Trevor Evans finally had the trophy in his hand, fulfilling a moment he had dreamed about for years. The Pioneers were district champions and the senior was going to be walking on air for the rest of the night.
His teammates made sure of it.
When Warren County was announced as District 6AAA champions Tuesday night at White County, it was Evans who was there to receive the trophy. And it was the senior captain who was lifted high in the air for all Pioneer fans to see, a seminal moment for the team’s heart and soul.
“It all happened so fast,” said Evans, who went from manager to player a month ago, coinciding with Warren County winning nine of its last 10 games. “I grabbed the trophy and gave it a kiss. Before I knew it, I was in the air.
“Then I was in bed and the game was over three hour ago, but it felt like five minutes. It was a blur.”
There was nobody else the Pioneers – or Warren County fans – were happier for in the moment than Evans. After serving as the team’s manager for years, coach Chris Sullens decided in the team’s darkest times it was time to suit up Evans.
He needed his most passionate player in uniform. It motivated the Pioneers – and the whole county – in the process.
“Trevor has been the glue that has held this group together, especially when it got tough midway through January,” said Sullens. “He kept preaching about how important it was to stay together – to keep working daily and not give up when times were difficult.
“I’ve never been around a young man like Trevor. He bleeds Pioneer basketball, he has sweat equity in this program.”
Despite the team’s turnaround occurring the moment Evans suited up, he is quick to deflect the praise. At all times, Evans has a “we over me” mantra.
“People think I’m such a big part of it, but the culture changed in practice. We started holding each other more accountable. All the leaders stepped up and took more responsibility. It worked out well,” said Evans.
Evans didn’t play a minute in the district tournament, but his mood never changed. He celebrated from the bench, watching intently as the Pioneers did all the little things – an extra pass, covering rotations defensively – Evans knows wins games. When CJ Taylor finally put the team over the hump with a buzzer beater, Evans was right in the middle of the celebration, even leading it.
It’s those moments Sullens knows will live on in Warren County lore, just like Evans.
“Trevor will always be a part of this program. When he leaves, he will have left a lasting mark that will be talked about for years to come,” said Sullens.
The memory that will be burned in the minds of fans forever will be Evans flying high in the air holding the championship plaque up in the air. This time, it wasn’t a dream.
