Byline: PAUL WHITE
BY Paul White
THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
When he joined an undersized Tallwood High School basketball team three years ago, the then 6-foot-3 Kelly Beidler stood out simply by standing up.
'I'm thinking, 'OK, we've finally got some height,' ' Lions coach Matt Myint said.
It didn't take long for Myint to notice quite a bit more. In the Lions' first scrimmage, Beidler accepted a pass, drove the baseline and threw down a thunderous dunk.
'This kid's going to be good,' Myint told one of his assistants.
For most of the days since, this information remained pretty much a Beach District secret. But after the Lions' remarkable run last week, the word is officially out across Hampton Roads - Beidler isn't just good, he's the best player on the best team in the Eastern Region.
The Lions' claim to that title didn't come by much - their tournament victories over Maury, Bethel and Booker T. Washington came by a combined four points.
Beidler's performance was much more clear-cut, although it can't be measured in mere numbers. His stats were fine: Beidler averaged 16 points in the three games for a team that typically scores in the 40s.
Then again, Beidler wasn't counting.
'I mean, it feels good to get 30,' said Beidler, who has signed to play at Mount St. Mary's. 'But I'll take 16 any day if it means the Eastern Region title.'
It was the range of Beidler's contributions that set him apart. Against Bethel, Beidler handled the ball from the top of the key, forcing 6-7 Jamel McLean and 6-8 Duke Crews out of the paint. If they laid back, Beidler hit 3-pointers. When they matched up with him, Beidler put it on the floor and attacked the rim.
On defense, he rebounded and blocked shots, the expected contributions of a player who earned Beach District Defensive Player of the Year honors in addition to the overall Player of the Year award. Yet he also displayed enough quickness to check smaller players on the perimeter. Then there were the intangibles. When the Lions fell behind the Bookers by three points late in the fourth quarter, it was Beidler huddling the players together during a timeout, encouraging his teammates to rally.
When sophomore A.J. Boggs missed the first of two free throws with four seconds left in that game, it was Beidler offering reassurance.
'I just slapped his hand and said, 'I know you're going to make this,' ' said Beidler, who then watched with glee as Boggs drained the game-winner.
He even stood up to Booker T. Washington's Myles Holley early in the third quarter, going jaw-to-jaw with the Bookers' star forward and sending a message to his team that the Lions would not be intimidated.
'We didn't want to initiate anything,' Myint said. 'But we weren't going to back down.'
According to Beidler, his on-court versatility comes naturally. In middle school, he played guard before a late growth spurt, a position in which he developed his ball-handling and shooting skills.
The leadership traits had to be developed. Even as recently as last season, Myint said he continually had to warn Beidler against slumped shoulders and hang-dog expressions when problems arose on the court.
'Coach stayed on me, and I worked harder,' said Beidler, who was second-team All-Beach as a junior. 'After summer league I knew we could do something big, and all season long we've pretty much proved it.'
nReach Paul White at 757-446-2630 or paul.white@pilotonline.com
