Before the Lone Peak basketball team ran past its biggest rival, American Fork, last week, it was a foregone conclusion that Nick Emery and T.J. Haws would do most of the damage and receive their share of headlines.

True to form, Emery and Haws combined for 35 points and a half dozen 3-pointers in the 55-40 win. While reporters gathered en masse to hear how the pair pulled away late in the game, teammate Talon Shumway gave his friends a wry smile and walked out of the gym knowing he’d done what he came to do.

“Defense is my role mostly and I like to do all the dirty work,” said Shumway. “I feel good when I’m in double figures, but I like my role and it’s nice not to have as much responsibility as Nick and T.J.”

Don’t be fooled. Shumway’s role on the Knights squad might not jump off the page at you, but coach Quincy Lewis knows exactly the kind of weapon he has.

For most of the game Friday, Shumway was matched up against American Fork’s leading scorer, Quincy Bair. Shumway had a hand in holding Bair to 8 points, 7 under his season average.

“He is the best on-the-ball defender I’ve ever had,” said Lewis. “He’s got quick hops, he’s as tough as they come and he has a big, big heart.”

While Haws and Emery combine to score their 40-plus points per game, Lewis said it’s comforting to have a guy like Shumway around, should either player struggle.

“He scored 19 points in [last season’s] state championship game and I think he’d be an 18-20-points-per-game scorer on another team, but we just don’t have 15 shots for him every night,” said Lewis.

Shumway averages 9 points, four rebounds, two assists and just under a steal per game. While he is the Knights’ third-leading scorer, Shumway said he doesn’t feel pressed to score in big games and can simply move past all that because he knows exactly what he has to do to help his team win.

Many athletes of Shumway’s caliber might balk at being limited to a role. Maybe it’s because the trio have been playing on traveling teams for the past five years or perhaps it’s because they’re best friends off the court.

Whatever it is, it’s working, and there is little doubt that Shumway is no third wheel.

“When I start a game, I come in with the mentality of, ‘I’m not going to give you anything,’ ” he said. “Some people take pride in scoring, but I like rebounds and assists, so that’s what I try to do.”

Shumway’s Knights are on the road at Lehi on Friday.