Poplar Bluff’s Hickman-Roberson enjoys the ‘dirty work’

Poplar Bluff senior Mar’Lon Hick-man-Roberson is just one part of a big senior class for the Mules this season and while Hickman-Roberson’s name won’t always be at the top of the stat sheet, his fingerprints are all over the game.

Coming off of a recent all-tournament team appearance at the Rolla “Duke” Herbert Classic, Hickman-Roberson and the Mules took down Jackson in overtime to start the SEMO Conference Tournament. A game Hickman-Roberson knew was going to be tough.

“It’s always one of those games where you’ve got to grind it out and we came away with the W,” he said.

Poplar Bluff head coach Will Durden said he’s seen a lot from his senior defensive specialist.

“Mar’Lon has grown up a lot,” Durden said. “He came into high school and he was always the biggest and strongest guy but he got to high school and everybody grew. It took him a bit to adjust. I told him, you’re going to have to be physical and you’re go-ing to lock up on defense.

“He took pride in that and he always seeks out the best matchup every game. That’s something that’s much appreciated with us and it’s going to help us in the future.”

Hickman-Roberson said coming into the season, he knew what the Mules had in their arsenal and he also knew what his role on the squad is.

“I try to do what the team needs,” he said. “Grab boards, dirty work, sometimes score. I trust try to listen to my coaches and trust my teammates and they trust in me.”

Guarding a team’s best offensive play is a dirty job but someone has to do it. For the Mules, many nights that falls on Hickman-Roberson.

It’s an opportunity he relishes but when it comes to his gameplan, it’s simple.

“I just try to stop the dude from scoring,” he said. “Listen to coaches

and my teammates, if I get beat, they’ve got my back. I just play with as much energy as I can and be the energy guy.”

Hickman-Roberson and the Mules have high hopes this season but for him, it’s about the work he’s put in to get to this point.

“Be better than I was the past few years,” he said was his goal this season. “Offseason work, staying in the gym, staying consistent. I feel like it’s starting to pay off for me.”