February 12, 2008
Unity, not individualism, paving the way
Synergy is defined as the working together of two or more forces to produce an effect greater than the sum of their individual parts. There is a basketball team in the San Jose area exhibiting just this cooperative action and the results are league-leading.
Devon Mynhier is the Pirates’ floor general and leader
No blue-chipper or two? No problem. A roster devoid of D-1 prospects? Doesn’t matter. An undersized squad? So what? No chance of winning? Hardly.
That’s the description of this season’s Piedmont Hills boys basketball team, the "Hoosiers" of San Jose, if you will. The Pirates of the Mount Hamilton League are currently 22-3 overall, 12-0 in league and also own a 73-68 road victory over powerful Oak Grove. OG comes to the Piedmont Hills gym on February 13 for a rematch with the league title on the line.
"The strength of the team is each individual member...the strength of each member is the team" -- Los Angeles Laker Coach Phil Jackson
Just how is this happening?
According to Piedmont Hills Coach Pete Simos his squad "isn’t incredibly fast or tall but are dedicated, stay focused and do a really good job of knowing and executing our game plans." Simos continued, "I can give them a scouting report and the next day they will already know 80-90% of it. It’s a dedicated and great group of kids who are basketball smart and play as one."
Preparation is a key. Simos always scouts opponents, even for pre-season games, so that his group knows the systems and tendencies of opposing squads. "I’m definitely excessive but every time we win a game by two points it’s worth it," he offered.
Piedmont Hills went 20-8, 11-3 in league play last season, Simos’ first at the school. PH has enjoyed some success in the past, with a couple of previous standout players in Aaron Buckner (De Anza College) and Ryan Cooper (Notre Dame de Namur). The Pirates went 25-4 in 2004-2005 when Buckner was a senior.
But now it’s getting done with a 5-9 point guard and a host of wings -- and we’re not talking KFC.
Devon Mynhier is the backcourt conductor. The co-junior Player of the Year and all-leaguer in the Mount Hamilton Division last season, Mynhier is "a great floor general and leader," according to Simos. "Opponents have a hard time staying in front of him." Mynhier can dunk at 5-9 and also runs track and plays football. In fact, he was the Outstanding Offensive Player this season in the Mount Hamilton Division as a running back -- he compiled 940 rushing yards and scored 17 touchdowns going into the gridiron playoffs. But basketball is his love and what he wants to pursue after high school -- the other two sports more hobbies.
6-2 Dan Ginn defends the opposing team’s best post players -- by necessity. "He’ s a pretty good athlete and a quick jumper who can score inside and out," Simos said. "Dan’s one of our most improved kids from last year." Ginn averaged 20 points per game in victories over Oak Grove, Westmont and Pioneer leading to his selection as the Mercury News Athlete of the Week last last month. While defending future Division One player Tyree McCrary of Oak Grove, Ginn scored 25 in the Pirates win against the Eagles.
6-foot-3 Sean Visser is a coach-in-waiting. "He’s crafty, possesses a high basketball IQ and actually breaks down game film at home," said Simos. "He’s coming into his own and is our leading rebounder this season."
"Build for your team a feeling of oneness, of dependence on one another and of strength to be derived by unity." -- Vince Lombardi
"All our kids accept and perform their roles to the best of their abilities," Simos said. "Even our 13th guy, who may or may not play, knows the scouting report and calls out what plays opponents are setting up for." Simos continued, "If we aren’t focused or don’t play our hardest then any team in our league could beat us. These kids epitomize team."
Here is the roster -- all the ‘Jimmy Chitwoods’ -- for the 2007-2008 Piedmont Hills Pirates team:
Pierre Whitsey 5-9 junior
Devon Mynhier 5-9 senior
Sean Visser 6-3 senior
Chris Harris 5-11 senior
Jacob Sanchez 6-2 senior
Ryan Santo 6-0 senior
Anthony Cuellar 5-7 junior
Marcus Valderrama 6-0 junior
Ronnie Staden 6-1 junior
Daniel Ginn 6-2 senior
Nake Dhillon 6-5 junior
Josh Kingrey 5-8 junior
Evan Rognas 6-0 senior