EDWARDSVILLE - Rowan Weller is a senior-to-be for a highly successful boys basketball team at Edwardsville High School, and is adapting to his role of carrying more of the scoring load for the Tigers as the summer season is coming to an end.
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Weller and the Tigers played very well in a 60-44 win over Romeoville of suburban Chicagoland in Edwardsville's first game of their Edwardsville Live showcase event June 26 at Lucco-Jackson Gym. Last season, Weller was the second-leading scorer on the team, averaging 11.2 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, adding 185 assists, 63 steals and two blocked shots in helping the Tigers to a 24-8 season and a berth in the IHSA Class 4A Sweet Sixteen, which ended with a loss to Peoria Richwoods 59-58 in the sectional final at Rock Island, a loss that broke Edwardsville hearts.
In a postgame interview after the win over the Spartans, Weller feels he and his team have played very well, and have very much enjoyed the summer season.
Weller is a Spencer Homes Male Athlete of the Month for the Tigers.
"It's been a lot of fun," Weller said. "I think we've got a lot of guys that like playing together, and the main part of the summer, really, is just putting a lot of effort towards the game. There's details, little minor details we can fix during the season, but right now, if we're playing hard, which we are, we'll do good."
The fact that Edwardsville is playing hard and well is a good indicator of how things will go during the regular season this coming winter.
"Yeah, it is nice," Weller said with a smile. "It skips a couple of steps, so we're ready and we can really dial in then during those months."
Weller also felt that things for the Tigers have gone very well for them during the summer season.
"I think they've been going well," Weller said. "I'm stepping into a bigger role, with having to do a little bit more scoring, and I think I've been operating well in that. There's some things I can clean up, but the team, I think we like to play together, and we play good team ball. And that's always good."
During the win over Romeoville, the Tigers, in fact, looked to be in classic midseason form already, with the team chemistry being spot on, and everyone playing together very well. It was an observation that amused Weller.
As far as college recruiting went over the weekend, Weller was optimistic about everything, and said he'd be honored to receive an offer.
"I'd be honored to get anything from a coach," Weller said. "Obviously, it's been in the back of my mind throughout games and stuff. But I'd be grateful for any talks from anybody."
For the remainder of the summer season, his goals and ambitions are very simple and attainable.
"For the summer season, I'd like to better my game a little bit," Weller said, "strengthen some of my weaknesses, and just win games as we go with that. And hopefully, get some looks from college coaches."
