| 28 December 2009
Alex Helquist is Rocky Mountain’s poster boy for perseverance.
Sidelined more than two years because of severe knee ailments, Helquist wasn’t expected to provide many contributions to the Grizzlies this season. But the 6-foot-3 senior sharpshooter has been a pleasant surprise, and he had a breakout game on Dec. 22 against Columbia.
Helquist contributed a team-high 10 points, snagged seven rebounds and dished two assists as the Grizzlies roared to a 71-38 nonconference victory at Columbia.
Helquist, a three-sport standout in middle school and through his freshman year in high school, is still slowed by his bad knees, which required a form of micro-fracture surgery to replace dead tissue.
But Helquist has lost neither his superb shooting touch nor his excellent court vision, and he’s not shy about mixing it up underneath with the big boys. Against Columbia, he was 2-for-2 from the field and 6-for-7 from the free-throw line.
"He's a remarkable story, when you think about it," Rocky Mountain head coach Todd Morrison said. "He's had to work really hard but his perseverance and determination have paid big dividends for him.
"The thing that really stands out," Morrison added, "is his savvy and basketball IQ. Alex sees the game and analyzes it much the same way a coach does."
"And even though he's been sidelined for two years, he doesn't lack confidence in what he's doing out there." Helquist's near-flawless effort at the free-throw line against Columbia left him 16-for-17 on the season and left him atop the SIC at 94.1 percent.
Rocky Mountain wasted little time taking control against the winless Wildcats. The Grizzlies surged to a 24-9 lead after one period, widened the differential to 38-18 at halftime and held a 70-29 advantage in the fourth quarter.
Travis Van Diest, Josh Phillips and Stetson Pace pumped in nine points apiece for Rocky Mountain, which shot 55 percent from the field for the game.