Center Grove boys get a lift from dual-sport athletes

In an era of athletic specialization, four members of Center Grove’s boys basketball team are throwbacks in the best possible sense.

All were key contributors in the Trojans’ football season, a three-month journey that started slow, gradually gained momentum and wound up culminating in a berth in the Class 6A state championship game.

Walking off the Lucas Oil Stadium carpet and almost immediately onto a basketball court wasn’t easy for juniors Austin Booker, Mason Long, Leyton McGovern and Dane Young.

In time, they adjusted, the abrupt changes in direction transitioning from offense to defense and back to offense eventually becoming second nature.

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“It was pretty tough,” said Booker, a 6-foot-6 defensive end on the gridiron who tied for fourth on the team in tackles with 67 and recorded eight quarterback sacks. “We didn’t get much time to do basketball during football season. It was mostly about getting in shape. That was the hardest part.

“After, like, three weeks, I felt like I was getting my wind back and my shot was back. It’s been an up-and-down season, but I feel like we’re starting to turn it around.”

The football season ended with Center Grove’s 20-17 loss to Carmel the night of Nov. 30. A week later, the Trojan basketball team played its first game, dropping a 71-61 decision to Bloomington North.

All four played against the Cougars, having been able to squeeze in the IHSAA-mandated five practice sessions during the week.

The Trojans hold a 6-6 record, 0-3 in the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference, going into Friday’s game at Class 4A No. 1 Lawrence North.

Young, a point guard averaging 1.8 assists, said playing cornerback in football ultimately proves beneficial this time of year.

“Being a point guard, you have to read the defense and you have to read how our offense will be effective against it,” said Young, who had six pass deflections and a pair of interceptions in the fall. “As a DB you have to figure how the wide receiver plays and figure out how you play defense.”

An athletic 6-4, 220 pounds, McGovern spent the 2018-19 school year at McCutcheon High School in Lafayette and attended Columbus North prior to that. He moved here in July and was utilized mostly as a receiver and kick returner during football season.

McGovern is making his presence known in basketball, averaging team highs in points (10.2) and rebounds (4.0) through his first 10 games. Despite this being his third high school in as many years, McGovern has adjusted and adds another dimension to a Trojan frontcourt that also includes Booker, 6-6 junior Ethan Jones and 6-6 senior Ben Cooney, among others.

“Over the course of the football season, I was still in the gym training. I try to bring the energy that we need to win. I just try to be a team player,” said McGovern, who says he doesn’t have a preference whether he starts or is one of the first Trojan players off the bench.

“It depends on the team we’re playing. If we’re going against a stronger, more up-tempo team, I would rather come off the bench just so I can feel how they’re going to play.”