It wasn’t long ago that junior Matt Ray heard his name announced as a starter before each Parkland boys varsity basketball game. But during a long season, coaches like to mix and match lineups to try and find the best possible rotations, dividing minutes to keep legs fresh and energized.

Once the calendar turned to 2022, Trojan head coach Andy Stephens approached Ray about trying out something different and seeing how it would work. A player that puts the team first, Ray did just that and willingly agreed to take a back seat of sorts and adjust his game by coming off the bench.

“It’s been different,” Ray said. “We wanted to try something else out. It’s been working; I think I provide a nice spark off the bench to help my teammates. Whatever coach wants, whatever helps us win, I’m all for it.”

Just because he is not out on the court as the ball is tipped does not mean he is not relied upon in crucial situations. Ray still finds himself playing in the pivotal fourth quarters and has still brought the same energy and attitude to the court once he gets up and checks in.

“That’s just a perfect example of putting the team before the individual,” Stephens said. “I thought that some of the kids that played [last Thursday] off the bench did a really good job. Matt has been doing this for us for the last month or two. He’s so selfless and just wants to help the team be successful in any way that he can.”

Against Nazareth in the District 11 Class 6A final last week, Ray sparked his team, finishing just shy of a double-double with nine points and a team-high eight rebounds as a substitute. He might not have been on the court at tip off, but when the second half started he was on the floor helping his team.

“Nazareth is a really good rebounding team, so we knew we needed five guys on the glass,” Ray said. “Rebounding is a lot about effort, to be honest.”

Look for Ray to continue to stay in that role this season, but still logging a lot of minutes. Parkland will be going for its first district title since 2016, the same year it last won a league crown before this season.