Sam Bollinger did little more than shoot jumpers as a sophomore.
There weren’t many things the Bellevue guard didn’t do as a junior. In fact, he did a lot of everything at a high level, leading the team in nearly every statistical category.
“My game is based around growing up, being told to play hard no matter the circumstances,” he said of a message from his dad. “My teammates voted me a captain for a reason. I knew I’d have a bigger role and have to step up to be the team we wanted to be.”
Bollinger matched classmate Ike Brown at 12.7 points per game. He led Bellevue in rebounds (6.3), assists (3.7) and steals (1.7).
He scored 29 points, with five rebounds and five assists against Eastwood. Coach Ed Rich told Bollinger to make something happen after Bellevue trailed by double digits in the first half in a victory.
“Sophomore year, I was more of a shooter,” he said. “I wasn’t aggressive. This year, I had to run the show — bring the ball up and conduct the offense — and score compared to last years. I knew what I had to do coming in.
“Getting to the hoop. Sophomore year, maybe I had more 3s than 2s. I got better around the rim and getting to the hoop.”
He attempted 29 3-pointers and 24 shots inside the arc as a sophomore reserve as Bellevue finished second in the Sandusky Bay Conference Lake Division. He made 85 of 159 shots (53%) inside the arc and 27 of 77 3-pointers (35%) as a junior.
Bellevue (13-10) was 5-5 in the league this year.
“We got off to a good start,” Bollinger said. “We got too comfortable and lost games we needed to win. Our strength was playing as a team and having each others’ backs no matter the circumstances.”
Brown joined Bollinger in earning first-team status in the league.
“Ike’s a shot maker,” Bollinger said. “When we needed him, he did what we needed him to do.”
Bellevue won eight consecutive games during one stretch. Bollinger had a double-double as Bellevue lost to Perkins in double overtime.
Brown and senior Reid Claus tallied at least 20 points apiece, and Bollinger added 19 in a victory over Hopewell-Loudon.
“We’re heading in the right direction,” Bollinger said. “Everything Coach is doing is working. We have a good shot at winning the league next season in the Bay. A lot of us will be seniors. I want to win some games in the tournament and try to win the SBC.
“We can make a good run.”
Individually, Bollinger wants his versatility to continue to blossom.
“Limit my turnovers,” he said. “It was my first varsity experience handling the ball. No excuses; I need to be better with the ball. Try to be better in every category. I can do better.”
mhorn@gannett.com
419-307-4892
X: @MatthewHornNH
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Bellevue’s Sam Bollinger involved in all circumstances
Reporting by Matthew Horn, Fremont News-Messenger / Fremont News-Messenger
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
