Student managers enjoy helping their teams behind the scenes

Mandy Peterson and Brandi Sinks might have two of the best jobs at this week's 3A state high school basketball tournaments at Gill Coliseum.

The Burns High School students get to sit courtside for each of their team's games and don't have to worry about making a basket, subbing in a player at the right time or failing to call a foul and have boos rain down on them.

Peterson, a sophomore, and Sinks, a freshman, enjoy their jobs as student managers, helping Burns girls head coach Alice Herauf and her assistants with the duties they need done during games and practices. Filling water bottles and keeping stats are just part of the job.

Dylan Thompson, son of Burns assistant coach Jake Thompson, can't be at team practices because he has school, but he joins the team at games.

Surprisingly, few teams in Thursday's girls quarterfinals had student managers. Most of those duties went to players who are injured or were left off their teams' lineup because of regulations that limit the number of players on tournament rosters.

Wednesday, as the No. 3 Hilanders played Pleasant Hill, Peterson sat at the end of the Burns bench and kept track of the shots being taking by her team. She passed towels and water bottles down the bench when they were needed.

Sinks was at the front of the bench to tend to the team's scorebook and let the coaches sitting next to her know when players were in foul trouble.

When they get off the bus before or after a game, Sinks or Peterson grabs the first-aid kit while the other takes the bag of basketballs. Before home games, they decorate the team's locker room to pump up their classmates.

But practice is when the girls really get into the action. At times, they play defense and get to use large blocking pads to simulate contact by opposing players.

"The pads are fun to push the girls around," Peterson said. "Sometimes in practice you get a little busy."

Sinks might be on the other side of those pads if it wasn't for a medical condition.

"I love basketball, it's just hard for me to be involved because of my asthma," she said.

Herauf considers Peterson and Sinks as much a part of the team as the players. When the team gets goodie bags, so do they. Their names are included on the team's T-shirt.

They might not score or rebound, but they serve important roles, Herauf said.

"They're treated with respect like any of our players," she said. "Those kids do a great job."

Herauf knew both girls from having them as students at Slater Elementary in Burns, where the coach teaches physical education.

Peterson was the manager for the junior varsity, sophomore and freshman teams a year ago and earned the praise of the varsity head coach. This is Sinks' first year as a manager.

"Mandy did such a fantastic job for us last year, I offered her the job," Herauf said.

Peterson isn't sure she'll be able to be a manager next year because her school classes will get harder, but she's taking it all in stride and having fun while it lasts.

"I enjoy being on the bench," she said.

Jesse Sowa covers general assignments for the Gazette-Times. He can be reached at jesse.sowa@lee.net or 758-9521.