‘Boy plays with confidence

    When Edna Cowboy Varsity basketball captain Brandon Nidey plays in a game, he said he focuses on two things: the voices of Coach Chad Hartley and his father, Cowgirls Coach Brett Nidey in the stands.
    “I tune everything else out like no one is there,” he said. “And my dad means the world to me because he’s taught me everything he knows. He definitely gets the credit if I play well.”
    Nidey grew up playing and practicing with his sister, Cowgirl starter and captain Kacey Nidey, and it developed the heavy passion he has for the game, not to mention give him game as well. Like his sibling he can weave in and out of players and can sink a shot well. In most games the Cowboys play he is a top scorer, in addition to being top in rebounds and steals.
    “I love this game so much, it can relieve stress as well as give me stress but I’ve always been very passionate about the game,” he said.
    Nidey has been inspired by a graduate of Ohio State, Aaron Craft, and Chris Paul from the Clippers, noting that both were excellent point guards on their team. “Craft didn’t really care about his points, but rather distributing the ball.” Nidey would like to play college ball, but unsure where. He has some ideas though.
    Last year Nidey was named to the All-District First Team, and this year his first goal is to help the team win their first district match. He said the next goal would be winning the district title, not to mention having his team stick together and play hard to make a good run in the playoffs.
    Coach Hartley said Nidey works hard everyday and leads as a captain should. “I expect a lot from him and he has accepted his role, I know what I want from him is probably more than any coach he had before,” he said. “Brandon is a true point guard. He sees the floor well, and wants his teammates to score before him, he wants them to succeed before him.”
    “Coach Hartley has taught me many things, he’s gotten me to step up on the defensive side of the ball and to cause many turnovers,” Nidey said. “He’s taught the team that we all need each other because we can’t do anything by ourselves and that’s a huge one to come together as a family and have fun and play the game like it should be played.”
    Nidey is the son of Sylvia and Brett Nidey, and he has been a varsity starter since his freshman year.
    As for the Cowboys, Nidey said the team will be ready by district. “We’ve been starting to click and play well together, I think we’ll be a great ball club.”