John Raffel
Sports Scene
Bryn Forbes can be as dangerous as any player on the roster of the Lansing Sexton boys basketball squad.
But what makes coach Carlton Valentine smile is that Forbes, who averages 17.5 points per game, is just one of several weapons on the defending Class B state champion team.
“He’s having a great year,” Valentine said. “He’s had four or five games about 20 points or better. Against Lansing Eastern he had 25. Against Detroit Pershing, he had 22. Kalamazoo Central, he had 20 plus. He’s played well in the big games.”
“Pershing, Kalamazoo, and Eastern, probably” have been his best games, Forbes said. He acknowledged that he’s likely having his best season.
“I think I’ve become more of a complete player,” he said
Forbes played a key role for Sexton in its 2011 state championship. That’s why an improved Bryn Forbes this season is a dangerous Bryn Forbes.
“He’s done a lot of work on his body; he’s a lot bigger and a lot stronger,” Valentine said. “He got taller. He’s more physical. He’s more aggressive every game.”
“I’m shooting the ball pretty well,” Forbes said, adding that his shooting percentage “could always be higher. Probably better shot selection [would help.]”
Teams can’t afford to put extra pressure on Forbes defensively.
“We don’t rely on one guy since we have so much balance,” Valentine said. “We have so many weapons. They double team him, they leave someone else.”
Shooting, “for sure,” is mentioned by Forbes as one of his fundamental strengths.
“I’m pretty athletic,” he said. “I think our team is getting better. We’re more experienced than last year. Three of us, it’s more than three years on the varsity. I think we’re a little better.”
Sexton will be odds-on favorite for another state title in March, but Forbes and his teammates realize how challenging completing that task is likely to be.
“Everyone wants to beat us that much more,” he said. “We’re just working hard in practice. We expect to do well.”
Detroit Community and Detroit Country Day are among the schools Forbes expects to heavily challenge Sexton in its repeat state title bid.
When Forbes’ high school days have ended, he will embark on a collegiate career at Cleveland State, coached by former Eastern Michigan and Ferris State assistant coach Gary Waters. He made his commitment prior to the start of this season.
“I can kind of relax and not think about it that much and just worry about basketball,” said Forbes. “Their coaching staff is the biggest reason I chose to go there. I feel I fit in pretty well with what they’re trying to do.”