The competition has been heating up in the Skyway, and the Panthers are glad to have Manny Rodriguez in their backcourt.

The star point guard entered the week averaging 14.9 points a game on 40.1% shooting from 3-point territory. The ability to compete and play for one another has been a theme for Rodriguez and the Panthers all season.

"What brought on our successes as a team was when we played together and for each other. We have a lot of talent on the team, but that only goes so far. We must play with a sense of urgency as our season winds down. Every game matters, every half matters, and every possession matters. We can do great things so long as we play tough and for each other," said Rodriguez.

Battling adversity occurs in every basketball season. Injuries are a part of the battles that all players and teams must overcome. Rodriguez suffered a broken nose during practice about a month ago and has had to battle to play with a mask that can restrict court vision and the comforts that other players can afford.

"The mask is pretty tough to wear. It is pretty uncomfortable, and it has affected the way that I shoot the ball. Normally, I shoot with the ball close to my forehead, and with the mask, I cannot bring the ball as close. Otherwise, I risk hitting it, and it throws off the rhythm of my shot. It took some getting used to and getting the hang of it day by day. My nose has been very fragile these past few weeks since I got hurt. There have been a couple of times where it has gotten hit with the mask on. It may have moved my nose again. Originally it was supposed to be six weeks with it on, but with the re-injuries, I must wear it the rest of the season," said Rodriguez.

Head coach Jon Rush loves his skills but focuses on leadership ability and work ethic.

"Manny is a fearless competitor loaded with intangibles and has been everything a coach is looking for in a scholarship athlete, from his academics to his work ethic and desire to get better as a player. He's a foxhole guy that we can count on every night," said Rush.

The competitiveness has pushed Rodriguez to reach stardom on the Panthers. There is so much more to achieve, and it all goes back to the love of the game.

"I've been playing ball since I could remember. I picked it up because of my father. He played all his life and was also known as a shooter. I credit a lot of what I know to him. I've always just loved to hoop, so playing every day and getting shots in is a part of my daily routine at this point," said Rodriguez.

Rodriguez played last season for the Panthers but has become one of the better guards in the Skyway. Injuries derailed some of last season, but the ability to bounce back and improve has caught the attention of his head coach.

"Manny was good for us last year but played through an injury. Not many know, but he battled torn ligaments in the two interior fingers on his shooting hand. That's a tough injury to deal with, especially with his shooting/ball-handling abilities. The difference in Manny this year is his confidence, and I believe starting the year off healthy played a big part in his success. Since day one, we have stressed that he is a big part of what we do and how important he is to our group. He has been able to get back to playing freely and impacting the game on both ends. He has battled through his nose injury the last six weeks, and there has not been much of a drop-off," said Rush.  

Playing for first-year head coach Jon Rush has been a pleasure for Rodriguez. The ability to gain confidence and to communicate with others has been one of the many positives the guard loves about his head coach.

"Playing for coach Rush this season has been a pleasure. He's one of the best coaches I've ever had. He knows how great we can be as a team and pushes us to be great. I appreciate him because not only is he a great coach, but he's a great person and someone I can go to for advice or for anything that I need. He is a great role model for us as players, and I expect great things from the Panthers moving forward with Rush as the head coach," said Rodriguez. 

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