ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, January 2, 1997 TAG: 9701020028
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: SHAWSVILLE
TYPE: HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
SOURCE: ANGIE WATTS STAFF WRITER
Life challenges us with the fact that everything could be done better. Those words of wisdom have become the motto of Shawsville boys basketball coach Fred Horeise.
In his first year with the Shawnees, Horeise is as surprised as anyone to be where he is today. He is also more determined than ever to transform a failing basketball program - its players and its reputation - into a success story.
"It takes time, it's a mental thing," Horeise said. "Right now my main concern is teaching these kids to go to class, to behave themselves and to do what is expected of them as students and as basketball players. That will be the first step in rebuilding this program."
A member of the Three Rivers District, Shawsville won just four games throughout the 1994-95 and 1995-96 basketball season, two each year. But Horeise insists the problems on the court can't begin to be solved without first addressing the problems off the court. To do that, he must first teach the Shawnees to expect success.
"I've got some good young kids here," Horeise said. "But I've got to start by showing them just what it takes on a day-to-day basis to put your best foot forward when you play."
Horeise pointed to a messy locker room following a mid-December practice as an example. The room wasn't a disaster area, but neither did it manifest pride.
"It starts with something as simple as this," Horeise said with a gesture to the clothes strewn in the lockers and scraps of paper and left-over drink cans on the floor. "You will never walk into the locker room of a top-notch program that isn't spotless. It's about pride. It's about expecting success and showing it."
While concentrating on positive attitudes off the court, Horeise is also keeping things moving on the hardwood. The Shawnees run a very competitive practice, performing offensive drills in two teams against a running clock. The winners of the short, three-minute drills get to practice a second stationary exercise while the losers are awarded a running drill.
"This is something new coach Horeise started this year," said senior guard Larry Smith. "The drills bring up a competitive spirit in the guys, and I like that."
There is little doubt hard work and positive attitudes will carry any team to new heights. But there is one unavoidable element over which coaches have no control: injuries.
Junior guard/forward Barnett Carr and sophomore center Simon Jones, both planned starters, have been sidelined with injuries. Carr reinjured a chronic problem with his right foot and Jones broke a bone in his hand. Another starter, senior point guard Chris Graham, a second-team Group A all-state selection at quarterback this season, also has an injured hand.
"This is my 21st year as a coach and I had never had a kid hurt in practice in all those years," Horeise said. "Maybe hurt in a game, but never in practice until now. This year I've had three. Its been my experience that winners find ways to win and people that aren't as successful find ways to shoot themselves in the foot. We've done that too much this year."
Despite all the injuries, the ups and the downs, there is one thing Horeise knows for sure. He wouldn't have it any other way. Horeise has made a living turning programs around. His last venture was as the head coach of the Parry McCluer girls basketball team, where the squad went from capturing little attention at all to winning a state title.
It was at Parry McCluer that Horeise decided the best way to build success was from the ground up. There were no AAU girls teams offered in the area to speed development, so he created them. Today approximately 75 girls participate on six local AAU teams.
That level of development is just what he plans to accomplish at Shawsville. Horeise said he will teach the players to overcome adversities such as long travel hours and small participation numbers, and will teach them how to succeed.
"Part of the problems we have here exist because we're in one of the toughest Group A districts in the state and we're the fourth-smallest school in the state," Horeise said. "But the kids all want to play so bad and they all want to win so bad. There's definitely a lot to build on here, it's just going to take some time to do it.
"But I can tell you if the people around here have enough guts to keep me, I'll have enough guts to stay. And I plan to make a difference."
LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: GENE DALTON Staff. Shawsville boys basketball coach Fredby CNBHoreise is more determined than ever to transform a failing
basketball program - its players and its reputation - into a success
story. color.