Joshua Tinney watched from one of the best seats in the house when Waubonsie Valley won 27 of 30 games last season.
That was his problem. Tinney was forced to sit on the bench following surgery for a torn meniscus in his left knee that he suffered during football season.
“It was definitely tough not being able to help out the guys,” Tinney said. “Being at practice and not playing was not the most fun. But I cheered on their success, and I was definitely happy for them.”
Tinney is even happier this season, and his teammates are glad he’s back. The 6-foot senior point guard has earned a starting role and shined even as he plays in the shadow of senior guards Tyreek Coleman, an Illinois State commit, and Moses Wilson.
“I love playing with my guys,” Tinney said. “Tyreek and Moses, obviously, are extremely good athletes, and Kris (Mporokoso) and Cade (Valek) also. And with Donovan (Neal) coming off the bench, we’ve just got a great overall squad.”
That team is enhanced by the playmaking skills of Tinney, who is having a terrific season. He started at defensive back for Waubonsie Valley’s football team and is one of the unsung leaders of this team.
Tinney had eight points, four assists and two steals to help lift the host Warriors to a 59-43 DuPage Valley Conference victory over Naperville North in Aurora on Tuesday.
“He makes things happen,” Waubonsie Valley coach Andrew Schweitzer said. “Obviously, Tyreek is a superstar. But if there is no Tyreek on this team, Tinney is a very good high school point guard.”
Tinney even has a nickname among the Warriors (15-0, 3-0).
“We call him ‘GDT’ — ‘Game Day Tinney,’” Schweitzer said. “He shows up.”
Tinney did it again at key times against the Huskies (9-7, 1-3), who hung tough early as junior guard Miles Okyne scored six of his team-high 13 points in the first quarter.
Junior guard/forward Carson Loughlin had just hit a 3-pointer to pull Naperville North within 15-11 when Coleman found Tinney for a 3-pointer. Junior guard Max Steele answered with a basket, only to have Coleman feed Tinney for another three. The Warriors didn’t look back.
Coleman, who made three 3-pointers and finished with 13 points and three assists, has known Tinney since they were freshmen. It’s not uncommon to see them take turns assisting each other’s baskets.
“He was definitely missed last year as far as handling the ball, having an extra distributor out there and a slasher that can get downhill and create his own shots,” Coleman said. “This year he’s been great as far as doing that, getting everybody involved.
“His assist-to-turnover ratio is super high, probably the highest on the team. We’ve been creating looks for each other, both of us playing off each other just with the chemistry we’ve had in the past.”
That chemistry goes back to what Coleman calls “day uno,” when Tinney joined Coleman in AAU on the Illinois Attack the summer after their freshman year. Tinney then played on the varsity team as a sophomore. Their connection didn’t falter even after Tinney’s absence last season.
“He’s come back into a big role, and he’s taken it on well,” Coleman noted.
Tinney’s left knee was fully healed by the beginning of last summer, but the injury also took a mental toll.
“At first, it is hard,” he said. “Like during the summer, I didn’t really have much confidence in my knee. I felt like it could give out at any minute, but it never did. My surgeon did a great job.”
So Tinney is focused on helping the Warriors put together another great season.
“There’s no limits as to how far we can go,” he said. “That’s been our motto all year — no limits.”
That extends to Tinney’s athletic future. He expects to play a sport in college, but which one remains undecided.
Tinney has football offers from NCAA Division III national champion North Central College, Aurora University and Dubuque, but he’s also considering basketball.
“I really don’t know what’s my best sport,” he said. “Whatever season I’m in, that’s my favorite sport, and I feel like they’re pretty even.”
Schweitzer can foresee Tinney playing college basketball.
“I definitely think he could play at a DIII school somewhere,” Schweitzer said. “Athletically, mentally, he’s a gamer. He’s a junkyard dog.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
