Scott pouring in points in return from injury
Despite missing two of his first three high school basketball seasons due to injury, Tanner Scott is determined to make his final campaign with the Swift Current Comp. Senior Colts a memorable one.
The early results are favorable as the 6’4’’ wing has averaged 20.2 points per game over the opening 10 contests.
“So far he looks like he hasn’t missed a beat. He missed all of last year, which was really unfortunate because he’s a kid who really likes basketball. He plays club out of Swift and is pretty committed to the game and you can tell by his skill level that he’s worked hard to get to where he is,” said coach Adam Jackson. “So far he’s looked quite good on the court. He’s been good in practice and he’s taken a bit of a leadership role, so it’s a really positive, encouraging start.”
Scott scored 13 points in his season opener and increased his scoring output in each of the next four games until he scored 26 points.
“I think I did pick right up where I left from just from getting in the gym and playing all the time,” explained Scott.
Scott’s career trajectory has had a couple unfortunate detours along the way. He began his high school career with the Junior Colts in grade nine when his season was ended in the first game by a gruesome dislocated kneecap suffered on his home court during a SWAC league game. He returned in grade 10 for the Senior Colts, but suffered another dislocated kneecap just months before his grade 11 season, which cost him another entire high school season.
Scott admitted that that injury had him questioning his future on the hardwood. “I did the second time it happened last summer right before the season in grade 11. I was determined though to get one more season in,” said Scott, who said that his return was made easier this time around by waiting until he was 100 percent healthy.
Scott lists Kevin Durant as his favorite player and says his three-point shooting is his primary role with the Colts.
“He does a lot of things very well,” added Jackson. “Probably his best skill is his shooting from distance. He’s a tremendous three-point shooter. He has a very compact and quiet stroke that he’s very consistent with. Because he’s tall and long he’s able to get shots off over defenders that have their hands up.”
But Jackson said the Scott’s impact is far more than just launching three-point shots.
“He’s also crafty with using his dribble. When he’s pressured he can put the ball on the floor and he’s quite good at taking contact and still getting shots off at the rim. He’s becoming an opportunistic offensive rebounder and uses his length and his jumping to get in there and get rebounds, which gives us extra possessions and gives him second shots,” said Jackson, who added that Scott is a willing passer and an improving defender.
Scott’s full repertoire was on display during a career outing in Regina on Dec. 14 when he scored 53 points in a 101-97 loss to the host Balfour Bears.
“53, that is pretty incredible when you think about a high school boys basketball game,” said Jackson.
“I was just shooting the ball good. Just getting good looks,” said Scott, who added that he was shooting well right from the start of the game.
Jackson said he did not realize how fast Scott’s point total was climbing until afterwards when a parent who keeps stats informed him.
“It was such a back and forth game that it never came on my radar until after the fact because we’re up two, down two, up three, down three. It was such a high scoring game, 101-97, there were points scored all over the place. But he was scoring from three, from the foul line, he was scoring inside. It was just one of those games where I wish I would have known it was happening because I think I could have enjoyed it a little bit more. I don’t think that that’s Tanner’s driving force. I think he was more focused on us being successful and beating Balfour and I think that would have made it all the more sweeter for him.”
The Colts are 4-6 to start the season. They return to the court on Jan. 9-11 at the Super South Tournament in Medicine Hat.
“I think we’re doing good and if we keep improving in practice and just working everyday we can have a good record,” said Scott.