Tanner Overby taking advantage of his varsity opportunity with Lincoln boys basketball

Watching Tanner Overby play basketball for the Lincoln High School boys squad is a relaxing experience.

It’s easy to get entranced by the senior’s game with the calm and measured way he approaches scoring the basketball, which has led him to be the state’s leading scorer so far this season.

Overby simply sneaks his way into the paint or mid-range areas either by his own dribble or getting a pass from one of the Cardinals’ guards.

From there, the battle is already lost for the defense as Overby’s jumper or float game feels nearly automatic when the ball gets in the air. And before you know it, he’s got 20 points in the scorebook from those shots or by him battling for numerous offensive rebounds and putbacks.

Much like his play style, Overby’s demeanor when it came time to play varsity ball was relaxed.

There wasn’t any anxiety about playing JV as a junior last season, but rather a welcomed approach that Overby believed would pay off in the end.

“I didn’t really think of it like that,” Overby said when asked about having patience for his varsity moment. “I just kind of thought of it as I’m playing a sport I love and if I keep on the path I’m going, maybe I can do something with it.”

Overby’s done a little something with his opportunity, averaging over 30 points per game at 30.3 a night at the last OSAA update of stats on Jan. 18.

Meanwhile his Lincoln squad has risen to third in the PIL standings and is currently sitting at No. 14 in the OSAA rankings.

The senior has been a catalyst for that movement up the rankings all season through his play on and off the court.

“He's been really nice,” Lincoln head coach Heather Seely-Roberts said of Overby. “He's big, he's strong, he can score the ball. It’s been great and he’s been playing great.”

In a Feb. 9 showdown with Cleveland and third place in the PIL on the line, Overby rose to the occasion once again with 24 points and 7 rebounds.

Constantly the 6-foot-1 forward battled his way inside for easy layups, or battled through contact to either get to the line for two or finish off a three-point play.

Those plays didn’t come overnight. It took many dedicated offseasons to be ready for the moment between Overby and his dad Ty.

“I just really tried to grind over the summer, really hone in on my craft,” Overby said. “Really spent a lot of time getting better so I could be in this position right now. I give a lot of credit to my dad, he helped me a lot over the summer. He would always take me to shoot, pass me the ball for hours and hours.”

Most importantly, his dedication toward getting his chance to shine for the Cardinals is respected by the rest of his team.

“I mean, he’s been crazy,” Lincoln senior Evan Heisler said. “Going from JV last season to leading the state in scoring, that’s crazy and that’s rare.”

Overby isn’t the only senior who’s had a significant bump in playing time either as the Cardinals’ third-place squad from last season graduated nine seniors from the roster who all played important minutes.

At the guard spots, seniors Jackson Bisbee and Isaac Margolis have been crucial, especially in that matchup with Cleveland where Bisbee went for 19 points on five made 3-pointers.

Heisler, listed at 6-foot-10, gives the Cardinals the big body down low to match the midrange scoring from Overby and the deep ball threat from their guards.

All of that seems to be coming together at the right time for a Lincoln squad looking to get back to the Chiles Center in 2024.

“Some rough games in the beginning, a rough patch,” Heisler said. “I feel like after our Arizona trip, I feel like we came together and bonded a lot and we’re playing team basketball now.”

As for Overby, his stellar play has made sure that no matter how 2024 ends for the Cardinals, he won’t be done playing the sport he loves.

Overby has accepted a scholarship offer to go play at Willamette University next year.

With the next step taken care of, the next challenge for Overby and the Cardinals is to see just how far in state they can fly.

“I feel like we’re playing a lot better and it’s great we’re starting to peak right now,” Overby said. “Tribute to all the players and coach Roberts and coach Eddie (Littlefield). It’s been fun.”