EudoraNews.com

Eudora High School senior forward Wes Hinman is the kind of basketball player who is not afraid to jump on the floor for a loose ball or show a great deal of emotion to psych his teammates up for a big game.

"We get fired up in the locker room more than anything," Hinman said. "It changes for every game, it just depends."

Eudora senior Wes Hinman elevates for a basket against a Spring Hill defender. Hinman is a major scoring threat this year for the Cardinals' offense.

Hinman made the all-Frontier League team last season and has not slowed down during this season's campaign under a new coach, Scott Stein, who implemented new offensive and defensive schemes.

"It's just different (than Coach Eshbaugh), but I like Coach Stein a lot. He's a great coach."

Stein said that Hinman does a great job in the low post and on the fast break for the Cardinals after he scored a team-high 16 points in a 78-48 victory over Anderson County.

"Wes is a threat on the inside," Stein said. "He runs the floor very well. We did a very good job of getting him the ball."

Hinman's frontcourt partner, senior center Tommy Stein, said he enjoys playing alongside the aggressive power forward.

"Wes is definitely a leader," Tommy Stein said. "He played like he was all-league (at Anderson County) in my opinion."

Hinman said it would be a welcome site for the Cardinals to play in their own gym Friday against 4A's top- ranked Spring Hill. Although Eudora suffered two 20-point losses to the Broncos, Friday's game will be the Cardinals first at Eudora in exactly a month.

"Nobody likes to travel to places like Anderson County and Prairie View," Hinman said. "I like to play at home a lot more. The crowd does really well and the student body does a great job firing us up and adding energy."

Hinman was encouraged by the Cardinals' play during the first half on Dec. 18 at Spring Hill when Eudora led at the break.

"We got to put four quarters together, play as a team and not be intimidated by them," Hinman said. "We want to have a successful season and maybe go to the big dance, but we are taking it one week at a time."