Life has a way of putting the small things in perspective -- particularly basketball.
Brandon Johnson has learned that over the years.
The 6-foot-5 Siloam Springs senior forward has realized that being able to play basketball isn't a given for anyone, and he's been grateful for every moment he's been able to play.
"It's a true privilege to play basketball," he said.
Most casual Panthers basketball fans probably don't know that Johnson has struggled with a medical condition that affects his ability to breathe.
It's certainly not something he's broadcast. In fact for many years he's tried to hide the fact that he was born with severe asthma and would be embarrassed about having to use an inhaler in front of teammates or coaches.
"It's something I always did a good job of hiding," he said.
Johnson's condition doesn't affect his upper airways, which he says function normally. It's his lower airways where he is limited and sometimes only breathes at about 50 percent compared to others.
He doesn't have allergies and he doesn't struggle with heat, but when he exercises he begins to feel the strain.
"At the beginning of the off-season, that's when it's most tough getting in a rhythm with it," Johnson said. "If I play long periods -- and I remember I think it was in Inola (Okla.) we played back-to-back-to-back -- usually by the last game of a tournament I can start to feel it come on."
Johnson said that the specialist he sees has told him before that perhaps he should take it easy or ask for breaks more often.
"When I'm in the game I don't feel it, but when I'm out I can really feel it," Johnson said. "I think it's the adrenaline and just the excitement of the game."
Johnson's coaches have been aware of the issue over the years and have kept a close eye on him through practices and games.
"For a long time he didn't tell anybody, but we noticed it in practice," said Siloam Springs coach Tim Stewart. "We could tell with his color and his face. Obviously we've talked to (his parents) Stacie and Troy and it's been a team effort to manage that issue over the years."
Johnson said he's become more accepting of his condition during his senior year and has taken a different view of it.
"God makes everybody differently," Johnson said. "I've been given different talents that everybody doesn't have. (Teammate) Roman (Lambert) is 5-8 and I'm 6-5. He may breathe better than me, but I'm a little taller than him. ... It's a barrier, but barriers are meant to be broken."
Johnson has played an important role for Siloam Springs this season -- on and off the court.
On the court, he's second on the team in scoring at 8.0 points per game. He's shooting 42 percent (70 of 164) from the field, 27 percent from behind the 3-point line (15 of 54) and 78 percent (43 of 55) from the free-throw line. He's also second on the team in rebounding at 4.2 boards per game.
"Brandon is the kid that knows every position, and whatever offense we're in and whatever set we're running, he is able to be the coach on the floor at times," Stewart said. "Obviously he's a kid that can play inside and out. He's multi-skilled. His attitude has never changed. He wants to do the best he can do for his team, bottom line."
Johnson and the Panthers (11-15) earned the third seed from the 7A/6A-Central Conference and will play Little Rock Hall in the opening round of the Class 6A State Tournament on Thursday at the Panther Activity Center.
The Panthers have lost eight straight games, but Johnson believes the Panthers can turn things around on their home floor.
"It's going to be fun," he said. "We shoot a lot better in this gym. I think basketball's a game of streaks. If we can turn it on that'd be great. Now would be the perfect time to peak."
Off the court, Johnson takes pride in being a team leader.
"It's something I like to do," he said. "It's something I thrive on because I just like leading people. I like playing with guys I love."
Johnson said that after high school he's looking into possibly enrolling in the business school at the University of Arkansas, but he's also intrigued by the mission field.
The past three years, he's been on mission trips, once to Honduras during his ninth-grade year and twice to Haiti after his sophomore and junior seasons.
On his last trip to Haiti, he got to teach basketball.
"Last year they put some cement down and a basketball court," he said. "I was able to teach them what I do best over here and take it over there. They have no knowledge of basketball. I got over there, I had to start from the beginning, start with the rules. That was cool."
Johnson said that trip gave him a whole new outlook on things.
"It's not a given," Johnson said of basketball. "I talk about that with (teammate) Austin Hornbuckle all the time. He's really good at keeping me encouraged, especially when times are hard and we're losing and practices get hard. I mean I get to play in this gym every day. This gym is amazing. ... It puts things in perspective."
Sports on 03/04/2015