In recent seasons, Norwich has dominated the local boys' basketball scene, and rightly so with its sectional titles and state rankings. Norwich is again primed for another big playoff run, but it isn't the Purple Tornado that is sporting the county's best record.
That honor currently resides with Sherburne-Earlville, and senior Ben Khoury has proven the most consistent offensive performer for the Marauders.
Through this week, only one area boy has scored in double figures in every game he has played. Do we need to reveal that name?
Khoury is also the only player in the area – boy or girl – with 10 or more double figures scoring games. He has 11 so far, and the variety of ways in which he scores should allow him to remain a threat the rest of the way.
Because he does your typical yeoman's job on the floor, Khoury's scoring kind of creeps up while no one is really paying attention. Before you know it, Khoury has his typical 14 to 16 points, and the Marauders have another win.
Sherburne-Earlville may have had better overall talent on other clubs over the past 10 years, but the eight-game winning streak and 9-2 start is on par with those solid lineups, and Khoury's contributions through the first six weeks of the season has earned him our designation as Matthews Ford and Planet Preowned Athlete of the Week.
Khoury isn't just his team's leading scorer, he is also one of the Marauders' best defenders, and is second on the club in steals. It's that defense – and his teammates' – that has contributed to many of the senior's scoring opportunities.
"Ben is the type of kid that scores a lot in transition and going to the rim," said S-E coach Kevin Vibbard. "He's developed his upper body through offseason lifting where he can take the contact, and still finish the play."
Khoury is so adept at getting to the basket, he is attempting nearly seven foul shots per game, a pace that would put him at nearly 140 foul shot attempts this season – depending on how far the Marauders advance in the playoffs.
That S-E is in its current position – after a 1-2 start – may come as a bit of surprise to some. Khoury is one of only two starters returning from last year's Section III semifinalist, and the other returning starter, Cody Marango, has missed the last five games – all Marauders wins.
"Ben has had to step up, especially with the fact that we lost so many good players," Vibbard said. "He was one of our returning starters, and we felt he was more than capable of coming a prime time player for us."
Vibbard looks at Khoury as a prototypical blue collar player and a throwback to the good-ol' days. He isn't flashy, but he is effective. Khoury can score in any number of ways be it out of a set offense, off of his team’s defense, or simply with old-fashioned hustle. Khoury has proven slump-proof from a scoring standpoint, and it's that consistency that has put the Marauders in the driver's seat in Center State Conference division play with less than a month to play.
"He's going to get his, no doubt about it," Vibbard said. "He makes the most of his minutes on the floor."