- February 10th, 2006, 12:52 pm
#3628
ASOR Technical Advisor and Graphics Consultant
interesting article in the fishwrap:
http://newsadvance.com/servlet/Satellit ... 2524&path=
Dunton: Brookville's point man
http://newsadvance.com/servlet/Satellit ... 2524&path=
Dunton: Brookville's point man
By Ted Allen
Lynchburg News & Advance
February 10, 2006
Brookville junior Matt Dunton has a decided advantage over many of his peers when it comes to fine-tuning his jump shot.
He is the son of Liberty University men's basketball coach Randy Dunton, who has helped improve his form and follow-through on their backyard court as well as in the Flames' home facilities.
"The gym's always open," Matt Dunton said. "He's got the keys (to the Vines Center) so there's no excuse for me not to be at the top of my game."
Though he's hit his share of clutch 3-pointers, Dunton's greatest gift on the basketball court is not his shooting skill. What makes him a Division I prospect, at LU or elsewhere, is his phenomenal passing ability from the point guard position.
"He's got a great ability to see the floor, be it in the half-court setting or in the full-court (on fast breaks)," Brookville coach Chris Young said.
Young said the Bees have become accustomed to being set up with precise passes in scoring position, from all over the court. Sometimes, however, they are caught unaware.
"Matt, you've just got to adjust to playing with him because you never know when he's going to get you the ball," Young said. "He makes some spectacular passes and really good decisions at times.
"He's our point guard so the ball's in his hands 95 percent of the time, whether it's breaking the press or running the offense," he added.
The best statistic to judge a point guard by is his assist-to-turnover ratio. Dunton's is among the highest in the area this season at 2-to-1 (7.5 assists to 3.8 turnovers).
"I have to lead the team, just like a quarterback in football," Dunton said. "My main responsibility is running the show, getting the offense going, motivating the players to give their best and keeping their heads up. I've got to be careful with the ball and keep the turnovers down to a minimum."
With the game in the balance, Dunton is often the Bees' best option to take a shot.
"If we need a 3-(pointer), we're usually looking for him in big situations," Young said. "He always finds a way to hit the big shot."
But Dunton would just assume assist the winning basket rather than score it himself.
"He's a very unselfish player," Young said. "He looks for his teammates more than he looks for his own shot."
Dunton has developed his court vision and floor leadership by picking up the game at a very early age.
"I've been playing basketball since I can remember, starting with YMCA when I was 3 or 4 down at the Armory," he said. "Ever since then, it's been a blast. Definitely, it's always been my passion."
Since starting on the varsity team at Brookville as a freshman, Dunton has worked to sharpen his skills and make the Bees stronger as a team. He hopes to lead them back to the Region III tournament for the first time since his freshman year while at the same time prepare to take his game to the next level.
"I always have something to improve on or I'd be in the NBA right now," Dunton said.
He said his dad never pressured him into playing basketball, but only helped fan the flame and stoke his desire.
"He's helped me a lot, but I've had to do the work to be where I'm at," he said, "I've spent those nights out there shooting the ball."
Having Randy Dunton as his father has "just given me more opportunity to be a better player."
On occasion, members of the Flames' men's team have shown up to watch their coach's son play with the Bees.
"It's fun and always an honor for them to come watch me play," Matt Dunton said. "Maybe one day, I'll be playing with them."
In Tuesday's win over Jefferson Forest, Dunton bruised his left wrist after being undercut by a Cavalier on a drive to the basket and falling to the floor after landing on the defender's back. He picked up a technical foul on the play, possibly because the official misunderstood him when he asked the JF player if he was OK.
Though that technical foul may not have been deserved, Dunton has picked up some legitimate ones in his career, as his dad has at LU.
"We both have the fire in our bellies," Matt Dunton said. "We definitely have the intensity and the will to win. Sometimes, our emotions get the best of us, but we've been working on that."
When Brookville opens play in the Seminole District tournament, Saturday night at 7 in a home rematch with Forest, Dunton wants his performance on the court to play a larger role than his emotions and words.
"We're getting better, definitely, every day," said Dunton, whose team is seeded third at 13-6, 11-3 in district play. "We have to step up when (the game's) on the line. That's when we've got to play our best."
He and his teammates always look forward to playing at home, in the "Bees Nest."
"I wouldn't want to be anywhere else," Dunton said. "We have the best student crowd in the district. Every game, home or away, they're out here going nuts. Even when we're not playing too well, they're supporting us."
Last edited by PAmedic on December 22nd, 2011, 11:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
JLFJR wrote:Thanks for your input, PA! Very helpful.
ASOR Technical Advisor and Graphics Consultant
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