Boys Baskebtall: Nick Bollenbacher leads hanover Central

Updated: December 8, 2011 10:34PM

CEDAR LAKE — Nick Bollenbacher wants to work as an accountant when his playing days are over.

Hanover Central’s senior point guard would love nothing more than to be employed by his uncle Scott’s accounting firm after graduating college.

“He loves numbers for some reason,’’ Wildcats basketball coach Rod Bollenbacher said.

Nick’s fascination with numbers isn’t too surprising, particularly when you consider the numbers the Wildcats’ two-sport standout has been piling up on the basketball court.

The 6-foot-1 Bollenbacher is averaging 26.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, six steals — he’s led the state in steals the last two years — and four blocks per game.

In the team’s only win so far — a 94-59 romp over Calumet last week — Bollenbacher scored a career-high 41 points.

“It didn’t really start off like I’d have a big game, but I was feeling it and I didn’t really ever get tired,’’ he said. “There’s something about Calumet, but I don’t really know what.’’

In only his third varsity game as a freshman, Bollenbacher scored 35 against the Warriors. He had 25 as a sophomore and 22 last season.

With a young and basically inexperienced team, the Wildcats (1-4) have struggled this season, but that hasn’t prevented Bollenbacher from still putting up big numbers. He’s managed to do it, despite constant double-teams.

“He’s still been able to get through people because of his physicality,’’ Rod Bollenbacher said. “He’s seeing the floor well and finding the open man. I think his basketball IQ is just phenomenal. South Bend Adams doubled him baseline to baseline and he still got 21 points.’’

A lot of Bollenbacher’s success can be attributed to his basketball IQ, but there are other factors that have made a difference in his game.

He’s spent most of the last three years playing on three AAU teams during the summer.

One of those teams — the Indiana Thunderhawks — had a guy named Glenn Robinson III playing.

With the Robinson as the featured player and a supporting cast that consisted of Bollenbacher, North Judson’s Winston Yergler and John Eckert, Lowell’s Kyle Richwalski and Hanover Central’s Cam Brady, it’s no wonder the Thunderhawks were so good.

Bollenbacher also honed his skills playing for the Indiana Dawgz and the Illinois Warriors during the summer.

He also spent a lot of time conditioning and getting stronger with personal trainer, Ron Moskovsky, while Dave Buchanan worked with him on his agility.

“Nick’s more confident in his game,’’ Rod Bollenbacher said. “I think working so hard over the summer gave him more confidence in himself and in his game.’’

Then there’s Nick’s shooting coach, Charlie Huffnagle, a 2008 Hanover grad, who could fill it up from behind the arc with anyone.

“I’ve been working hard on my shooting and my accuracy,’’ Nick said. “Charlie started helping me out last year. He had ideas to help me with my shot. I’ve been shooting hundreds of shots. I really have to thank him, because he’s the reason I’m shooting a lot better. Before, I don’t think I was as confident in my shot.’’

Like a lot of kids, Nick’s hoops career had a familiar beginning.

He started playing Nerf hoops and shooting on his Little Tikes basket at home.

By second grade, he was playing ball with the Crown Point Pups, before hooking up with an AAU team in the fourth grade when he moved to Hebron.

“Little Tikes got me started,’’ Nick laughed. “Ever since I started playing, I was always trying to improve on something, whether it was just dribbling the ball, or shooting it. I remember trying to spin that Nerf basketball on my finger. I would sit there for hours trying to learn control of the ball.’’

Bollenbacher loved Hebron. He thought he’d follow in older brother Eric’s footsteps and play for the Hawks.

By the time eighth grade rolled around, Bollenbacher had another option when his dad was hired as Hanover Central’s head coach.

“My mom, dad, and I, all talked about it,’’ Nick said. “On the one hand, I wanted to stay with my friends, but on the other, I wanted to play for my dad. I was emotionally torn about it, but I had to make a decision. I faced going to a new school with new kids and new teammates. My parents said they’d support whatever decision I made. On the last day of eighth grade, they gave me a pass to clean out my locker, and I cried. It was just an emotional time.’’

Once at Hanover, Bollenbacher was welcomed by his new teammates and other kids.

“I was worried about coming to a new school — not knowing what to expect and what was going to happen,’’ he said. “When I look back on it now, though, I think it was the right decision.’’

Bollenbacher is closing in on Hanover Central’s career scoring record, which is held by Mike Holobawski, now coaching at Crown Point.

“I want the scoring record, I really do,’’ Nick said. “I want to leave my mark. I’d also like to win the (PCC) round robin and conference tournament. I’d like for us to win the sectional, because we haven’t since 1986.’’

Nick hopes to play basketball — the sport he loves most — and baseball — the sport he likely plays best — at the next level.

He’s already received a full ride offer in baseball from Coppin State.

“He wants to do both and I think he can,’’ said his dad, who played both sports at St. Francis College in Fort Wayne.

“As hard as he works, I think he could do that. If anyone could do it, I’d say he could. He comes in early and he stays late. He works his tail off.’’

Looking at it from an athletic standpoint, Bollenbacher has the numbers to support his cause.

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