Respect buoys Spring Lake Park on the court

Spring Lake Park guard Bryce Williams said his black socks reading "IHaters!" are strictly worn for comfort and laughed off any deeper meaning.

He wasn't laughing a year ago as infighting plagued a 14-13 team. The Panthers had the talent to accomplish more but got bogged down in hating on one another.

"Last year we argued a lot. We weren't together at all," Williams said. "I was surprised we had a winning record. This year, we're positive. We're all friends now. We've brought that bonding to the court."

The brotherhood is showing up in the boxscore. The Panthers (10-1) engineered a late comeback victory against Champlin Park. They lost big against then-No. 2 Eastview but did not lose one another. Their reward was their first Tartan holiday tournament championship ever, complete with a seven-point victory against the host Titans.

Williams and fellow senior captains Sean Scott and Jordan Thimmesch-Slepica have played together since seventh grade and give the team unified leadership it lacked last season. No player stands taller than 6-4. No tall trees but deep roots.

The thundering Scott and smooth Williams each average more than 20 points per game. Equally important is Thimmesch-Slepica's defense.

"We're more close-knit this year and people respect the captains more this year," Thimmesch-Slepica said.

Players passed their first test at Champlin Park in the season's fourth game. Trailing by at least 10 with about five minutes remaining, the Panthers rallied for a 100-95 victory.

"Last year we probably would have just died and stopped," Thimmesch-Slepica said. "We showed more maturity to step up and play to the end."

A second test came four days later in an 86-63 home loss to Eastview, then ranked No. 2 in Class 4A. The 3A Panthers trailed big at halftime and took it out on each other in the locker room.

Sticking together

"At halftime we were arguing a little bit," Williams said. "But at the end of the game we were still together."

"Last year we were always getting in fights in practice and coach would make us run most of the practice," Scott said. "This year, we're trying to tell players, 'If you have a problem, come to the captains and the captains will go to the coach.' That way we can have a meeting to know what's going on and squash it right away."

A quick regroup allowed the Panthers to beat opponents rather than themselves. Panther coach Grant Guzy has brought his teams to the Tartan holiday tournament for 12 years. This was the first time he left with a championship. Players hope it's not the last time this season.

"Last year we would say we wanted to go to state but deep inside we didn't really want it," Williams said. "This year, we really want it. We want to be with the best of the best."

With an eye on getting the most out of his senior season, Scott sought the advice of older brother, Trey, a key component of the 2008-09 Panthers state tournament team.

Words of advice