Senior duo steps up for Barrington

Tyler Weathered didn't want to sit and watch his final season fly by as a Barrington basketball player.

So, Weathered put in the time on his game to receive the kind of playing time fellow senior Greg Gerrard got a year ago.

Consider it time well spent after Weathered scored a grand total of 3 points a year ago. Now he's the leading scorer (12.3 points a game) and 3-point threat (43) as the Broncos are a Mid-Suburban West victory away from clinching at least a share of their first division title in 20 years.

"It really shows how much he's worked," said Gerrard, the Broncos' No. 2 scorer at 11.3 points a game.

"What a great story he is," said second-year Barrington coach Bryan Tucker of Weathered. "It's nice to see a kid that committed and who worked that hard. It's night and day from junior to senior year and his focus and work ethic really made the difference."

It also made a difference for Gerrard, who didn't feel as if he needed to radically increase his scoring of 8½ points a year ago. Just as important is his role of shackling some of the MSL's top scorers to below-average nights.

"He's a heady kid who is all about the team," Tucker said of Gerrard's willingness to provide a spark off the bench last year.

"This year I didn't have to do too many things differently," said Gerrard, who needed five stitches in his chin after getting hit with an accidental elbow in last Friday's 74-61 win at Fremd. "We have plenty of guys who can put the ball in the hoop. There was no pressure to do more - which makes it nice."

Especially since Weathered has done his part to help fill it up in the Broncos' balanced attack. His rise is similar to one made a year ago by James Stack, who became one of the area's top 3-point threats as the Broncos reached the sectional semifinals.

"I thought I'd be able to do the same thing (as Stack)," Weathered said. "If anything (not playing) probably motivated me more.

"If I didn't get what I wanted, I didn't want to just stop and quit. I wanted to work as hard as I could to get where I wanted to be."

And Weathered's game grew after he did from 5-foot-9 to 6-2. He also hit the weight room to increase his strength and showed his ability to go in and rebound with 10 against Fremd.

"You could even notice it last year in practice, he had such a focus and drive and he made huge strides even last year," Tucker said. "He had an intensity and focus in shooting drills. Every shot he took he had to make. He really worked on his form and quick release and getting ready to play."

A year of experience has given Gerrard a better understanding of how to operate in Tucker's man-to-man defensive system.

"If I do my job I do know with our defensive system the guys will help me," Gerrard said. "I've always made defense a focal point and our defense is what's been the key more than our offense."

So has the leadership of Gerrard. He is one of the captains with senior Owen Prunskis, who does all the little things not noticed in box scores.

And good health has been a big key to the Broncos winning 11 of their last 13 games. Ankle injuries led to missed time for Gerrard, Prunskis and junior John Schneider and sophomore Brad Zaumseil missed a December game with a knee injury.

"It always helps when you have your full arsenal," said Weathered, who has a 3.5 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale and has been getting interest from Division II and III schools. "This group of guys has so much talent and with all that talent, we knew we should be capable of doing really well this season."

A win tonight at Schaumburg would give the Broncos at least a share of the West crown. The only time they played for and won an MSL title was in 1979 behind Ike Person and John Tomlinson.

That would be a nice finish for Gerrard, who also plays baseball but may be nearing the end of his organized athletic career. Gerrard has been accepted to Boston College, Marquette and Indiana with a 4.3 GPA and 33 on the ACT and plans to study business.

"It all goes so fast and these defining moments make it memorable and really fun," Gerrard said. "You see more kids coming to games and asking you how it went.

"You can tell we're starting a benchmark that hopefully will continue for years to come."