Player of the Week : Mathis Is Difference for Santana

Every once in awhile, people make decisions they wish they could change.

Last October, Santana High School’s Billy Mathis made such a decision. He was having problems in one of his classes, so he dropped it. The decision cost him his eligibility on the Santana boys basketball team until Jan. 25, the start of this semester.

Mathis, a 6-foot 6-inch senior center, was forced to sit out the season’s first 17 games, and the Sultans lost six of their first 11 league games and fell out of contention in the Grossmont League.

He finally returned last week to lead Santana to a pair of victories and earn the Times’ Prep Player of the Week honors.

“I just wish I could have it all back,” Mathis said. “It was really frustrating just sitting there and watching us play. I wished I could get in there.”

Against Helix, in his first game at home, Mathis scored 14 points and helped the Sultans upset the Highlanders, 59-58. Friday he scored 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds in a 74-47 victory over El Cajon. He had 15 points and 17 rebounds in the Sultans’ 63-59 loss Tuesday to fourth-ranked Monte Vista.

“I think his returning to the lineup really meant a lot to the other kids emotionally,” Santana Coach Paul Casey said. “He’s a hard worker and I think it rubbed off on some of the other players.

“Without him, we had to play (Jim) Tatum down low. He’s only 6-2 and he to really battle to score in there,” Casey said of the county’s leading scorer. “Now, with Billy back, we’ve had kind of a double threat.”

Santana might not have as much recent success if it weren’t for Mathis’s dedication while sitting out.

“The greatest thing is that, even though he was out, he still came and played hard at practice,” Casey said. “When he returned to the lineup, it looked as if he’d been playing all along. He didn’t appear to miss a beat.”

Mathis said he just tried to do what came naturally.

“I knew I had to go in there and do what I know. I like to go down low and get position, then when I get it, just turnaround and put it up. I felt pretty good in there.”

But he wasn’t completely satisfied.

“I still thought I was a little shaky,” he said. “I was kind of getting a little carried away trying to get it all back at once. Coach Casey told me that I had to try to calm down a little bit.”

But 39 points in three games isn’t a bad performance.

“I have to admit I was a little surprised I did that well,” Mathis said. “My teammates appeared to be happy I was back and they all played very well.”

After this season, Mathis said he plans to continue his basketball career at Grossmont College.

“I’d like to get started there,” he said. “Then, I’ll just see what happens.”

Mathis hopes that will be one decision he doesn’t regret.