How Finley Ball became West Genesee’s leading scorer in sophomore season
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Before every West Genesee home game, Finley Ball stands at center court on top of the ingrained wildcat logo, taking in familiar sights and sounds of the gym. Sneakers squeak on the hardwood. Young fans crowd behind benches, cheering while players warm up.
Not even a decade ago, Ball was one of those kids, watching varsity players and aspiring to play at that level. Now, he’s the player they come to watch.
“Being nice to the next generation is the most a person can do,” he said.
Ball emerged as West Genesee’s sixth man as a sophomore last year after starting on its junior varsity team as a freshman. He averaged a team-high 15.8 points and 2.5 steals per game. Entering his junior season, the guard’s preparing to become a starter.
“I’ve never been in a position like this before,” Ball said. “I’ll have to get in the groove building with a new team. It’s such a young team that I have to be a leader.”
It’s a position he’s ready for. During his freshman year on JV, Ball practiced with varsity in his free time, working toward a spot on the team. He recalls losing a practice competition and having to run up and down the court 25 times, similar to the Miami Heat drill.
He spent his freshman summer waking up at 6 a.m. for shooting practice before working at West Genesee’s youth basketball camps. Those drills and shots developed his understanding of the game and led to his varsity call-up.
But making varsity was only the beginning. As a sophomore, Ball adjusted to faster-paced, more intense competition and his new bench role.
He viewed his role as a way to motivate teammates. By coming off the bench, he said he pushed starters to “wake up” and play their best. He was a key contributor, finishing his sophomore season with 347 points and 104 rebounds, which placed first and tied for second, respectively, on the Wildcats.
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Eric Cizenski — West Genesee’s head coach — has watched Ball develop since coaching him in middle school and on JV. As Ball progressed from one of JV’s top players to a varsity contributor, Cizenski saw the work Ball put in.
“The time he has put in is something I can’t say enough about,” Cizenski said. “He wants to win every drill at practice; he’s ultra-competitive. It’s something you can’t teach.”
Although Ball prioritizes winning on the court, he also wants friendships off it.
“I’ll talk trash on the court,” Ball said. “But once the final whistle blows, then I see my opponents as friends again.”
Ball doesn’t just fraternize with opponents. Scott Ball, Finley’s father, watched his son become a familiar face to the younger West Genesee community.
After his sophomore season, Ball spent his summer like the one before: working on his game while helping young campers with theirs at basketball camp. Cizenski has sent his son to West Genesee’s youth basketball camp and believes Ball contributed a new level of fun and energy to the campers that made them feel like better players.
“The connections he has made with kids are wins in the game of life for him outside of basketball,” Cizenski said.
Because of these interactions, Cizenski values Ball’s community presence. Cizenski remembers a regular-season game when Ball was fouled on a made 3-pointer and began celebrating with Cizenski’s son and nephew. It all stems from family. Scott said he hopes basketball builds lifelong relationships for his son.
One specific piece of Scott’s advice has stuck with Ball to this day.
“When those kids want to high-five, you can’t forget about those kids,” Scott told him. “Because that was you. That was the whole community.”
