WELLMAN

A first varsity start is nerving enough.

Are the shoes on the right feet? Check. Shoelaces? Check. Uniform jersey? Right number? Check.

Nora Pennington, a Mid-Prairie alum, told me she was “terrified” before her first basketball game a few years ago.

Mid-Prairie volleyball star Dakota Mitchell teared up before her first start as a freshman.

Track athletes tell stories of their heartbeats racing up into the 130s just waiting for a race.

And that brings us to the night of December 6 at Mid-Prairie, when Brooks Weber, a sophomore who was a backup quarterback for the football team and the younger brother of the starting quarterback, got his first start after senior teammate Ace Peck injured his ankle the day before in practice.

“I’m always nervous before every game,” Brooks said.

Can you imagine?

Head coach Daren Lambert’s words were simple and to the point: Shoot the ball.

“I said, ‘Shoot the ball if you’re open. Don’t pass up an open shot. I’ll only yell at you if you pass up an open shot. I’ll never yell at you for missing the shot,’” Lambert said.

Brooks didn’t miss.

He hit his first five 3-pointers on the way to an unforgettable 30-point night. He scored 14 points in the game’s first four minutes. By the time the opening quarter was over, Weber had scored 17 points. The entire Camanche team had scored 16.

Time after time after time, a Golden Hawk player had the ball and figured out where Weber was. They passed the ball to him. He shot. And then he shouted and pumped his arms as the ball hit nothing but net.

Early in the game, he didn’t miss. All night, he made 8-of-10.

After one 3-pointer, he chest bumped his older brother, Brady, to celebrate in the backcourt while mom, Kylie, cheered from the stands. Unforgettable.

“These are some of the most fun games I’ve ever had in my life,” Brooks Weber said. “I’m just so grateful I can be able to share the court with these guys and play for Coach Lambert and this team.”

“I don’t think I’ll have to tell him to shoot the ball ever again,” Lambert said, laughing.

Combined with last Tuesday’s season-opening win against Benton Community, during which Brooks came off the bench and hit four 3-pointers, Weber scored 42 points in two games. He emerged from the season’s opening week as the leading scorer and 3-point shooter in the River Valley South with a crazy 70% shooting conversion.

“He played with emotion on Tuesday. The guys were excited for him,” Lambert said. “And he came right in here (Friday), and that gets the whole team going. Obviously, gets him going.”

Brooks played in just four games last year off the bench and he didn’t score a point. He took six shots. Six misses.

That all changed a week ago at Benton Community. Weber hit a 3-pointer and shouted as the ball dropped through the net. The next time in the offensive zone, he did it again, hitting a long-range shot from the corner.

Friday, the party really cranked up.

“I will definitely say my confidence has grown over these last two games,” he said.

But it’s not all about Brooks Weber and he recognizes that. It is something that makes his achievement even bigger. To get the ball in his hands, something has to happen.

“My teammates were really giving me great looks, shout-out to them,” Brooks said. “They were giving me great passes. Just a whole team effort.”

And that includes big brother.

“Brady’s always out there, giving me good passes,” Brooks said.

That’s the sign of a great quarterback.

And a great brother.

It’s both.

News columnist Paul Bowker can be reached at bowkerpaul1@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter: @bowkerpaul