Pine’s High School’s Chance Woodward

Pine’s Chance Woodward is a senior on the Raiders’ basketball team.
Woodward is the team’s point guard.
Pine coach Drew Meyerchick has coached Woodward since his sophomore year.
“I remember having him as a sophomore as a backup point guard coming off the bench for me a little bit. I put a lot on him at times because being a sophomore, but he’s always taken it and rode with it, but this summer, you could really tell he was really looking forward to this season because he was working hard,” Meyerchick said. “He was really focusing on going at game speed during workouts, which is something I always try to emphasize, trying to be a leader and I talk to him constantly, telling him the point guard is technically the quarterback of the basketball team. You have to lead and not only lead verbally, but lead by example and you could really tell he took it and went with it and was trying to do his best with leading because, the prior seasons, he would have good beginnings and then would slowly taper out and kind of hit a plateau, so he really focused on trying to keep consistency this year.”
Meyerchick said Woodward’s midrange shot is one of the more consistent shots they have on the team and added that he has looked to Woodward to control the pace, tempo and stuff and said that Woodward has done well with that.
“We’ve had to work on limiting on turnovers here-and-there, but for the most part, I’ve got him in from beginning-to-end,” Meyerchick said. “I put a lot on him and he takes it and rolls with it. I tell people all of the time, I probably am the hardest on Chance because it is such a crucial position because if your point guard can’t make something happen, then the team doesn’t function, the team doesn’t flow. I always tell him, just in case, ‘I want you to know that I’m not hard on you because I don’t like you, I’m hard on you because of how important it is and you can take it.’ He’s one of them kids that no matter how something is said to him, he listens to what’s said rather than how it’s being said and he knows that most of the time, when I get mad at him, he understands because he talks to me about it, but he’s a great kid and he’s a real classy guy.”
Meyerchick said he has enjoyed the three years he has had with Woodward.

What do you enjoy most about playing your sport?
It’s fun. The competition. It’s all-around fun. I like it. I’ve always loved it. But it’s the competition.

What do you like best about being a student athlete?
I like the travel. Like meeting people, making new friends, being there with the team. I look at the team like my brothers because we’re always practicing. We do it together, traveling, meeting new people, making new friends and seeing different places.

Who has been the most influential person in your school sports career? Why?
Probably coach Drew (Meyerchick). He’s always pushed me to do the best I can. He always stays on me. Just pushes me to do the best as a player on and off the court.

Who is your favorite athlete? Why?
Los Angeles Lakers small forward LeBron James. He’s just one of the greats. He can do everything. He can rebound, shoot and he can run the offense. He can do it all.

Favorite team?
Duke Blue Devils.

Best thing about living in Washington Parish?
It’s rural. Just the community. I’ve always grown up here. The Washington Parish Free Fair. It’s just rural and I like it.