Senior guard Jackson Snyder has helped the 10th-ranked Ankeny Centennial boys’ basketball team to a 9-7 record. He is averaging 9.4 points and 2.8 rebounds per game while shooting 35.7 percent from 3-point range (15-of-42).
Snyder scored 15 points on Friday in the Jaguars’ 44-37 loss at top-ranked Ames. He was a perfect 6-for-6 from the field, including 2-of-2 from behind the arc.
Here is some inside info on Snyder:
What did you think of your team’s performance on Friday?
We knew coming into the game it would be a test of how much we have truly grown in the last six games, and I feel like we did. The younger guys showed lots of mental toughness and didn’t shy away from adversity, and I’m proud of them for that.
Did you know before the game that all-state guard Tamin Lipsey wasn’t going to play for the Little Cyclones?
We had no clue he would be sitting out. Even if we know a player is going to be out, we still prepare as though everybody is healthy so we’re ready for anything.
Did you have to make a lot of adjustments when you found out that he wasn’t in the lineup?
Obviously with a good player like that some things change, but we kept the same mindset and game plan no matter who was playing or not.
Your team caused Ames some trouble with a full-court press throughout the game. Was that one of the adjustments that you made?
It’s something we’ve been repping in practice and when the coaches believe it’ll give us back a little control of the pace, then we’re ready for it whenever.
You made back-to-back 3-point goals in the fourth quarter to cut Ames’ lead from 34-26 to 38-34 with about 4 minutes left. Are you shooting the ball with a lot of confidence right now?
Yeah, I’m feeling a lot more confident. I feel like I’m doing a better job of clearing my head and just letting the game come to me, especially in those late-game situations.
Your team had a chance to tie the game with about 1 minute to go but was unable to convert. Did you think you were going to get over the hump?
Shots aren’t always going to fall and things aren’t always going to go our way, but I will always stay optimistic in those situations.
I understand you tore the labrum in your left shoulder last summer but are waiting to have surgery until April. I can feel your pain–I just had surgery Tuesday for a torn rotator cuff in my left shoulder. Does it bother you much when you play?
It’s a day-to-day kind of injury. You can do something little to aggravate it for a while or it can be completely fine so it’s really a risk, but it’s one I’m willing to take to keep me on that floor.
Your team had a six-game winning streak snapped on Friday. What was the key to your team’s turnaround after a 3-6 start?
It was simple: stay the course, focus on continuous improvement, and trust the process. The easy thing to do is to look at that record and be satisfied with it, but none of us were. The job is not finished, and neither are we with improving.
Your team will travel to Ankeny on Friday for a rematch against the No. 6 Hawks, who posted a 58-48 victory at Centennial on Jan. 11. What does your team have to do to avenge that loss?
Ankeny’s a good team that battles the whole game. I feel like if we can put a hard-fought 32 minutes of basketball together it will be a great game. We’ve got to handle adversity and value every possession.
Your team has been placed in Class 4A Substate 2 along with Ames, Des Moines Hoover, Des Moines Lincoln, Fort Dodge and Mason City. What did you think of your team’s draw, and would you like another shot at the Little Cyclones?
Just like the game of basketball, you’ve just got to take what is given to you and make the most of every moment, so that’s our mindset toward substate. I am excited for another crack at Ames, but you can’t overlook any teams–especially in the postseason.
Plans for next year? Would you like to play in college?
Right now I’m just taking it a day at a time, making the most of my senior year, and focusing my mind on going as far as we can. I love the game of basketball so I would love to take it with me to the next chapter of my life. So if the right opportunity presents itself, it’d be hard not to take it.