Better grades, better ball for Washburn's Hale

What can typically take weeks or months happened almost immediately for Minneapolis Washburn's Dylan Hale.

Hale, a swift, athletic guard, transferred from St. Paul Central to Washburn last summer. Considering that he was entering his senior year and was joining a team that already had plenty of talent, such as center Ra'Shede Hageman and guard Cedric Martin, there would not be much time to blend in.

But the arrangement could not have worked out better for Hale and the Millers. Emerging as one of the team leaders, he is second on the Millers in scoring at 13.4 points per game and is the ignition switch that fires them up, either with his pressure defense or his slicing drives to the basket. He helped the Millers earn their first trip to the state tournament since 1994. Washburn, the No. 2 seed, begins play in the Class 3A field against Grand Rapids at 2 p.m. today at Williams Arena.

Even more important is that Hale's academics -- the reason he moved to Washburn -- have improved.

"Last year, my grades weren't so good," Hale said. "My mother thought I needed to go to a smaller school. So we moved to Minneapolis and live right behind my grandma. I like it a lot better. I'm able to focus better."

Hale, who had played AAU basketball in the nationally recognized Howard Pulley program with some of the Washburn players, was immediately accepted into the Millers' fold.

"I felt like I belonged there even before school started," Hale said. "We had a summer weightlifting program and most of the basketball team was together in that."

His value to the team was never more evident than in its 63-52 victory over Holy Angels in the Class 3A, Section 6 championship game. Trailing 28-16 late in the first half, Hale sparked a 16-2 run that gave Washburn control of the game. During that stretch, Hale scored 10 points, hitting two three-pointers and energizing the Washburn faithful with a soaring two-handed dunk off a steal.

"That's exactly what we look for from Dylan," coach Reggie Perkins said. "If we need a spark or someone to step up and lead this team, he does it."

Hale knows his work ethic is one of the things that makes him vital to the team's success.

"I just try to play hard and hope that other players see me and will play just as hard," Hale said. "I try to get them running off of my emotion."

And while he's not been at Washburn long, Hale -- who has a scholarship to play at Division I Texas State next season -- acknowledges that togetherness and team-first play is crucial if Washburn (23-6) is to make its mark at state.

"Besides AAU basketball, this is the best team I've ever played on," Hale said. "Our team chemistry has been great. We've been playing together for just this year, but it seems like we've been playing together forever."