Orem basketball: David Runyan profile

In early April, I interviewed Orem (Utah) High School senior David Runyan, who was part of the school's first championship basketball team. Here is the article that will appear in the school's basketball yearbook, commemorating the season.

David Runyan:

The real MVP? His ability to change
made him a silent contributor to team

By Bruce Smith
Matchup

All along, David Runyan had big plans for his senior year at Orem High School.

An accomplished athlete, he had a rare leaping ability that he used wherever he could. He also had a strong interest in basketball and looked to contribute.

After Orem’s 7-15 season his junior year, all the talk was about how much better 2011-12 would be and he wondered what role he would play.

“It was kind of hard to believe what coach Holt was saying,” he admitted. “We had a losing record and we lost the play-in game. But we got a few (more) kids this year and we put it all together. By the time the season started, we knew we could do it.”

The success of the team during the summer tournaments was important, but so was two key additions. Zach Hunsaker moved from Woods Cross after a stellar sophomore season there, and Quinn Peters arrived within Orem’s boundaries from Lone Peak. Both players were guards – the same as Runyan – and talented.

“At first, it really bugged me,” Runyan said. “I had worked here for three years and was looking forward to being the starting point guard. But I got to know them and they became my best friends.

“All in all, when it came down to it, we are friends. We played together and it was a team effort. Everyone had their role.”

It also led to a championship season that every player will remember forever.

Runyan got into 19 games and, although he played sparingly, got onto the floor at the Maverik Center in three of the four state tournament contests. He scored nine points but, most importantly, he felt like part of what Orem accomplished.

“The real MVPs on our team were those seniors,” said Holt. “You think they were happy to see all those guys transfer in? They figured out their roles on the team.

“It was their attitudes that helped us accomplish what we did. We couldn’t have done without that.”

Looking back, it ended up a good year for everyone.

“I really liked the guys on the team,” he said. “In years past, we’ve had good guys but we never got together like we did this year. We were all focused on one goal and that was the state championship. Nobody was affected by how much playing time they got.”

There were plenty of highlights. The shining moment, of course, was Orem’s 58-50 victory over Olympus in the 4A state championship final. Runyan played just one minute, but relished every part of it.

“It was amazing,” he recalled. “It’s a feeling you’ll never forget. There was such a rush when that (final) buzzer went off. That was really special.

“I was on the court with the other seniors. That was really cool. Everybody ran out on the court, and it was such a rush.

“The closest thing I’ve ever come to winning this was winning a championship in Little League Baseball and this was a lot better.”

Runyan said, however, that the Tigers’ 57-51 win over Lone Peak at the Great Western Shootout might have felt even better.

“We were the underdogs,” he said. “Nobody thought we would win. It was good for us to go out there and beat the best school in the state. That was a changing point. It made us realize we were that good.”

Runyan felt his best game – personally – came Feb. 21 on “Senior Night,” when the Tigers beat Timpanogos 67-62. Holt started all the seniors in that game and it was there that Runyan recalled his favorite play.

“I got the ball and ran down and scored on a fastbreak,” he said. “I knew it would be my last game at home and it felt really good. Afterward, I got high fives from friends.”

With basketball season over and the memories beginning to fade, Runyan decided to try to create a few more on the Orem track team.

Runyan played football as a freshman and sophomore, but decided to focus on basketball. When he looks back at his decision, he had no regrets.

“I played JV basketball last year and we did really well,” he said, “but nothing compares to this year’s varsity basketball. I’m a smaller guy and I was just more passionate about basketball. It’s a great sport.”

Runyan said his best friends on the team were fellow seniors Cole Payne, Josh Pollard, Christian Clark and Jago De Piano and that he considered Mountain View to be Orem’s biggest rival. He appreciated his parents – Ray and Kim – coming to his games and his six brothers and sisters. Of all the things he will miss, he included coach Greg Sheide’s defensive workouts.

“Coach Sheide would hammer us and hammer us about our defense,” he said. “The thing about Sheide is he yells at you but we all know that he cares about us and is a nice guy and that’s what carried us at state.”