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Versatile athlete
The ball is often in Tyler Miller’s hands during key moments for Pioneer in the big three sports.
The junior is the quarterback of the football team, the point guard of the boys basketball team and the shortstop of the baseball team.
Miller is averaging 10 points per game for the boys basketball team this winter. The Panthers (10-10) have won six of their last eight entering their sectional opener Friday night against host Tri-County (11-10) in a semifinal game.
“I think as we’ve won six out of eight down the stretch here, I think [Miller’s] ability to not only take care of the ball and make good decisions has improved, but I think he’s done a lot better job of shooting the three and distributing the ball where it needs to go,” Pioneer coach Pat Skaggs said. “So really in the last month or six weeks of the season, we’ve kind of went as how Tyler has played.”
During the last month of the season Skaggs said Miller is averaging 12 or 13 points per contest.
The Panthers’ last game was a 48-38 win over Tri-County on senior night last Friday.
“I hope we go over there with a mindset that it’s anybody’s game, and just hope to come out and play well and get the ‘W,’” Miller said. “I think we’re coming together as a team, playing good ball when we should right now.”
Skaggs said that Miller leads by example.
“He’s one of our hardest workers in practice and sets an example for everybody, and it’s a real delight to coach him,” he said.
Miller was the starting quarterback for the Panthers’ football team that finished ranked No. 2 in Class A and was defeated by eventual state champ and No. 1 ranked Lafayette Central Catholic in the sectional.
The following is a question-and-answer session with Miller.
Q. Of the sports you play, which is your favorite? Why?
A. My favorite sport would have to be basketball, but I still love to play football and baseball.
Q. Do you have any family members who played sports?
A. My sisters Lindsey and Kayte play volleyball, basketball and softball. My dad [Ed] played baseball and football in high school. My mom [Fay] also played college volleyball.
Q. Who do you try to emulate in your life?
A. I try to emulate my dad because he has taught me everything to help me in the sports I play, and he works hard for everything.
Q. What experiences have you had in sports have made you the athlete you are today?
A. The experiences that have helped me the most are probably all the games that we have lost. This has taught me that I need to work harder on the things that I didn’t do to try and help me and my team be the best we can be.
Q. What is something that not everyone knows about you?
A. I don’t think that too many people know that I have been in Scouts since first grade and I just earned my Eagle Scout award.
Q. What is your favorite memory of playing sports at your school?
A. I don’t really have a favorite memory yet because I still have another year for them, but the thing that sticks out the most is spending time with all my teammates and coaches.
Q. What’s your favorite musical artist, movie, TV show, etc.?
A. Musical artist: Brad Paisley. Movie: Coach Carter. TV show: Home Improvement. Book: A Child Called “It.” Team: Colts. Athlete: Albert Pujols.
Q. What are your future plans after high school?
A. After I graduate high school, I would like to play at the collegiate level and get my degree in education.
Each week during the school year the Pharos-Tribune recognizes an athlete from one of five area high schools. The recipients are selected by each school’s athletic department.
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