There are few dull moments for the Rogersville basketball team, especially after a big win. And even more so after a big night from Chase Branham, with 30-point games becoming the norm.
“It’s a privilege I get to coach him,” said Rogersville head basketball coach John Schaefer. “I’ve had a lot of good teams and a lot of good players, and he’s right up there at the top. We can’t say he’s the best yet because he ain’t graduated.”
The point guard grew up quickly, earning varsity status as a freshman.
“He got thrown into the fire very quickly and never looked back,” Schaefer said. “He became our leading scorer, and he surprised us as well as probably surprised himself a little bit, and really fit into what we were doing. “
“I just started to learn how to touch the rim my freshman year, and then I dunked in the same year,” Branham said. “So it’s kind of a progression, physicality wise. Like I got used to the bumps, the fouls, like all that kind of stuff, which kind of helped me with learning how to jump, basically.”
His dedication to the sport brought him a top 35 national ranking and plenty of scholarships to power four schools. Ultimately, he chose Indiana for his future home.
“The coaches, the coaches are the main thing,” Branham said. “The comfortability. I kind of knew it since my first visit. The play style. They play 3 guards at all times. They let it fly. They play fast.”
Branham may be headed to the basketball state, but after falling short in the final four the past two seasons, he’s set on bringing Rogersville a ring and a poster – not the dunk kind.
“I mean, a state championship is what we want to bring to the town and Gatorade Player of the Year,” Branham said before pointing to the gymnasium wall. “That’s my individual goal for the year. That’s kind of something I want to accomplish and get put up over there.”
