There are certain things that don't translate into a box score.
Ask Niles McKinley High School junior Chris Parry and how his 5-foot-9 body is sacrificed on a nightly basis - diving on the floor and leaving his heart and soul on the War Memorial Gymnasium floor.
For those of us who remember seeing them play, he has shades of Ohio State great Chris Jent. Watch out bleachers. Parry might be diving for a ball and crash into those wooden seats.
His play is a mirror of the Niles Red Dragons that have went to 4-2.
"He was like that in football," Niles boys basketball coach Ron Price said after Tuesday's 79-76 overtime victory past Girard. "He's come a long way here in the last three weeks. He's a competitor right now. His hands are on everything and he's working on every shot. He plays a heckuva defense. He always plays defense.
"He has a real good chance to be a good floor leader."
Niles is starting to come into its own, even being unpredictable at times with its starting lineups.
When leading scorer Ray Russ didn't start, it was a bit of head scratcher, but it's all part of the Red Dragons' plan.
To start the game, Kyle Paden and Russ came off the bench.
"Coach just switches it up every game," Russ said. "It's alright coming off the bench. We got the win. That's all that matters."
"Anybody can start," Price said. "We have a whole bunch of different lineups.
"... You need everyone contributing when you're down 18."
Niles rallied to close the gap to three at halftime and went on to win.
Girard, meanwhile, isn't indicative of its 2-3 mark. The Indians have many weapons, including Craig Randall and Evan Standohar. Both guards find ways to slash to the basket and find the open 3.
Girard dominated the first quarter and a half with a barrage of 3s.
"We know the problems they give," Price said. "We started out with zone. That was my call starting out zone. Obviously that was a mistake on my part. They lit up our 3-2 zone. We switched to man and our kids fought back."
Despite that, Price thinks Girard's program is in good hands with first-year coach Craig Hannon.
"He's a good coach," Price said. "I like the things he does. He'll turn the program around."
Hannon has taken over a Girard program that has been stagnant for years.
The Indians have done well with what they have.
I'm sure Hannon will lead this program, like Price said, in the right direction.
It may take a couple of years to do so and get the program they way Hannon would like it to be, but give the Indians time. They will be relevant again.
As for Tuesday's game, there was much more than just a box score. It started with a scrappy player like Parry.