Rising above
ADAMS TWP — Mars boys basketball coach Rob Carmody had the best of both worlds this season with Owen Nearhoof.
“If your best player is also your hardest worker, you’re in good shape,” said the veteran coach.
Nearhoof, a senior guard, averaged 19.8 points, four rebounds and four assists per game this season and led the Planets to the WPIAL and PIAA playoffs.
His effort earned him the Butler Eagle’s 2013-14 Boys Basketball Player of the Year honor.
“I believe every time you take the court, you give it your all,” said Nearhoof. “I did that this year and I have no regrets.”
Nearhoof was the lone returning starter from Mars’ 2012-13 team that finished 21-5 overall. He was a key contributor since his freshman year, when he drained 30 3-pointers, but took his game to another level this season.
“He knew with our youth and inexperience, he had to shoulder the load,” said Carmody. “His wanting to score increased this year, but it wasn’t because he was being selfish, it was to help us win games.”
His outstanding senior campaign helped land Nearhoof second on the Planets’ all-time scoring list with 1,234 points, behind only Christian Locher (1,288). Nearhoof also ends his high school career with the most 3-pointers made (193) in school history.
“I developed more as a scorer this year,” Nearhoof said. “I wasn’t getting to the free throw line much before this year, but I scored a lot from there this season and I tried to take advantage of that as much as I could.”
It wasn’t just during games that Nearhoof led by example. His all-out effort in practice drills have resonated throughout the program.
“Jealousy never arises when a kid works that hard,” said Carmody. “The other players can see he earned everything he got. He’s such a wonderful kid.”
The Planets’ season closed with a 67-56 state-playoff loss to Central Valley March 7. Nearhoof’s game-high 25 points kept Mars in the game until the final minute.
“It didn’t sink in until late in the game that my high school basketball career was almost done,” said Nearhoof.
“He came up to me in the locker room and apologized, saying he didn’t do enough for the program,” said Carmody. “I said, ‘Don’t you ever apologize to me.’ He had an outstanding year and touched our program in so many positive ways.”
“No player is perfect,” said Nearhoof, “but I gave every ounce I had.”
Nearhoof will continue his athletic career in college, but not on the basketball court. He will be suiting up for Robert Morris University’s football team beginning next fall.
“My brother, Ryan, played defensive end there and ended up as their all-time sack leader,” said Nearhoof. “He graduated in 2012 and he loved his time there.
“They are looking at me as a free safety,” he added. “Even if they want me to bulk up a bit and play linebacker, I’d do it. But for now, I think I’ll be a defensive back. I might get into intramural basketball, but other than that, it’s going to be tough to leave hoops behind.”
Others considered for player of the year were Seneca Valley junior forward Zach Snyder and Summit Academy senior guard Dasonte White.
