By Terry Mosher<\/p>\n
Editor, Sports Paper<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not been one of the best basketball seasons that North Mason has experienced in recent years. No, the Bulldogs have struggled all season, having just recorded one win in the Olympic League (1-21)\u00a0 and four for the season (4-13).<\/p>\n
A bright spot, though, is senior guard Matt Duckworth. The five-foot-11 shooting guard is the one player on the team that opponents absolutely must keep an eye on, or else he\u2019s likely to go off on a hot shooting tear.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s always been a good shot,\u201d says NM coach Steve Hackett. \u201cHe\u2019s got an unorthodox-looking shot, but we think he will make most of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Twice this year, Duckworth has nailed seven threes in a game. That is his primarily weapon \u2013 shooting threes.<\/p>\n
Duckworth, who averages 14 points a game, is one of those guys who lives in the gym. If he could pitch a tent there, he would be there full time. As it is, Duckworth was there at the North Mason gym this summer for early morning open gyms and weight-lifting, and when he\u2019s not there he might be working out with Craig Murray\u2019s Total Package Basketball in various gyms around the area or be at the South Kitsap gym shooting around with friends on the SK basketball team.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s got a great passion for the game,\u201d says Hackett. \u201cIt\u2019s the only sport he plays.\u201d<\/p>\n
Duckworth, who arrived in Belfair when he was eight years old \u2013 the family came from California and then Whidbey Island \u2013 used to play baseball. He did that, playing outfield, though his freshman year. But now it\u2019s just basketball and more basketball.<\/p>\n
His stepdad, Don Wilson, is the key to practicing at the SK gym. Wilson is an assistant coach with the Wolves.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have a good program and they have a lot of kids and the gym is open like three days a week,\u201d says Duckworth. \u201cI know some of their players and I have played with them in open gyms.\u201d<\/p>\n
He does the same with Total Package, showing up for practices, which has helped him with the fundamentals. Hackett says all that work has made him solid in handling the ball.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast year he didn\u2019t have a left hand and he\u2019s worked hard on getting that stronger,\u201d says Hackett, who has also asked Duckworth to be more active on defense.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd he\u2019s done that,\u201d says Hackett. \u201cHe\u2019s trying real hard on defense. We\u2019re also trying to get him to attack the rim instead of just being a three-point shooter.\u201d<\/p>\n
Duckworth is busy doing all these things while trying to keep what is a young Bulldog team focused on winning some games as the team\u2019s captain. It\u2019s a tough chore, but nobody said it would be easy.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur team is really young right now,\u201d says Duckworth, \u201cand it\u2019s usually the fourth quarter we have lost most of our games. We are down to eight players right now for our last couple games because of injuries or what not.\u201d<\/p>\n
As tough as it is for him and the Bulldogs, Duckworth keeps a positive outlook and looks forward to his time in the gym. And that extends past this basketball season.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy first goal is to see if I can play anywhere for basketball,\u201d he says. \u201cMy second goal, if that doesn\u2019t work out, is to go to Wazoo (WashingtonState) for athletic training.\u201d<\/p>\n
Duckworth carries a 3.7 grade-point average, so getting into school doesn\u2019t appear to be that much of a trouble.\u00a0 If he was to make a decision today on playing college basketball it might be at PierceCollege or some other community college.<\/p>\n
Until then, Duckworth will keep firing away at the basket wherever there is a gym.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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