatility is one of the reasons S-V has high hopes for the upcoming postseason.
“He’s having a great season so far,” said Red Devils coach Chip Basso. “Coming out as one of our main scoring leaders last season, he has really stepped up into an even bigger role.”
Witcher averaged 13.7 points and 7.5 rebounds per game as a junior and is on pace to better those marks this season.
Witcher is pleased with his offensive progression, but says the Red Devils win and lose with their defensive effort. “I definitely wasn’t the best player on defense last season,” Witcher said. “I wasn’t able to help the team out that much. This year, I’m getting more steals and more blocks.”
“We talked in the off-season about him getting stronger and being able to elevate his game,” Basso said. “He is a pretty complete basketball player any way, but he put in a lot of extra work in the weight room.”
Witcher was a sophomore when the Red Devils finished second in the IHSA state finals. They lost in the 1A regional final last season and hope to make it back to Peoria this March.
But, first things first which is trying to claim the competitive Black Diamond West. Witcher, who finished first-team all-conference as a junior, helped his team take a big first step in accomplishing that goal with its 54-44 win over rival Trico in early January.
S-V’s senior leader hit clutch free-throws down the stretch to take down the Pioneers. Witcher and fellow big man, 6-feet-6-inch Justin Kulich, held Trico standout Chase Heins to just six points in that game. Witcher hit a late contested shot and free throw, and added three more from the charity stripe to seal the victory.
It was a big performance for Witcher in a statement game against Trico, which handed the Red Devils their only two conference losses last season.
“Down the stretch, he wants the ball in his hands,” Basso said. “He is a very good shooter from the free-throw line, which makes him even more of a threat late in games.”
Witcher knows that high-intensity free-throws could make the difference come postseason time. He is ready.
“I just try zoning in on the rim and not pay attention to the crowd noise,” he said. “I just try to have fun and not put too much pressure on myself.”
Witcher’s strong supporting cast of experienced teammates also helps keep the pressure off the big man. Kulich has improved his game and contributes strong inside play with Drew Dorris for the Red Devils. On the outside, Greg Jenkins, John Vercellino and Kyle Stanley provide solid guard play and strong defense.
Witcher and Jenkins have played together since pee-wee basketball, and the two have developed a powerful on-court bond. Jenkins says Witcher has been S-V’s go-to guy for as long as he can remember, including in the team’s eighth-grade state championship game, when Witcher hit two clutch 3s down the stretch to claim the title.
“It’s always been fun playing with him since we were little,” Jenkins said. “It’s great for me because I know when I throw it in to him, it is almost a guaranteed assist.
“He is a great teammate. He is always willing to take the shot but he also trusts the rest of us to make baskets, too.”
S-V started the season off on the right track at the annual Christopher Turkey Tournament, falling just short of the title with its loss to Egyptian. The Red Devils are a perennial powerhouse in the tourney, claiming the consolation title last season and winning it in 2009.
Early-season success is great for the Red Devils, but not what matters to Witcher. He remembers vividly being handled by Pinckneyville’s Brueggeman to the tune of 17 points in the Panthers tight win over the Red Devils last season. “He pushed me around and I couldn’t do anything on him,” Witcher said. “That was the most physical game I’d ever been in.”
Witcher is hoping his off-season addition of more muscle will pay dividends when the intensity heats up. “I really wanted to get stronger so I could be more of a force down low,” he said. “I just lifted. I didn’t play football so I worked on gaining strength.”
Basso has already noticed the difference.
“Defense is the one thing we talked about him being able to get better. He has really improved his defensive presence and done a great job defending,” said Basso. “Offensively, teams are definitely focused more on him this season, but he has done a great job of knowing when he needs to shoot and when he needs to find the open teammate.”
Joe Szynkowski is a freelance writer for SISC. He can be reached at joeszynkowski@hotmail.com.
