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9C Tournament Extra: Patience pays off for Box Elder senior Trey Henderson

The son of a Box Elder basketball legend, Henderson is making his own history with the Bears now

It's no secret that the Box Elder boys basketball team has had some great players over the past few years. After all, the Bears, who have won two Class C state championships in the past three years, have had some great teams.

After the Bears wrapped up their second championship last March, stars like Brandon The Boy, Jerrod Four Colors, Shane Ketchum, Jake Jones and others became legends, a core part of one of the greatest dynasties Montana Class C hoops has ever seen.

But in sports, nothing is permanent. Nothing lasts forever. And for the Bears to keep their dynasty going, others would need to step up, develop and grow as seven seniors graduated from last year's team.

And one player who has continually grown over the years for Box Elder has been Trey Henderson.

Henderson, a senior forward, isn't new to the spotlight. In fact, he was a key rotation player for the Bears last season, as the team rolled towards a state championship, obliterating any team that lay in its wake. Henderson played some important minutes and showed signs of being a star.

However, while he was already talented enough to make a big impact, playing on a team filled with stars has its disadvantage and for Henderson, it meant his time to shine had to wait until his senior season.

Yet, even though he wasn't necessarily a starter, Henderson never stopped working; never stopped getting better. His athleticism has always been a strength, but thanks to hard work and hours in the gym, his jump shot has become deadly too. Part of his skill and his work ethic, he has, thanks to his father, former Box Elder state champion Scott Henderson.

"My dad makes me go out and shoot every morning before school," Henderson said. "And every night after school too."

Along with fellow senior Pernell Morsette, Henderson has delivered on his potential, and in large part because of that, so have the Bears. With so many great players departing, it was hard to know just how good Box Elder would be this season. Certainly, Morsette and Henderson had proven to be talented players, but they had to show they could carry a team.

But after a regular season that saw the Bears suffer just three losses and following a dominant win over Turner in the opening round of the District 9C tournament Thursday night in Havre, Box Elder looks poised for another tournament run. If they beat Chinook tonight, they will punch their ticket to Great Falls next week for the Northern C Divisional. Two more wins, would mean an unprecedented fifth straight 9C tournament title.

Whatever happens on the court, when it comes to Box Elder, few will have more say in what happens than Henderson, who through his own work and perseverance has developed himself into a star.

Chinook and Box Elder will battle tonight inside the HHS gymnasium for a berth in the 9C championship game, but following Thursday's win over Turner, the Havre Daily News caught up with Henderson for five questions.

HDN: Your dad played for a state championship team at Box Elder, what has that been like for you guys to share being on state championship teams?

Henderson: "It's pretty cool. He was a really good player back in his day. I am hoping that we will be able to one up him."

HDN: You have improved a lot over the past two seasons, what would you say is the biggest reason for that?

Henderson: "I think just all the work that I have put in with my coaches and (Lavon Myers) taking me around and showing me what else is out there in terms of basketball."

HDN: What was it like to play behind guys like Brandon The Boy and Jerrod Four Colors and what did you learn from them?

Henderson: "I learned a lot and the thing they talked to me about a lot was being a leader and paying attention to the underclassmen and helping them out however I can."

HDN: It seems like you guys played with a lot of fire against Turner, you guys motivated by being called the underdog this week?

Henderson: "I think a little bit. That's not really something we are used to and we don't really like it much. So we are out to prove some people wrong."

HDN: With that in mind, how much would it mean for two win a fifth straight 9C championship?

Henderson: "It would mean a lot. I think it would just show that all the hard work that we have put in has paid off."

 

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