Loagen “Big Shot” Bremner has come a long way.
The Lake Stevens senior was cut from the boys basketball program three times before finally making the varsity team this season.
A need to work on his skills and a lack of competitive experience were the two biggest reasons Bremner had trouble making the squad. But that never stopped him from working on his game with the hopes of one day making the varsity team. This past summer Bremner never missed a team function. When the Vikings’ summer league team attended Gonzaga’s annual team camp, Bremner had not one, but two breakthrough moments.
Bremner found himself on the court twice at the end of games with the game on the line and both times he delivered game-winning shots for his team.
“It was just amazing,” Lake Stevens head coach Mark Hein said.
Bremner’s late-game heroics caused his teammates to label him “Big Shot” Bremner.
It was around that time where Hein said he became fairly certain Bremner would have a spot on the varsity team.
Bremner began playing basketball when he was in eighth grade with the Boys and Girls Club. He tried out for the school team the next season, but things didn’t go his way.
“It hurt a lot, but I knew it was just my second year of basketball, so I was just going to work hard to get better in the offseason,” Bremner said.
When he tried out as a sophomore, Bremner knew he had improved, but he wasn’t sure if it would be enough. The final day of tryouts he was one of the last players called in to learn his fate from the coaches.
Bremner was cut again.
“That one hurt a lot,” Bremner said. “I went home and stood in my room and didn’t talk to anyone and started crying. It was pretty intense.”
After the emotions subsided, Bremner realized he was running out of chances. He ramped up his efforts for tryouts as a junior.
“Tryouts came, which I was pumped for because I knew I was better and could possibly make the team,” Bremner said. “Whether it be JV or varsity, I just wanted to be on the team because I’ve never been on an organized basketball team before.”
The final day of tryouts, the coaches told Bremner there were still a few things he needed to work on and asked him to come back for a couple more days of practice.
In the end, there were players above Bremner who had more experience and the coaches had to let him go for a third time.
“That was it for me,” Bremner said. “I was just done. My emotions got the best of me and I was just so mad, at myself, not the coaches. I understood them, but I felt disappointed in myself because I worked so hard to get to where I was.”
A few days later that disappointment turned to elation.
One of the players the coaches had kept on JV quit, leaving an open spot. Hein talked with JV coach Wayde Knowles and they decided to offer the spot to Bremner.
Knowles texted Bremner the good news.
“It was probably the best feeling of my life,” Bremner said. “I got the text from coach and I didn’t even believe it. I was just like, ‘What? This isn’t possible.’ And then I just started screaming and stuff and I told my family and they were super-proud of me. It was a great feeling. I can’t even explain it.”
The coaches told Bremner he would have to earn every minute of playing time and he would likely start the season at the end of the bench. Just happy to be a part of the team, Bremner had no problem accepting his role, but he never stopped working. By the end of the season he was a major contributor to the team.
“A part of our job as coaches is to motivate them,” Hein said. “On the converse of that, a lot of these guys really motivate us. Loagen is one of those guys that motivates me to work harder at my job. To see what he’s gone through and what a great teammate he is and how much he gives to our program, it’s motivating to me.”
Still, Bremner wasn’t sure of his chances about making the varsity team as a senior.
“I think it was our last game when coach called me up in the stands and said ‘I think you have a chance of making varsity,’” Bremner said. “That made me so happy. That made me want to work and get a lot better.”
By the end of summer, Hein was all but sure he would have a spot for Bremner. After practice on the final day of tryouts the coaches let Bremner know his hard work had paid off.
“It was real emotional for me,” Hein said. “I almost teared up a little bit. Fully knowing his story and how much I respect him and how much the guys love him, it just made it pretty sweet.”
Bremner wasn’t just happy making the team. He has played in most games for the Vikings and has been on the court in several crucial situations.
For all the disappointment that came before, Bremner was finally able to enjoy the moment when the coaches told him he was on the team.
“I got out of the locker room from talking to the coaches and I just couldn’t even believe it,” Bremner said. “I was screaming in my head, but I didn’t want to scream out loud.
“It’s up there with the best days of my life,” Bremner added. “The moment was just amazing to me. All that hard work I put in and all of it paid off. My mom would always tell me never to give up and I just took that to heart. I knew if I worked hard enough that I could do it and I did it.”
Aaron Lommers covers prep sports for The Herald. Follow him on Twitter at @aaronlommers and contact him at alommers@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
