Tablerock Sports’ Athlete of the Week Interview with Senior Point Guard of the Eagle Point Eagles, Mario Quintero.
To Mario Quintero, basketball is life, “Basketball means everything to me. It’s what helps me get my mind off stuff, when i’m bored I can always go hoop and have a good time and it’s how I met most of my closest friends.”
This three point shooting Senior guard wasn’t always the clutch, mature player he is today. Quintero’s basketball career began way back in grade school on, what is now known as, Olsrud court at Kids Unlimited of Medford, Oregon. And yes, even in grade school he was cashing trey balls. Back then Quintero didn’t know that this game he loved playing would turn into his passion. However, Quintero stuck with his love for the game and rode it all the way to an outstanding senior season for the Eagles.
Quintero claimed first team all-conference honors in his senior campaign with Eagle Point and averaged 19.2 PPG, 2.7 APG and 1.1 SPG. Which, are some of the reasons why he was selected to the Mail Tribune All-Star Classic two weeks ago. Quintero proceeded to score 21 points in the game, 10 of which came in overtime. Oh, and he also had the steal and game-tying layup to end regulation. When asked about the game and game-tying layup, Quintero was very humble, “It felt fun (to play in the MT All-Star Classic)…. I thought I was going to miss the layup and I’m just happy it went in.”
It is clear that Quintero’s comfort place is a basketball court, however basketball didn’t just pop into Mario’s life. Mario has an older brother named Jorge Quintero that played on that same Kids Unlimited court as Mario and actually is the reason he was even in the gym. Mario’s and Jorge’s relationship on and off the court is something special, “He is just always proud of me in whatever I do… He knows when to calms me down. Sometimes we end up arguing, but at the end of the day I know he’s trying to help me,” according to Mario.
Jorge and Mario aren’t the only Quintero’s spreading their wings at Eagle Point High School. Their mother Isabel Quintero works in the front office as a Admin. Isabel has been working for the high school for a couple years now and loves it. I guess it’s safe to say that it’s a family affair for the Quintero’s at Eagle Point High School.
Stay tuned for more Athlete of the Week interviews and articles to come!
