By Ken Hansard
Andover Central point guard Ethan Balke is one of nine seniors on the roster for the Jaguars. Those seniors have had an impressive run for Central and will leave a legacy behind that will resonate with the community’s youth for years to come.
Balke, when asked what he is most looking forward to, alluded to those very things, “I’m excited to play with our other eight seniors. This is really special. Most of us have played every year, so it’s going to be cool playing with each other one last time at the highest level. I just want to have a great senior year with a great team. I want to take advantage of this opportunity.”
Like most accomplished players, Balke spent a good deal of his off-season refining his game and trying to shore up things that he identified as deficiencies – both physically and mentally, “I worked a lot on my communication on the floor. I also worked to strengthen my left hand.”
Part of Balke’s role for the Jags is as a sharpshooter. As the point guard, he also knows that he is expected to be his team’s floor general and that, since he is surrounded by a very talented cast, his job is to facilitate and get everyone else involved, “As much as anything, my job is to hustle and set the tone for everyone else. I just want the best for everyone.”
After high school, Balke, who also golfs for the Jaguars, would like to continue his career on the links at the collegiate level.
