Rollins comes through as Lincoln routs Edison
THE WORDS on the front of the T-shirts gave nothing away, but the color scheme provided a pretty strong hint.
THE WORDS on the front of the T-shirts gave nothing away, but the color scheme provided a pretty strong hint.
Black and gold means Abraham Lincoln High and not exactly exhaustive research revealed that "Team Boy-Boy" is the name of the group that routinely shows up to root for Ronald Rollins.
Yes, that's his real first name. Not that many seem to know that.
"Everybody calls me Boy-Boy," Rollins said Thursday. "My mom gave me that at birth. I was the second boy and I just became Boy-Boy.
"When I start my classes every year, the teachers always call out Ronald Rollins. And then I tell them I go by Boy-Boy and that's the end of Ronald."
After all, the center-center does stand 6-7 and weigh 220 pounds.
In a Public A game Thursday, Rollins did the bump-and-grind for 10 points and 15 rebounds as the Railsplitters muffled visiting Thomas Edison, 58-38. Seated in the front row, toward the west end of the gym, were mom Crissy, sister Chenelle and nephew Jalen White.
All three were wearing the T-shirts. Team Boy-Boy on the front. No. 4 on the back.
For this game, Dad Ronald was not on hand due to work obligations. (He and Boy-Boy also have shirts. Mom purchased them at the nearby Lloyd Sixsmith Sporting Goods.)
"He makes it when he can," Rollins said. "It means a lot to have that family support, to know that everyone is behind me.
"When my dad is here, he's really vocal and" - he laughed - "he can be a distraction. I have to know to keep my head. If I get fouled hard, sometimes my mom will start yelling" - laugh No. 2 - "like she thinks something personal is going on."
This day, the attention-grabber Boy-Boyer was Chenelle, 10.
Late in the game, with the outcome long decided, Rollins was summoned to the bench so a backup could enjoy some playing time.
Chenelle blurted out, "What are you doing, taking No. 4 out the game?!"
Nearby were a bunch of student rooters. They all cracked up. As did Boy-Boy while heading off the floor.
Rollins is hardly a finished product. His footwork needs improvement and some strength could be added, but his instincts are good and there's lots of potential.
Next year, he hopes to find himself at a prep school, drawing Division I interest.
"I need to get better in my low-post game, and with my speed," Rollins said. "I also want to do better with my dribbling and get better with my free throws. I think I was 2-for-7 today [2-for-6]. Can't have that. I could have played much better.
"It's real frustrating to not be where I want to be yet. I didn't even score last game. I went from having 15 to 10 to 17 to nothing. Zero. My dad was saying I looked too serious. I'm a goofy guy, so I'm thinking I do better on the court when I keep things light."
Michael Bowlers, a promising junior power forward, led Lincoln with 13 points while adding 12 rebounds. Rickey Savage hit two treys en route to 10. Savage (four) and Devin Jones (three) were the Railsplitters' steal leaders.
For the vastly undersized Owls, Alan Johnson (two treys) scored 14 points and Mike Fuller managed 11. Anthony Montgomery (nine), Kenny Stansbury and Fuller (seven apiece) led in boards.
Rollins notched seven of his points in a 16-7 third quarter, enabling Lincoln to pull away from a 20-18 halftime score.
Rollins lives within footsteps of Samuel Fels, in Summerdale, but his middle school was Austin Meehan and he was funneled from there to the adjacent Lincoln. Down the line, he pictures being a chef . . . Wait, he already is.
When asked what he does best, he quipped, "Probably toast."
"Nah, I'm good with all breakfast stuff," he amended. "I make a pretty good bacon and eggs. I make grits and home fries, too."
When the bacon-and-eggs comment was relayed to Mom, she laughed.
"He only makes that on Saturday," she said.
