Jan 24, 2018 3 min read

Name: Darton McIntire

School: Waynesburg

Sport: Basketball

Class: Senior

McIntire’s week: In three games for the Raiders last week, McIntire scored 82 points as Waynesburg strung together its first consecutive wins of the season.

Forced to reschedule a game because of inclement weather, Waynesburg played three times in three days, beginning with McIntire scoring a game-high 20 points in a 66-28 victory over West Greene.

McIntire only got better as the week progressed, finishing with 31 points in Section 3-AAAA games against Elizabeth Forward, a 68-45 win, and a six-point loss to Uniontown, 62-56.

“A couple of guys came up to me before the games and told me to take over,” McIntire said. “It came down to the guys telling me to lead and they will follow. When they can put their trust in me it means everything because we are all competitors.”

Averaging 25 points per game through the Raiders’ first 16 games, McIntire has developed into a consistent scorer relied on by head coach Kirk King.

“You don’t end up scoring like that unless you put in a lot of work before you get (to varsity),” King said. “He’s put in years and years of hard work. The hours of dedication he’s put in has made him not only a consistent scorer but all-around player.”

It isn’t a senior-season phenomenon for McIntire, who averaged 21.4 points per game and was named to the Observer-Reporter all-district boys basketball team as a junior.

“My shooting has always been what people remember me by,” McIntire said. “Ever since I was little, I was always taught to follow through. You start out doing the simple drills, drills like not shooting with two hands. I have learned to do different things that help, whether it be jumping higher or holding the follow through.”

Love the swish:

The simple swish noise of the basketball going through the net unimpeded was what drew McIntire to the game.

“I fell in love with the swish sound,” he remembers. “Basketball is a love and a passion I have had ever since I can remember.”

King said that McIntire’s ability to remain consistent comes from the extra time taking care of his body in the season and during the offseason. It also has to do with bringing a “warrior’s mentality” to each game.

“I believe in the message of the cross. I have been a believer,” McIntire said. “I thought if God can do that, I could finish a simple basketball game day in and day out. No matter what is asked of me, I can put through to the end of any game.”