Leading the Stags

Ask Deer Park High School girls basketball coach Mike Roberts about Laura Gibson and you’ll get an enthusiastic and unequivocal response:

“In my opinion, by far, she’s in a class of her own as a point guard.”

Great Northern League coaches agreed last season, when Gibson was named to the all-league first team after a second-team berth her sophomore year. She was instrumental in a big turnaround at Deer Park, as the Stags improved from consecutive seventh-place finishes to finish third in 2004-05.

Roberts, who has been in the program for seven years but enters only his second season as the head mentor, was named coach of the year as a result.

The way he looks at it, though, his strategy consisted of getting out of the way and letting his players do what he knew they did best – get out and run.

“I just let ‘em go out and play,” he said. “They were probably good enough the year before to win but for whatever reason didn’t get there.

“Laura is just a special player. She’s great off the dribble, but can come off the screen and hit a 3, and she’s a wonderful passer. When the girls get open, she finds them and gets everybody involved. She’s such a weapon and so good at finding open teammates that other teams have to respect every part of her game.”

And that’s just at the offensive end. Gibson actually enjoys the defensive part of the game more: “I love making a steal, getting the fast break started.”

It’s hard to imagine after all his accolades about her offensive game, but Roberts says Gibson’s even better on defense. Her quickness and tenacity enable the Stags to play one-on-one defense consistently, and she always draws the defensive assignment on the opponent’s best backcourt scorer.

Even though the Stags lost two senior post players, Roberts is confident enough in Gibson’s ability and her leadership that he says they can still play with anybody.

“We’re not necessarily loaded, but we’re quick in the backcourt, and we’ll get up and down the court. And I know Laura will help everyone else get in the best place for them.”

This story wouldn’t be complete, though, without some mention of Gibson’s soccer prowess. She was a four-year starter and three-time all-GNL player, including first team this fall, and her style isn’t all that different from what she shows on the basketball court.

“Mostly, I play fast-paced and aggressive, and I go for the ball,” she said. “I like to score, but I prefer to make a great pass and see my teammates succeed.

“I’ve always been the kind of leader who does it by example. If I go hard, the others will go hard as well.”

She’s hoping for an opportunity to play beyond this year – basketball, not soccer – and college coaches who’ve seen her play in summer select tournaments can’t help but notice her hustle and intensity.

“My goal this year is for us to make it to the state tournament,” she concluded, “but more than that, I want to make my last season a memorable one, however I can.”

She’s already made Roberts’ experience with her memorable.

“Laura doesn’t get a lot of ink, but coaches know and respect her. She’s about working hard, not about getting the glory. She’s quick and fast and smart, she understands the game, and she’s absolutely unselfish.”