Basketball
By Scott Huff
The highlight of the season for Central Bucks West senior Tyler Schechter came in the Bucks 65-41 victory over Methacton on January 28, 2012. That was the night that Schechter was on the floor with twin brother Andrew and cousin Kyle for the final minute of the non-conference win.
“We were up like 20, and I asked the coach if we could all play on the floor at the same time,” said Schechter. “It was a special feeling for me to be able to play with my family in that final minute. And Kyle was able to get his first varsity points on an assist from Andrew.”
“It was a great photo opportunity for the family,” said Central Bucks West head coach Adam Sherman. “Playing with his brother has been very important to him – his brother is his best friend. Family is also very important to him.”
“Playing against my brother in practice every day is awesome,” said Tyler who measures 6-foot, 3-inches compared to Andrew’s 6-1. “We battle each other every minute, and there isn’t a player that I have played against this year that has played me any better. We have made each other better basketball players.”
Schechter is the ‘big man’ on the Central Bucks West despite his modest 6-3 frame. The Bucks simply do not have the size in the middle to take the weight off shoulders of the slender Schechter.
“Tyler leads our team in rebounding and has had to take on the role of defending bigger players,” said Sherman. “He has tremendous quickness and is the best athlete on our team. He sets a great example for the other players on the team.
“Tyler is the first one on the floor to dive for loose balls, and he leads our team in pulling charges,” added Sherman. “We are not the same team when he is not on the floor.”
The team on the floor has been tremendously successful this season. The Bucks won the Suburban One League Continental Conference with a 13-1 record and were a gaudy 20-2 overall. CB West earned the number four seed in the PIAA Quad-A District One playoffs and will host West Chester East (12-10) in an opening round game on Friday.
“We have high expectations, and we will push each other in practice to get ready for the game,” said Schechter. “I will do whatever it takes for us to win this game. I’ll be on the floor to get every one of those 50-50 balls – I really don’t know how to play any other way.”
Schechter takes the same mental approach to the classroom.
“Tyler has a very good GPA and does extremely well in the classroom,” said Sherman. “He achieves on the basketball floor and the classroom the same way – with hard work.
“Tyler is the captain of this team and leads by example,” added Sherman. “His leadership will be counted on when we start our playoff games.”
Schechter – who started as both a junior and senior for the Bucks - plans on attending Franklin and Marshall College next fall and plans on trying out for the basketball team.
“I’m not totally sure what I want to major in, but it will be something to do with science,” said Schechter. “The best thing is that my brother will also be coming to F&M. I am looking forward to going to college.”
“There is a lot you could say about Tyler,” said Sherman. “But perhaps the best thing you could say about him is that he is just a good kid.”
And a good student-athlete.
