This year Paul has helped the Mustangs to a 19-7 record by putting up 286 points for the Mustangs. He averaged 11 ppg, 5.4 rpg and had 38 steals and sported a team-leading 57 percent field goal percentage.  Paul was not born with the considerable skills, composure and speed he now possesses on the court. In fact it’s surprising that he actually plays at all, after suffering from his beginning years as a young baller. The buzzer blew and the last day of JV basketball tryouts ended. The kids trying out remained in the gym while their coach called in each player individually to discuss whether or not they made the team. Paul “Eor” Mene, standing five feet tall, sauntered into the coach’s office predicting an upsetting outcome. “Paul your ball handling skills are good, but I don’t have room for you on the team this year,” said the coach sympathetically. Every young athlete’s worst nightmare had just smacked Paul in the face. He went home miserable, and swore to himself that he would never play basketball again.

Senior Paul Mene earned Honorable Mention All-Region recognition this season. Having been discouraged earlier in his basketball career, Paul worked hard to become a better player. He averaged 11.7 PPG and 6 rebounds this year to help his fellow Mustangs to a 19-6 record. (Photo by Kris McMahon)

After recovering from his upsetting cut from JV basketball, Paul decided to motivate himself to “give it another shot.” Over the summer he practiced his layups and jump shots on the Madison Park courts everyday. As the temperature dropped and winter came around Paul felt ready for the upcoming basketball tryouts.

About a month and a half before tryouts Paul suffered an unusual injury. While playing kickball, he kicked a ball as hard as he could and ended up breaking his pelvis. Fortunately, he recovered a little less than a week before basketball started. Even after not being able to play ball for over a month, Paul was still determined to make the team. During tryouts, he put tremendous effort into every task that he was told to do. But in the coach’s eyes he still came up just short in the end. Paul was cut yet again from the team he had tried so hard to make. Some athletes would have abandoned their hopes after two consecutive disappointing cuts.

At that point Paul had had enough; he was done with basketball, or at least he thought so. Paul was now in tenth grade, his height and size had increased, along with his skills. Despite his failed attempts to make the team before, his parents and coach Broderick still believed he had a chance on the court. This time was different for Paul; in tryouts he was doing very well. “Something felt different, it’s like I knew I was going to make the team, my confidence had increased and I felt bigger, stronger and faster,” said Paul. That year there was space on the team for Paul. He was one of the five starters for that season.  His commitment had helped bring the junior varsity Mustangs to the District Championship. 

After being a starter for JV, Paul easily made the varsity team in eleventh grade. At the beginning of the year Paul did not start, because another, more experienced player held the same position and had been on varsity since his tenth grade year. During mid-season the Mustangs had a disappointing record. Coach Broderick decided to change things up a bit by starting Paul, because he felt that he had been working very hard in practice and could bring a spark to the lineup. Finally, Paul’s work and determination had paid off. He started his first game and stayed a starter for the rest of the season. The boys’ basketball season ended the year with a disappointing 6-17 record, but the groundwork had been laid for Paul to excel the next year.

The 05-06 season proved to be quite a surprise for coach Broderick, the basketball team, and most of the school. This past season the Mustangs went to the regional tournament and ended their season 19-7. The success of the team was significantly due to Paul’s outstanding effort over the entire season. “He showed great perseverance, after being cut from the JV team twice. He has always been a hard worker and never gave up, that’s one big reason why he was Honorable Mention All Region,” said coach Broderick. (Junior Jack Settje was named Second Team, All-Region.) Had it not been for Paul’s determination to stay with the sport he has loved since a child, the basketball team may not have been nearly as successful this year.