By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

DAYTON, Ore.–  For Dayton senior Trae Wall, basketball is life.  The game made him who he is is today and he wouldn’t know what it’ll be like without the game he’s been playing since the first-grade.

At the same time too, he’s humble.  Knowing what he brings to the table, Wall accepts the role that he’s in knowing that he and his brothers around are in iti together.  Looking for one last ride together sitting 7-1 on the year and on the heels of taking down 3A favorites Cascade Christian down in Medford a few days ago.

” I don’t have anything out of this, it’s my identity.  Without basketball, I’m not really me,” Wall said of what the game means to him..”A lot of us are seniors, we all kind of take on that responsibility.  We all have been playing together for a long time.  So it doesn’t necessarily feel like I’m the only leader out here, but I do know my word means a lot to these guys out here.   alongside the coaches.  It means a lot that they respect me…I don’t really think much of it being a leader, I just am.”

Playing with guys like Lucas Ashley, Michael Freeborn, Caleb Primbs since first grade has meant a lot to Wall as the quartet embark on one last ride together.  They joked around during Monday’s practice, enjoying the moment with the Salem Academy Tournament coming up and the PacWest Conference play following that beyond New Years, just enjoying the little moments that they’re able to get together with how long they’ve played together.

Each could probably say the same thing. Being able to play together as a team one more time. Stepping up as leaders, leaving their marks, etc. but all-and-all Wall knows he’s enjoying the time with his brothers one last time.

“Since first grade we’ve all been playing together, playing in tournaments.  This means a lot that we could come out here and being able to play together one last time,” Wall said.  

Dayton opens the Salem Academy bracket with Umatilla Wednesday at 5pm in the opening game of the Crusader Classic Boys Green Bracket.

Photos By Jeremy McDonald