Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Chairman Of Ways And Means For A Day
BASKETBALL APPROPRIATIONS BOOSTS WOLF’S VALUE
LINCOLN — A Lincoln athlete ruled the table, if only as chairman of the Ways and Means committee temporarily.
Basketball skill became the way coupled with an athletic scholarship as the means to obtain a college education.
Bryce Means, a 2017 Lincoln graduate, accustomed to dealing out appropriations of the basketball, signed a national letter of intent to play men’s college basketball for Bacone College of Muskogee, Okla., June 1.
A week earlier Means attended a try-out when Bacone held an open gym and ran players through several drills and scrimmages. Means didn’t think he performed well, so when Bacone called and offered him a scholarship, he was pleasantly surprised.
“I did not feel like I had a good day that day,” Means said, adding, “It was surprising.”
Bacone coaches told Means they could tell he is a quality player by the way he played and through the character he displayed during the try-out. Means carried a 3.5 gradepoint average at Lincoln and plans to major in Physical Education at Bacone.
“I’m going to be a coach,” he said.
This was not the first time Means held court in the Lincoln High School gym. In a heated rivalry against Prairie Grove in January, Means and the Wolves refused to back down while trailing 52-45 with 59 seconds to go. Means had 15 of his team-high 18 points in the second half and took an outlet after Lincoln cleared the rebound of a missed 1-and-1 with time winding down. The Tigers knew Means was dangerous in that situation and threw a double-team at him, but not before he pushed the ball into the front-court.
“Honestly, in the first half we didn’t score any,” Means said of Troy Sugg, who was scoreless at halftime, and himself limited to three first half points.
The pair combined for 29 second half points including the winning play.
Recognizing the double-team, Means dished out the winning assist by finding Sugg for a spot-up 3-pointer from the corner that put the Wolves in front, 53-52, with 9.2 seconds left.
“I was looking for the shot. They had two people on me, but I saw the wide-open man,” Means said. “I trusted him to make it. I always trusted him.”
Means counts the comeback victory as one of his favorite memories at Lincoln High School. His personal philosophy of a willingness to accept a leadership role on the court and distribute the basketball may be the right fit with Bacone College.
Means’ favorite moment in sports has been getting a lot of attention lately on Youtube with the NBA finals played in June. During the 2001 NBA finals, Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson utilized a cross-over dribble to get open and stick a jumper from the corner as Los Angeles Laker defender Tyrone Lue fell down. The shot capped a 48-point performance as the Sixers took game one,
107-101, in overtime. Iverson punctuated the field goal with an exaggerated step over the still prone Lue as he went downcourt.
“Allen Iverson crossed over, hit a basket that ended the game, then stepped over Tyrone Lue,” Means said, describing the play.
Mean’s favorite move is the cross-over in front. He is right-handed, but will use either hand. He started working on his left around fifth grade.
“It helps a lot, creates more opportunities,” Means said. “I still favor my right, but I’m improving with my left.”
Bacone College is a member of the NAIA and participates in the Red River Athletic Conference.
“I don’t want to be selfish with the basketball,” Means said. “I set up my teammates, try to create open shots for myself and my teammates.”
Means expressed appreciation for Lincoln head boys basketball coach Tim Rich and the players he shared the court with.
“I want to thank Coach Rich and my teammates at Lincoln,” Means said. “I wouldn’t be here without them.”
Means describes Rich’s low-key leadership style as effective.
“He pushes everybody, he taught me a lot,” Means said. “He’s a relaxed coach. He’s not too intense, so you can be kind of calm and get everything worked out.”
Means also mentioned Coach Demetrius Jackson, who helped him improve over the summer as they worked out in the gym; and his mother, Tracy Means, his biggest fan.
“My mom, she’s at all my games, she does the most for me. She’s always there for me. When I signed with Bacone, my mom was happy. She’s always waited for me to get this opportunity. She believed in me my whole career.”