Varsity basketball player Hunter Olson and Andrew Sharp have contributed leadership to a team made up of mostly underclassmen.
Leadership plays a big part in sports and seniors Hunter Olson and Andrew Sharp are fulfilling their roles on the Pirate varsity basketball team.

According to head coach Doug Miles, they both have really excelled this year and are helping lead their team.

“They are always working hard and leading the team by example,” Miles said.

The team sees how their leadership impacts the team and how they feed off their energy according to junior Justin Cooper.

“They are both great leaders, they are both very vocal and great role models,” Cooper said. “They are both just fun guys to be around on and off the court.”

Olson and Sharp have played varsity basketball since they were freshman and, according to Olson, it has helped his game a lot.

“Playing varsity for four years and playing in 5A for two has helped a lot in my basketball game,” Olson said. “I feel like I can recognize things and make plays a lot easier with this experience.”

Junior Kasey Banks said Sharp is an outstanding defensive player and brings a lot to the team on that side of the ball.

“His defensive skills help the team a lot. He can lock almost anyone down and pretty much make them non-existent in scoring,” Banks said.

According to Miles, Sharp has really stepped up and done pretty much anything they asked him to do.

“He contributes to wherever he can, he is willing to do the dirty work, guard the good players, be the assist guy,” Miles said.

According to Olson, he has stepped up his game this year and he feels that this has been the best year in his high school career.

“This year I feel like I am really starting to click and slow down. Every game I feel like I am getting better and show people that I can get things done when the game is on the line,” Olson said.

Miles said he has also seen improvements in Olson’s game, and his presence has been felt throughout the team.

“He is always encouraging us to do more and be better,” Miles said. “Having someone who is always there and gives his best effort every day is a real blessing for the team.”

Sharp said he has grown this year in his basketball game as well.

“I feel like I have improved a lot this year,” Sharp said. “My defense is getting better every game, and I am starting to feel a lot more confident with the ball in my hands.”

Olson and Sharp have a connection that can only be felt by others who know the feeling of playing varsity with someone for four years, according to Olson.

“I have a really special bond with Sharp. We have been on varsity together for four years now and have seen this team in its ups and downs,” Olson said. “It is almost like a relationship we have together. We kind of depend on each other. It is always good to know you have someone like that as a teammate and best friend.”

According to Sharp, he has a direct line to Olson’s head.

“I feel like I am the only one who can pick Hunter up when he is down. He seems to lock everybody else out, but I can reach into his head with my fingertips and just pull him out of there,” Sharp said.

Though Sharp loves basketball, he said baseball is his favorite sport and after high school he hopes to continue his career.

“Baseball is my passion,” Sharp said. “I want to go play for a university, but if I get some smaller college opportunities I will probably take them. If all else fails I want to be an EMT.”

After high school, Olson hopes to play basketball for a university.

“I want to continue my basketball career throughout college,” Olson said. “I have gotten a couple of small college opportunities but I am hoping by the end of the season more colleges are interested in me.”