Chuck O’Donnell, Staff Writer/Record Sports
Roseboro describes Becton’s turnaround as a “once-in-a-lifetime feeling.”
By week’s end, Becton was 6-2 and had already amassed two more wins than it had all of last season.
The Record Male Athlete of the Week was coming off two huge performances. In the win over Wallington on Jan. 3, he finished with 23 points, including a career-high three three-pointers. Two days later, he had career highs with 32 points and 26 rebounds in a win over Wood-Ridge.
“We paid our dues last year,” Roseboro said. “We weren’t as talented. We had a lot of people who cared. I guess we needed to experience last year to put us where we are this year. I appreciate it more than I can put into words.”
He says the school is rallying around the team’s newfound success, but his mom, Tawanda Bell, will always be his biggest fan.
Roseboro says she encourages him to be the best he can be in the game he loves. She’s always there with some postgame praise and a tip, but the biggest lessons come from just observing how she handles life’s ups and downs.
“One thing I’ve taken from her is how to deal with adversity,” Roseboro said. “She had my sister and me and a lot of people told her she couldn’t and she wouldn’t and things like that. I have to keep my head high when things aren’t going my way. I think that’s really relevant to this year’s basketball season.
“Over the past two years, it’s been an experience. It’s really shown me that faith is blind. Two years ago, I couldn’t have imagined doing the things we’re doing this year.”
