Sports
Gaines Leading Quince Orchard From the Bench
Cougars' leading scorer has found his stride while adjusting to reserve role.
Andre Gaines ripped the ball away from a Damascus player on Tuesday night, near mid court in the middle of a first quarter that wasn't going his team's way.
A few seconds later, Gaines, the 6-foot-5 senior forward on 's boys basketball team, finished the play with a one-handed dunk that gave the Cougars needed momentum in .
It happens that fast for Gaines. His athleticism and production make him Quince Orchard's best player. He makes defensive plays down the stretch and almost always finishes near the rim, even with contact from defenders.
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His left-handed jump shot from the high post is equally as effective, a result of shooting work this summer, he said. His game is versatile, and in many instances this season it has propelled the Cougars (11-5) to wins.
But at tip-off of a Quince Orchard game, you won't see Gaines on the floor. Despite all of his skills, all of his scoring, Gaines doesn't start.
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"It's different," Gaines said. "But I'm starting to get used to it."
Cougar coach Paul Foringer instead has elected to bring Gaines off the bench this season, a decision which has worked well after Quince Orchard lost all three of its games in a holiday tournament over winter break.
The Cougars have won six of seven since, and looked impressive in their 64-31 rout of Damascus on Tuesday.
With a capable starting group, including point guard Myck Miller, Gaines' insertion into games a little past the midway point of the first quarter gives Quince Orchard a boost.
Quite often, it's a boost other teams can't match.
"I know when I go in, the other people that are guarding me are a little tired. I'm going to have to have a little bit of an edge. So I try to take that and use it to my advantage," Gaines said. "It's a mentality."
It showed in the Cougars' win Tuesday. Quince Orchard trailed 11-2 before Gaines' steal and slam. At the end of the first quarter, the Cougars trailed 15-11.
By the half, they had a 26-18 lead.
"I think everybody's spirits were lifted after that," Gaines said. "And we just kept on going forward."