DECATUR — Mario Urquidi couldn’t be more excited about his opportunity to play on Decatur’s senior boys basketball team this season.
The 6-foot-3 guard/forward has become a big part of the Bulldogs plans under first-year coach John Unger. He leads Decatur in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots, and he recorded his first double-double when he scored 20 points and pulled down 11 rebounds Tuesday night in a 2A-4 West Conference game at Hartford.
There’s also one other detail to add to this picture. Uriquidi is only a freshman, meaning he’s going up against players up to three years older on any given night.
“At first, it was a little difficult,” he said about the move. “I felt like I did when I was a seventh grader and playing against ninth graders. Where in junior high the players were smaller than me, now they were about the same size.”
“It was scary, and I was trying hard not to screw up. But I’m getting used to it a lot better now.”
Unger, who was hired in July, inherited a team that didn’t win a game last year and began the season with no seniors on its roster. He thought the Bulldogs could use some playmakers, as well as some added depth.
That’s when he decided to move up Uriquidi and his twin brother Victor - a 6-1 point guard - and let them get some early lessons on senior high school basketball.
“It would have been a disservice for the two of them to play junior high ball,” Unger said. “The high school team needed somebody who could go out there, score and make plays with the basketball.
“The junior boys are doing fine without them. They’re 2-2 in conference play, and there is still talent on that team.”
His first action was actually a Nov. 14 junior varsity game against Gravette and he enjoyed a successful outing with 18 points. He started out at the high post position, and it didn’t take him long to discover how different basketball is played on the high school level.
“I had called a time-out, and Mario told me everybody was pushing out there,” Unger said. “It’s a lot more physical out there, but now he’s getting used to it.
“As we move along into the season, we knew he would have to deal with stronger players. At least he knows what’s coming.”
Urquidi’s quick leaping ability allowed his defensive presence to show ina Nov. 18 game against Johnson County Westside, when he had 10 rebounds and eight blocked shots. His best scoring night before Tuesday’s performance was an 18-point outing in a Dec. 13 game against Colcord, Okla.
He has since moved out to more of a swingman role, and he’s picked up more confidence in his outside shooting. He’s comfortable with his shooting from the 15-17 feet range, and he’s lately hitting 3-pointers in games.
“When teams are playing man defense against us, I get to play guard,” Urquidi said. “I like playing guard a lot more because I think it’s easier to score that way.
“My shooting and scoring has improved the most this season. My passing is coming along, too. I’m not turning the ball over like I thought I might do this year.”
Sports, Pages 9 on 01/25/2012