BLUE CREW: HARDWOOD'S HARD WORKERS READY TO PUNCH IN FOR DISTRICTS

The United States would not be a world power without the blue-collar guys; the guys who make the steel, fix the cars, deliver the gravel and build the homes.

The same can be said for a basketball team.

Most good teams have a laborer, a guy who gives up glamour for grit; a guy who doesn't score much, but gives everything he has.

"I really think a team is more fun to coach with blue-collar workers," said Advance coach Jim Hall. "It's fun to coach when you've got a bunch of kids who don't have a lot of talent but realize what they can contribute to the team, whether it be rebounding or defense. They place the team above themselves and they take pride in doing the things they do best to aid the outcome of the team."

Said Scott City coach Derek McCord, "It's a lot of fun to coach these type of players. Guys like that solidify a team. You need to have one or two of those guys every year. You need the guys that do the dirty work."

This is not to say that some of the high-scoring, sharply skilled players don't work hard. But so often the low-post, body-shoving, rebound-grabbing, pick-setting guys are overlooked.

"What matters is the team winning," said Notre Dame's Cory Beussink. "It doesn't matter who gets the credit."

Though there are likely dozens of such athletes in the region, here is a look at four of the area's blue-collar basketball players -- Advance's Jon French, Beussink, Scott City's Ricky Keller and Bell City's Luke Phillips -- who could play a factor in the Class 1A and Class 2A, District 2 Tournaments which will begin today:

Cory BeussinkN. Dame (2A, No. 2 seed)

Beussink, a 6-foot-3 forward, is only a sophomore and takes a back seat in scoring to teammates Jonathan Ressel and Mark Rubel, both seniors.

He'll likely have his turn in the spotlight the next two years.

More than anything, Beussink is consistent. He averages nine points and a team-high eight rebounds per contest. After struggling from the free-throw line early in the year, Beussink is now shooting 68 percent from the stripe, third-best on the team.

"He plays hard every time he's on the floor," said Notre Dame coach Darrin Scott. "He's rebounded well for us all year. He's a gutsy player, hard-nosed and at times has scored well for us.

"He accepts his role and doesn't always look to score. He looks for his teammates. He could score more for us if we didn't have some seniors scoring."

Ricky KellerS. City (2A, No. 3 seed)

If there was an award for best blue-collar player in the clutch, Keller would win it.

Keller, who averages 9 points and four rebounds per game, seems to make the big plays in big games, whether it be a steal in the waning seconds of a state sectional game or a 3-pointer at the buzzer of the conference tournament championship. The 5-10 forward does whatever his team needs him to do.

At times, Keller has posted up, played at the two-guard position and has even become the team's second point guard.

But it's defense where Keller makes the most impact.

"I enjoy my role," Keller said. "I'd rather get credit for my defense than my offense."

"He's a tremendous defensive player," said McCord. "He will draw the charge, dive on the floor for a loose ball and he's the best screen setter we have. He'll do all the little things that don't show up on the box score."

Keller's blue-collar approach isn't something he brings just on game nights.

"He's always in the gym," McCord said, adding Keller shoots 74 percent from the foul line. "Every morning when I get there, he and D.J. Walton are in there. Nobody's in there more than those two. And it's been that way for four years with Ricky. That's the type of leadership he gives us."

Jon FrenchAdvance (1A, No. 1 seed)

French, a 6-2 forward, averages six points and six rebounds per game and is the most blue-collar player on perhaps the area's most blue-collar team.

Advance, winner of the University High Christmas Tournament, has no true scoring star after losing all-stater Garrett Broshuis to graduation last year.

Instead, each of the Hornets play a specific role.

French's role is to rebound and guard the opposition's biggest player.

Who could forget French's above-the-rim rebounds in Advance's U-High championship run?

They weren't just rebounds, they were timely, clutch rebounds. When a team is trailing Advance late in the game, missed shots are French territory.

"His big contribution to the team is rebounding and timely points," said Hall.

With French's leaping ability -- he can dunk a basketball he could probably score more points, if asked to do so.

But French knows his role and he has helped his team to an 18-7 record.

"(The lack of attention) doesn't bother me," said French. "The paper may not always say what you did, but the people close to you, your teammates, tell you did a good job and that's good enough for me."

Luke PhillipsBell City (1A, No. 4 seed)

Phillips plays on a team where a premium is placed on 3-point bombs.

Phillips, not a shooter, is asked to clean up the mess, so to speak. Two of Bell City's shooters, Jason Rampley and Brian Phillips, shoot more than 40 percent.

But, obviously, that means that 60 percent of the time, there will be a miss.

"Luke is the consummate trash man," said Bell City coach David Heeb.

Phillips does a little bit of everything. He averages seven points, six rebounds, two assists and three steals per game.

He's a large part of why Bell City is having its best season in many years and is a legitimate contender for the Class 1A, District 2 championship.

"He'll score six points but go 3-for-4 from the field," said Heeb. "He's like a silent assassin and he's the glue that holds everybody together."