The transition from the gridiron to the hardwood is never easy. Different muscle memories as well as conditioning and learning new plays can wreak havoc on the most talented of athletes trying to make the switch.

So is it any coincidence that Ty Hannay is starting to warm up for the Bingham Miners, six weeks after leading their football team to a state championship as their starting quarterback?

The timing seems right. The 6-foot-4, 180-pound senior has had ample time to adjust from football's constant start and stop, to basketball's nonstop, up-and-down pace.

"Hands down, it's the toughest part. In football you have so much time between snaps," Hannay said. "In basketball we're going hard on offense and defense, and it's definitely a faster tempo."

And after a slow start to the season offensively, Hannay has found his shooting touch. In his first four games, Hannay averaged just six points per contest.

"I couldn't find my shot the first couple of weeks," Hannay said. "Anyone who thinks that transition is easy is crazy."

But during the Miners' past six games, Hannay looks to have finally found his stroke. He is averaging nine points a game, and has knocked down seven three-point field goals in that span, another sign his shot is improving. Hitting the three will be a big weapon, especially against teams who opt to double-team All-State center Ben Clifford.

With teams reluctant to leave shooting guard Nate Girsberger open due to his 23 made three-point field goals, look for Hannay to be the man teams leave open to help double the Utah State bound Clifford. If he can come through, then watch for Bingham to win big.

In football, a player is asked to concentrate exclusively on one side of the ball. At a position like quarterback, the QB can do very little running or hitting as coaches cannot afford the risk of injury.

Basketball-wise, Hannay has the duty of scoring as well as defending, often drawing the taller wing players on opposing teams and defense is serious business on coach Mark Dubach's team.

"Scoring the ball is great, but shutting down your opponent on offense is an elite team trait," Dubach said.

As such, the quarterback who got all the glory and accolades is now becoming a defensive stopper, about as far away from the limelight as it gets in basketball.

"It seems like I'm always doing an interview after a football game," Hannay said with a chuckle. "For me, it's easier because I don't have to talk as much."

Against Alta, without much fanfare, Hannay helped hold the Hawks' leading scorer Kyle Davis to 10 points.

The 6-foot-7 Davis is averaging almost 20 points a game this year, and with Hannay's help, the Miners held him to his second lowest output of the season, a major reason why Bingham defeated their archrival 69-56 on Jan. 2.

With big region games against Copper Hills, West Jordan and Taylorsville rapidly approaching on the schedule, the Miners will count on Hannay more than ever, and if Hannay can hit three-pointers like he hit his receivers on 10-yard slants then there is no reason to believe Bingham's basketball team cannot match its football brethren with a title of their own.