"Senior Vike Hoopsters Show Sports' Most Vital Role " by Frank Sports Talk (F.W. Manning II)

Senior Vike Hoopsters Show Sports' Most Vital Role

February 26, 2010

As the Lady Vikings are at the center of the Moore County high school basketball scene with a sectional final playoff game on the slate for tonight, I wanted to take a little time to bid farewell to UP hoops’ senior boys and also congratulate Bobby Purvis and the Vike men on another successful season.

My first ever assignment for The Pilot was back in January of 2007, when then Sports Editor Hunter Chase called me up to see if I would like to test my craft by covering a Union Pines varsity basketball double header in Lillington at Western Harnett. The rest has been history….so in a way I have come into my own as a sportswriter over a path in time parallel to that of Viking senior hoopsters Jon Jon Toomer’s and Alishia Mosley’s maturation from scrawny freshmen chuck full of potential into fine young adults and spectacular ballplayers.

Those two are the only players left from that first year: Alishia Mosley (two-time all conference, runner up in CFV MVP voting and all-state selection last season) and Jon Toomer (two time all conference and all district in basketball, and 2007 CFV Defensive MVP at DE in Football)

Over that time they both joined an elite club at Union Pines by scoring over 1000 points in their careers. However, while one is waiting to again shine in the spotlight tonight, the other has sank his last ever amazing put back while donning the Viking Blue.

One might be compelled to ask me what I have most taken away from my time covering high school sports, and if they did my answer would not be that I perfected the art of my own brand of shorthand, or gained a deeper understanding of the importance of an offensive line in football or a shutdown closer in baseball or why a basketball team would choose to run its offense through the inside to open up the perimeter.

No I would say I have learned a great deal about the virtues essential in life, especially growth, determination, sacrifice, hard luck, potential, expectations and redemption.

Mosley’s career has exemplified the importance of dedication and how someone can take their God given talent and develop it to its maximum potential to reach a goal while achieving greatness. Each season she has added depth to her game through practice, practice and more practice as she developed from a freshman with okay handles who could not consistently sink a 10 foot runner in the paint, into a versatile and potenet threat who sinks turnaround fade-away shots from 12 feet with regularity along with 23-foot three pointers. She is among the best of the best girl prep guards I have ever seen live or on TV (in the McDonald’s All-American games), and is hands down the most prolific, clutch and efficient three-point shooter I have ever watched play high school ball.

She also grew from a meek role player into a vocal team leader, and in the process has grown into an upstanding and charming young adult. Only a mere few of the very best will ever go on to play their chosen sport at the professional level, but the lessons she has learned on and off the court while involved with Lady Viking basketball will go a long way in serving to help her be a smashing success in whatever she chooses to do in life once she hangs up the sneaks; be it after she graduates as a scholarship member of the NC A&T Aggies or when she retires from the WNBA.

Toomer’s story is similar in many ways, but followed a somewhat different path. Mosley’s growth line started at a solid spot and grew steadily while increasing exponentially. Toomer saw his growth path reach a stark peak. As a sophomore, he was third in the CFV MVP voting in basketball and led the Vikes in scoring after being named the CFV defensive Player of the Year in Football. After a solid junior year that saw Toomer finish as the CFV runner-up in the MVP voting in basketball, and put forth another stellar football campaign, things then took a downward turn for him.

He was forced to sit out the 2009 football season due to some legal matters, which also saw him miss the Vikings' first five basketball games. However, Union Pines' principal Robin Lea had the courage to allow Toomer to join the team this season, as she was confident in his character, feeling he deserved a second chance. With that second chance Toomer rededicated himself to his family, education and his basketball team, as he led the Vikings in scoring in 19 of his 22 senior games.

So after seeing his growth chart taking a dip downward, it then reached a new high as he proved what he was made of while displaying poise and grace. In doing so he demonstrated that hard times and mistakes befall everyone on this journey called life; however, it is the fashion in which you get back up and continue after a fall, the lessons you take away from your mistakes as you apply that gained knowledge when faced with tests down the road, and what you truly learn about yourself in the way you handle misfortune that define the true nature of a person.

After Jon Jon was recognized for surpassing the 1000-point mark in his Union Pines' varsity basketball career on Senior Night, his mother told me “I want Jon to know how very proud I am of him and he can do anything in this world that he wants, so long as he sets his mind to it,”

You know what; I tend to agree with her.

HeelsHoopFan 3 years, 2 months ago

The end of basketball season is always filled with mixed emotions, kinda like watching your mother-in-law drive off a cliff in ur brand new Caddy. This year has been especially tough with the Heels tanking and my kid brother fighting lung cancer, but Bobby Purvis and John Lewkoicz have provided me with an incredible journey.

The only bad part was here at the end when they both advanced in the playoffs and we had to choose what game we would attend. The girls with home court honors made the decision easy and if it were reversed we would have been with the boys.

What is all this hype about? It's about America and the things that are great about it. Take a slice of Union Pines pie and it's good for what ails you Watching Eric Smith make a steal and fly down the court to a slamming jamming dunk, man it don't get no better than that. But, wait, Big Chris Henderson fakes left and then up with the right with one of the prettiest hooks in the world, man that's tasty. Wait a minute, there's Smooth JJ Toomer owning the baseline and Boom, a thunderous two hand slamma jamma and the crowd goes nuts. Now here comes Justin Brabham after stealing the ball streaking to the basket loaded with defenders & creates a shot out of absolutely nothing.... and there's our Justin, happy, standing on the charity stripe one of his favorite places to hang out. Then there's Brandon Brown and Mitchell McNeil coming in the the ball game and they are everywhere and especially above the rim, its so great you can't make it up. Of course you can't leave the others out with Josh , Andrew and Paris, all having been starters and playing valuable roles. And when Garrison and Berry were asked to perform they were ready willing and able. Garrison put on a show and gave Coach Purvis something to think about this summer with his three point accuracy at the Grays Creek game.

It's loads of fun watching Carl, Craig and Bobby work. They all love what they do and I'll put them against any other coaching staff. Thanks for the memories guys, you are all what's Good about America and you can take that from an old boy who has spilled blood on foreign soil in defense of our nation, one of the things you think about in a foxhole is your high school days and experiences and you guys are keeping it real.

When Franco writes his farewell blog to the girls I'll chime in on them, but now I want to salute my buddies and wish them all tons of happy days. You know, like coach Purvis told me before a home game with the pep band going and the girls cheering and him and his players chomping at the bit to get going , he said "You know something Frank? It don't get no better that this as far as high school basketball is concerned, does it?" I said, Coach there's no other place I rather be!

Paint me blue. The UPHS Boys 2009-2010 season is through. Thanks for the memories and all the conversations, you guys deserved better but you are the best.