Case in Point

Free throws at the end of practice? I'm available

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For the first time in five months, we’re working on something that, before COVID-19 hit this nation, seemed natural to us. I’ve been traveling to and from Durant and Wilton high schools taking team photos of this year’s fall Wildcat and Beaver sports teams.

After the pandemic hit in March, spring sports were canceled. We did have abbreviated baseball and softball seasons, but one gut-wrenching move by the athletic unions was not allowing the media to take team photos of baseball or softball teams prior to the season.

With the announcement that we would be sending our children back to school, and that we would be playing fall sports, I immediately wondered about taking team photos. We were given the go-ahead, and, if all goes well, you’ll see them printed in next week’s Advocate News.

We’re merely a week away from the start of school and the first Friday night football games. Some days, I feel like the last five months have flown by. Other days, it feels like a nightmare of which I have yet to wake up.

Either way, time will tell how wise the move was, as we see how our districts — and athletic unions — deal with the ongoing pandemic. It will not slow down, and there will be cases.

I actually began thinking more about the 2020 sports seasons a little more than two weeks ago, when I took part in a shooting challenge at the Muscatine YMCA. I’ve been a Y member for years, and in early July, I got an email about the first ever Big Brothers Big Sisters of Muscatine County Hoops for Kids’ Sake event Aug. 1.

Like many area YMCA’s, the Muscatine Y also serves as the hub for the county Big Brothers Big Sisters program. The group decided to host a free throw contest at the Y that Saturday, as a fundraiser — a $20 donation granted you 25 free throws. There were multiple age divisions, from children up to adults. The top three from each division made the finals, where they were given 25 more.

I was eager to enter. It was for a good cause, and one of my favorite things to do is shoot baskets, namely free throws. It started when I was in grad school at the University of Iowa. I had an office in the Field House on the Iowa campus from 2006-2008. I was often there late at night working, and would find myself shooting baskets at one of the many basketball courts prior to going home. I’d always end with shooting free throws, often letting my rhythm (or streaks) dictate how many I’d shoot. I was younger and better then, with my best night hitting 100 of 107.

My job has kept me from the basketball court as much as I’d like, but I did make it down the Y once recently in order to at least shoot a bit before going down for my 25 free throws Aug. 1. I purposefully took one of the last time slots as I had one mindset — to win.

I never went to the scorer’s table, nor did I look at the standings. I took my turn and hit 21 of 25. I was told I was in the lead in the adult division.

Two of the final three contestants also made the finals. One man hit 23 of 25, and another tied me with 21.

In the finals, the first young man that hit 21 shot first. He hit 23 of 25. I was next and that was pressure. I came as close as one could, making 22 of 25. The last finalist fizzled out, not making near what he did in the opening round.

In the end, I was defeated by one shot by Drew Wichers, a 23-year-old Muscatine High School grad who played one season with Iowa’s Joe Wieskamp.

Not bad for an old guy like me. Well, old when compared to Drew. I was happy with making 43 of 50 for the day, but not a day has gone by that I don’t think about the finals. If only I had gone first, perhaps I could have set the mark and given that young man some pressure. Maybe next year…

To bring it back full circle to high school sports, I started thinking: Do our area teams still shoot free throws at the end of practice, and run on the misses? Wouldn’t I be a great "celebrity shooter" in those situations? To the area coaches, let’s set it up! I'm available.

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Remembering Myles Hermiston—We were saddened this week to learn of the passing of Myles Hermiston, a Durant graduate who we’ve lost far too soon. I know the Hermiston name, as his older brother Lee was in school around the time I was. His obituary can be viewed on page 7.

Rather than write any kind of tribute myself, I yield the floor to his brother Lee Hermiston, who posted the following to social media:

Myles Javo Hermiston was so many things to so many people. A son. A grandson. An uncle. A nephew. A cousin. A friend. A coworker. He was my brother and one of my best friends.

We were coconspirators. Road trip companions. Confidants. I thought as his older brother that I was his protector, but in these past few difficult months, he was the one looking out for me. He never asked for anything. He only wanted to give his time and whatever he had at his disposal.

Myles was a creator. With his degree in construction management, he was playing a role in the largest higher education building project in the state of Tennessee. He made music with his guitars, banjos or seemingly any other instrument he could pick up and play with ease. He made food. So much food. Grilled chicken. Smoked ribs. He was growing a salsa garden. And he’d share it all with anyone who wanted or needed it.

Myles loved his family, loved his friends, loved to work hard, loved to make others laugh and smile. He loved his dog, Muddy.

He was a big man with a big heart and we will all miss him so much.

Myles had friends all around the country and maybe even around the world. I don’t know how to reach them all. I hope that some of you will see this and share your favorite memories of Myles. We’ll cherish them always.

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