Athletes often face adversity on and off the court, or field of play, but some more serious than others.
Big Sandy Pioneer junior Trevor Lackner knows exactly how that works. On March 16, Lackner had surgery to remove a bone tumor from his right arm. And as
a right handed shooter on the basketball court, and as the Pioneer's right-handed quarterback on the gridiron, Lackner’s situation put a hiccup in an already successful prep career.
Lackner has been a three-sport star for the Pioneers since he walked on the scene as a freshman. He has been on the varsity football and basketball team all three years, as well as in track and field. And now with his junior season of basketball winding down, Lackner would like to add to his list of early accomplishments. As a freshman his teammates named him the Most Improved Player, while as a sophomore he was named to the All Hi-Line team as well as an All Conference guard. Most importantly, Lackner was also a part of the state championship his Pioneers won when he was just a freshman.
The season is winding down, but the Pioneers will take the first steps into the post season this week at the 9C tournament in Havre. Big Sandy hopes to advance to the Northern C as well as state tournament, after their season was ended by Box Elder last year in the 9C challenge game.
Here's five questions with Big Sandy's leader on the hardwood as the 9C tourney gets underway in Havre.
HDN: Having the surgery to remove the bone tumor was obviously a big deal, did you have to overcome anything major to get ready for another year of sports?
Lackner: “I guess I just had to let it get all healed up first and get ready for football season, then basketball. I didn’t have to make any changes (to throwing motion or shooting), once it was healed I was good to go.”
HDN: How has playing the starting five for the majority of the game, every game this season benefited the team this year?
Lackner: “We are all fairly good players, so if we can stay in and stay out of foul trouble it just helps the team. We have all been the leading scorer at some point this season, and well contribute in our own way.
HDN: How hungry is this year’s team for a state berth?
Lackner: “Very. We would all love to make it to state, it was so fun my freshman year, and I am getting everybody else excited to get back there. Me, Zac Leader and Kaden Beck were the only three to experience state, so the other eight players would love to experience that too.”
HDN: “Who do you look forward to playing the most at the 9C tournament every year?
Lackner: “Box Elder, because we always have a bunch of Box Elder players come to Big Sandy for open gym, and a lot of them are good friends.”
HDN: What will be the biggest key to the team's success this post season?
Lackner: “Staying out of foul trouble, playing smart and playing tough. Staying out of foul trouble is the biggest key, if anybody has to sit we lose height and experience.”
