Senior forward Bryce Salek operates at a different gear now for Yorkville.
After providing a spark off the bench last season as the sixth man, Salek has developed into a starter for the Foxes — and is very eager to show off the different facets of his game.
“I definitely like starting better and not worrying about being the energy player,” Salek said. “I have a different perspective, getting those first couple of baskets of each game.
“That gets me started, and I also have a bigger defensive role. I like to know, if my offense is not hitting, my defense is always going to be there.”
Salek was right there Tuesday night for host Yorkville, scoring 13 points and keying a definitive late run with his intangibles and hustle in a 69-61 nonconference victory over Metea Valley.
Senior forwards Jason Jakstys and Jory Boley each tallied 15 points for the Foxes (17-10). Senior guard Kaevian Johnson had 13 points. Senior guard Dayvion Johnson, his cousin, added nine.
Senior forward Will Ashford scored 29 points for Metea (17-10). Junior forward Jake Nosek finished with 17 points, making five 3-pointers in the process.
Salek revealed multiple facets as Yorkville won for the eighth time in the last 10 games. He made a 3-pointer in the first half, showing an ability to take the ball off the dribble in getting to the basket.
In the final minute, despite playing with four fouls, Salek executed a diving control of a loose ball to ignite a fast-break basket. He punctuated the Foxes’ 12-2 game-closing burst with a dunk.
“A lot of people like to talk about how I play,” Salek said. “I’m always hustling. I always do the dirty work for the team. I never take any plays off, and that’s the kind of image that I represent.”
At 6-foot-5, Salek has the size and length to play multiple positions in the frontcourt. He has the speed and quickness to play on the wing and the size to play closer to the basket.
Although the 6-10 Jakstys, an Illinois recruit, generates a bunch of attention, Salek enjoys the freedom and flexibility to influence different components of the game.
“It’s definitely good to have the size there,” Salek said. “Jason has the size we need, and once they double-team him, there is more pressure off of me because he’s big and their defensive focus opens up gaps on either side of the floor.”
Salek is in his second season with the Foxes after playing his first two years at Yorkville Christian.
He wasn’t on varsity as the Mustangs won the Class 1A state championship his sophomore season. Boley and the Johnson cousins also made the crosstown transfer, easing his transition.
“Bryce is the motor of our team,” Boley said. “He’s the one who gets us started with his energy. He is very athletic. Every time he gets into the open floor and gets a dunk, everybody just gets hyped.
“We’ve all been playing together for so long, we just have that connection out there.”
Kaevian Johnson said Salek’s athleticism is a game-changer.
“We’ve been playing together since my freshman year,” Johnson said. “He’s very explosive. We facilitate to him, and he rebounds the ball and gets it up the floor.
“He does the intangibles, and he plays really big with his size.”
With an expanded role and increased minutes, Salek feels good enough to use a natural flair and exuberance that comes out with his high-flying forays to the basket or play in the open court.
“I definitely like to play with a little bit of swagger, with just my movements and stuff,” he said. “I have that natural confidence, and I love to hear the crowd after hitting a big 3-ball or dunking.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
