Guards right for Rockets: A lot riding on Austin, Junis

The task for Jake Junis and Dylan Austin is easier said than done.

Rock Falls boys basketball coach Mike Winters is only asking his two experienced guards for one thing, game in and game out.

“It’s going to be huge for Dylan and Jake to consistently make the players around them better,” Winters said at practice earlier this week. “They both have the ability to do that, and we’re counting on them to live up to it.”

Junis begins his third year as a varsity starter. The 6-foot-4 junior made his name as a freshman who could hit a shot from pretty much anywhere inside half court. He expanded his game last season to include drives to the hoop against defenders playing him too tight on the perimeter.

“He brings a lot to the team,” Austin said of his backcourt mate. “His shooting ability and his physical strength are important, and he can pretty much do anything and everything on the court. He can drive, he can shoot 3s, he can score a lot of points and he can be a pest on defense. He’s really one of our two go-to guys out there.”

Junis won’t do it alone. Austin came to the forefront in his first varsity season, with his ability to play tough defense and kick out passes to open shooters after penetrating into the paint.

“His defense and his ability to drive to the hoop are huge,” Junis said of the 5-10 senior. “He brings intensity and focus, and he can also finish plays and make things happen.”

Rock Falls will play a four-guard, one-post set, making it important for the Rockets to handle the ball, drive the lane and find open shooters.

“We have to create for everybody, not just ourselves,” Junis said of himself and Austin. “Our offense is drive-and-kick or drive-and-dish, and it’s about opening up shots for everyone, not just working hard for your own points. We don’t really have a lot of set plays.”

If the Rocket guards do their jobs, 6-foot-5 senior center Matt Lauts will be free to make plays in the paint.