Setting The Bar: Miller Leaves Lasting Impression On Lamar

by Janice Penix

It’s hard to tell whether Lane Miller has had a bigger impact on Lamar High School, or it on him.

At 6-foot-3, most people have to look up at him to have a conversation, but according to his coaches and teachers, most of his peers look up to him regardless of their height.

“Coaching Lane has been awesome,” Brett Sampley, LHS head boys basketball coach said. “He is the type of player that doesn’t miss practice, does his best at all times and is a true team player.

“He went through a stretch during the season, after he hurt his hand in a game, that he wasn’t his normal self. He wasn’t shooting the ball well, but he became a better ball player during that stretch. He worked harder on defense and created opportunities for his teammates. That’s a true team player that everyone needs on your team.”

The Warrior basketball team made it to the 3A State finals this year and Miller was the sole senior on the team.

Basketball has been a part of his life since his Johnson County Boys Club days in kindergarten and first grade. He transitioned to the Lamar Youth league in second grade and has been a Warrior hoopster ever since.

“Basketball is my favorite sport,” he said. “My grade (level) was always good and I had a lot of fun playing with my friends. That made it enjoyable. And it was a sport a lot of people in my family played, including my dad. It was fun to be able to go out and have people watch me and say they enjoyed watching me play.”

As the only senior on the team this year, Miller said he felt it was his role to take some of the younger players under his wing and help them develop their skills…

For the full story, see the Sports Spotlight page in the May 15 edition of The Graphic, available online or in businesses throughout Johnson County and surrounding areas.