Brewing up a family controversy
Thorold’s Nathan Brew takes a shot Monday in a game versus Myer.
Nathan Brew is the latest in a line of talented basketball players from the same family.
Older brother Michael and older sister Lauren were key players on St. Catharines Collegiate teams of years past, with Lauren moving on to have a post secondary career at Niagara College.
Nathan plays for the Thorold Golden Eagles and the Grade 12 student believes he knows who’s the best basketball player in his family.
“It’s me. No question,” the 17-year-old said Monday with a smile, after scoring 14 points and grabbing 13 rebounds to help Thorold defeat visiting A.N. Myer 65-36 in Niagara Region High School Athletic Association play.
He is getting assistance from one of his siblings on the basketball court.
“My sister helps me out with shooting, footwork and little guard things,” the 6-foot-3 player said.
Brew, who has never played travel basketball but did play house league when he was younger, loves playing for Thorold.
“I am thinking about coming back for 12B because I don’t want this to be my last season,” he said. “I don’t want to quit now because it is too much fun.”
He feels he has already made improvements in his game this season.
“I have a lot more energy and a lot more confidence in myself.”
That enhanced confidence has come from practice.
“I have been working hard on fundamentals and going over and over them with reps,” he said. “I want to try and take this team as far as I can.”
Brew knows what his role is on the squad.
“I have to bring the energy, help keep everyone healthy and motivate everyone.”
Thorold coach Emily Vandyken likes what Brew adds to the mix.
“He is defensively strong and he also contributes offensively,” she said. “He’s strong on the boards and he is able to run the floor when we push the ball.”
Vandyken feels Brew has not yet hit his ceiling as a player.
“He needs to grow as a player and work on his skills, not just in the post but as guard who can handle the ball as well,” she said. “If he does that, then hopefully he can pursue more basketball from here on out.”
Brew doesn’t disagree with his coach.
“I need to work on my handle and my overall guard skills,” he said.
The Marauders grabbed an early six-point lead Monday and led 12-10 after one quarter before the Golden Eagles took control of the game by outscoring Myer 18-2 in the second quarter.
“We had a slow start so I called a timeout and told them we needed a leader on the floor and Nate stepped up and got the energy going,” Vandyken said. “We also needed to push the ball and create energy on the floor and we did that.”
The Marauders fell to 0-2 in league play with the loss while the Golden Eagles improved to 3-1.
“We are working,” Myer coach Mike Young said.”We are a young group and we are trying to figure things out as we go through the year.”
That involves a number of things.
“We are trying to play a little more physically and with more intensity to match the other team,” Young said. “We see flashes of it every game but we just need to be a little more consistent.”
STATS PACK
Golden Eagles 65 Marauders 36
Mick an Angelo’s/Johnny Rocco’s/Cracker Jacks Player of the Game: Thorold’s Nathan Brew with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
For the Thorold Golden Eagles: Lucas Switzer 17; Brew 14; Connor Schuman 14; Krish Walia 6.
For the A.N. Myer Marauders: Nathan Lefebvre 9; Jashon Carter 8; Cole Joudrey 6.
