Humble and aggressive.

That’s what Red Level junior Tim Sims used to describe his style of play on the hardwood for the Tigers.

Sims dominated the boards and put up double figures in each of his team’s tournament games last week to earn The Star-News’ Player of the Week honors.

Sims, who plays more of an inside presence for the Tigers, is usually seen towering above his opponents’ heads in the paint. Sims is about 6-foot-2.

When asked what his keys to success were during the Christmas tournament, Sims said his coach, Allen Catrett, urged him to rebound more.

“In the beginning of the (Luverne) game, he said he would be proud of us to have the most rebounds of the game,” he said. “We controlled the boards that night against Luverne.”

RLHS ended up losing by four to LHS, but Sims’ stats indicate he was a winner as he helped lead his Tigers to a third-place finish.

Sims averaged nine rebounds and 16 points per game during the three-game skid.

Sims said his mindset going into the annual exhibition was simple.

“My team needs me,” he said he recalls. “I needed to step up. Coach said he needed one person (to step up), and I decided to be that one.”

Red Level will begin area play against McKenzie on Monday.

The Tigers will be competing in Class 1A, Area 3 with Brantley, Georgiana, McKenzie and J.F. Shields.

Sims said he thinks his team matches up well with Brantley. RLS faces the Bulldogs in its first area game on Tuesday.

“The teams we’ve got in our area are one of the best in the state,” he said.

Sims is the son of Patricia and Tim Sims of River Falls.