Your future, our focus
Any time Marshall McArthur hits a jump shot in a home game, the foundation of Powell shakes.
That’s because there are so many McArthur friends, family members, former coaches, teachers and ex-teammates in the stands when his Northwest College men’s basketball team suits up.
Even the Charri McArthur on the women’s team is his cousin.
It helps to be a local playing hoops at the hometown college and lately McArthur has been nailing more jump shots than he has since his Powell High School days.
The 6-foot-4 forward pumped in 13 points in a 57-51 Trappers victory over Western Wyoming and 13 points in a 68-61 loss to Central Wyoming last week.
Go back one more game and he fired in 14 points against Miles Community College. This is McArthur’s strongest stretch of the season for the 15-7 Trappers.
“I think against Miles it was easier to find those shots,” McArthur said.
After spying openings in the defense and then hitting nothing but net, McArthur’s confidence soared.
“I thought, ‘Oh, I can get those shots,’” he said. “Why not against Central and Western?”
Every shooter experiences hot streaks and cold streaks.
“There are games when you feel like you can’t throw the ball in the ocean and games where you feel you can thread a needle,” he said.
Coach Brian Erickson said McArthur wasn’t shooting as well the first half of the season, sometimes putting too much spin on the ball, like a bowler who twists his wrist and throws a gutter ball.
“I think he’s fixed that,” Erickson said. “He’s played really well. He’s gaining confidence in himself. He’s getting the exact same shots and making them.”
In the Region IX victory over Western, McArthur was aided and abetted by Blake Hinze’s 11 points and Sukjhot Bains’ 10.
The loss to Central was a bit hard for the Trappers to take. Forward Luc Lombardy was absent, returning to France for his father’s funeral. Guards Devonte Morgan and Jonathan Koud were too sick to play.
“We were short-handed,” Erickson said.
Bains led the team with 16 points and 9 rebounds and Carter Baxter matched McArthur with 13 points.
The clapping gets a little louder when McArthur makes a big shot and lately it has come more frequently.
“It’s fun to glance up in the stands and see everyone,” McArthur said.