Will power

COLQUITT — Miller County boys basketball coach Tim Martin made a deal with his wife, Bonnie, before their only child was born.

“If we had a boy, he’d be 99.9 percent mine,” Martin recalled with a laugh.

Once their son, Timothy William Martin, was born June 22, 1992, the coach made good on his promise, and most of their bond has since been built on the basketball court. While Bonnie worked evenings as a nurse in Albany, Will had a basketball in his hand, watching from the bleachers while his father — the coach of the Pirates for the last 14 years — directed practice.

“If he lost the ball and it went onto the court, one of the players would get the ball back to him and he would just pick up where he left off,” the coach said. “Other times, he would just sleep on the bleachers.”

Those memories are especially vivid now that Will is a senior starting his fourth year at point guard. Only 12 points away from a career scoring total of 1,000 points, Will likely will reach that milestone tonight at home against Webster County.

“Oh man, it’s great knowing that I have put in the work all four years just to accomplish something like this,” said Will, who is averaging 15 points and seven assists this season. “There are a lot of players who haven’t done this. Maybe it will make the younger players work even harder so they can do the same thing when they get to high school.”

For Tim, however, the moment his son reaches 1,000 points will be an unforgettable memory in a laundry list of them he’s had while watching his son grow up.

“We’ve been together ever since he was born,” Martin said. “We’ve driven to school together, practiced together and rode home from practice together.”

Will has matured into more than just a quality basketball player, ranking first academically in his class with a 4.0 GPA and having scholarship offers from Berry College and the Milwaukee School of Engineering.

Learning from his father, Will is contributing in other ways besides directing the offense. During the Pirates’ 85-74 victory against then-undefeated Pelham last week, Will played an important role by finishing with a season-high 25 points, 18 of which were scored from the foul line. Being the on-court extension of dear ol’ dad, Will’s experience at point guard has brought both rewards and stress. The rewards, of course, are enjoying wins they both contributed to thanks to developing a familiarity with what each expects from the other.

“I run the plays through him,” Will said. “It’s a lot easier on the court when you know what your dad wants to run. It makes me want to go harder. You want to go harder than anyone else to make him proud.”

That, however, comes with an added burden.

“It’s kind of tough with him on the court because you seem to pay more attention to him and you get on to him harder,” the coach said. “You feel you have the right to get on to him all the time, but it shouldn’t be that way. At times, you think he can do no wrong and when he does mess up, you’re harder on him (than anyone else).”

Despite that, the Martins freely talk about basketball, even when inside the family household.

That is, as long as it is after a Miller County victory.

“We talk hoops all the time, 24-7, and watch basketball together all the time, I like North Carolina and he likes Kansas,” Will said. “It’s like a house divided, we have a lot of fun.

“But if it’s after a loss? Oooh, it’s the opposite.”

During the last four years, Will says his playing experience has helped shape his success in the classroom, while molding his success for the future.

“You learn to be ambitious, strong and be a leader, not giving up,” Will said. “Those are things you strive for that you might need in life. I’ve learned a lot of things from basketball and my dad.”

Teammate Cosby Salter has noticed that firsthand.

“They just feed off each other,” Salter said. “His dad has taught him very well, and he uses that in the game. He’s just doing his thing.”

As the Pirates carry a 3-3 record into tonight’s game, Will relishes moments like these as chances to prove himself.

“I see myself as the best point guard in the region and it’s my time to show that,” Will said. “Since I’ve been playing so long, everybody should have to be scared of me instead of me worrying about them.”

Will recently realized, however, he has a stress fracture in his left foot. Since he has been playing all season with the injury, however, he is taking the news in stride as he prepares to see a doctor later this week.

“It’s something that worries me for my parents’ sake, but not me because it’s been hurting for a while and I’ve been playing on it,” Will said.

And however the season ends for Miller County, both the Martin boys are learning to savor every moment, every game.

After all, both know those moments are dwindling.

“He’s a senior,” Tim began with a sigh, “so I know my days of coaching him are numbered.”