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Reggies rally around their little big man

Friday, January, 11 By Hector Longo
Staff writer

Greater Lawrence Tech plumbing instructor Ken Henrick knew what was coming and still showed up to school Wednesday morning.

The lesson for the day was about "humble pie." And the longtime teacher taught this one by example.

A day earlier, Henrick tried to delivered a lecture on realism to one of his pupils, point guard Hector Heredia. He tried to prepare Heredia for the worst as the Reggies headed to perennial powerhouse Lynn Tech.

"He told us that we were going to get beat by 15 or 25 points," joked Heredia after the Reggies KO'd the Tigers, 59-57.

"When I came in Wednesday, I didn't say anything to him. I just let the newspaper do my talking."

Beating Lynn Tech was the kind of victory the Reggies and Heredia can rally around. Coming into the season, few people might have expected Greater Lawrence to belong on the same floor with the Tigers, who went 18-4 last winter. Don't try telling that to the Reggies' little big man, Heredia.

"I'd say right now, the season has been pretty good," said Heredia, whose leadership and determination have sparked the rebuilt Reggies to a 4-5 start, 3-1 in the Commonwealth Conference. "Right now, we don't have one star. Everybody is the same, and we all work hard. I don't say much. I just try to lead by example."

So far, the formula has worked. Of course, in Heredia's eyes, it was the plan all along.

"I started working for this season as soon as last year ended," said Heredia, who played very little as a junior. "My goal, since then, has been to start every game and hopefully lead this team to a big season."

A pest defensively, Heredia bugged his friends and teammates throughout the summer.

"Just about every day, I woke up, took a shower and went to play ball," said the 5-foot-5 Heredia. "It didn't matter, I just worked on my game, at the Bruce School or over on the outside court at Andover High."

His best work came on the cellphone as daily he'd have to roust his teammates, who might have been more interested in a day at the beach or just a couple more hours of sleep. "Guys could be a little lazy, but I was always on the phone, trying to get them out playing," he added.

First-year coach Dan Habib knew little about Heredia but knew by the time the fall league had been completed that the spunky senior would run the point come December.

"He was a leader, and he's so consistent," said Habib. "He has limited ability, but he really gets the job done." Heredia's 3.9 points a game barely scratch the surface of his impact with the Reggies, who needed a reliable point guard to get the ball to high-scoring Donald Celestin and Kelvin Correa.

He also says the job isn't done.

"I want to be able to play in college," said Heredia, who recently has cranked up the effort in the classroom. "Maybe that means a year to play at Northern Essex, and then moving on. Maybe, something better will pop up."

As much of an impact as Henrick has had on Heredia, don't expect the Reggie to look toward a plumbing career anytime soon, though.

"Plumbing, I'm really not into it," said Heredia, a Commonwealth Conference all-star cross country runner in the fall, the first year he competed in the sport.

Still, he's grateful for all Henrick has done for him. "He's a good man, one of the best teachers I've ever had," added Heredia, who was one of the Coaches Award winner at the Greater Lawrence Christmas Tourney. "He's like my second father. He's taught me so many things, not just about school but in life."