Weber coach Lee Dickemore says he wouldn't trade the six seniors on his top-ranked boys basketball team for anything.
"This is one of those groups that come along once in a coach's lifetime," he said. "They are great kids - in school, on the court and in the community."Chad Evans, Nick Harrop, Dirk Lighthall, Bennett Oberg, Matt Payne and Nic Sparrow are a close-knit group that has Weber contending for its first state boys basketball championship in 26 years.
"We really play as a team," said Payne. "We know what our roles are and what we have to do to win."
In the midst of their fourth basketball season together, the six Warriors have led Weber to a 12-0 record (the only unblemished mark in Class 5A) and the state's No. 1 ranking. Each are honor students, meeting or exceeding the team's sparkling 3.7 grade-point average. Five are Eagle Scouts and three have already signed letters of intent with Div. I schools. Evans is headed to Loyola Marymount, Sparrow is going to Weber State and Payne, an all-state football player, is set to be a kicker at BYU. The other three will likely play at the next level as well.
"It's special because there are six of us," said Lighthall, a 6-foot-8 center under recruitment by schools such as Utah State, Southern Methodist and Ricks College. "There's never any jealousy and you never hear any bragging or anything like that."
No shortage of basketballs, either.
"That isn't a problem," said Sparrow. "It doesn't matter who steps up on any given night. We just want to win."
Evans describes himself and the other five seniors as just average everyday kids - who have worked to become good basketball players.
There's no contention on the team," said Harrop, who has drawn interest from Weber State, Utah State, Northern Arizona and Ricks, "That's a big part of why we are winning."
Since claiming the state AAU championship over the summer, Weber has yet to lose. The Warriors scored at an 85 points per game clip in the preseason while holding the opposition to 41-percent shooting. Including four Region 1 games, Weber is outrebounding opponents by 15 per game, averaging 7.4 steals and blocking shots at a 3-to-1 ratio.
"If we come out and play our game as a team, no one can beat us," added Payne.
Coaches keep the Warriors focused with constant team-oriented goals.
"It's an everyday process," said assistant Ken Cottle.
Statistic sheets are nowhere to be found, but team standards are posted throughout the team's locker room. Goals are set for every practice, every game and through various stages of the season.
A sign on the gymnasium wall reads: "At Weber we have one and only one ambition - to be the best. What else is there?"
Preparation is a big part of the Warriors' approach. Before practicing, players study scouting reports.
"Our goal since day one is to win the state championship," said Oberg, the team's sixth man. "But we want to get there one game at a time."
A method favored by Dickemore, who said "We want the main meal before the dessert."
Region 1 success has become commonplace at Weber, but postseason triumphs nonexistent in recent years. The Warriors have lost their last four playoff games in the Huntsman Center.
"We are ready to win down there," said Lighthall. "Win a couple of times."
Armed with a team motto of "Cut the nets down," the Warriors believe they know what it takes to reach their objective.
"We'll be prepared this time," said Harrop. "It's a whole new level and we know that."
A painful lesson learned the hard way - with consecutive two-and-out departures from the state tournament venue.
"I still remember last year," said Sparrow, who is one of four returning starters "We aren't going to forget it. This time we realize we have to make it happen."
However, first things first . . .
"Our goal is to stay undefeated," said Lighthall.
Evans, who is averaging a team-high 18.7 points and 11 rebounds, knows the road is laced with would-be spoilers.
"There are a lot of tough teams out there," said the team's elected captain. "We can't look past anyone."
Past and future have nothing on the present at Weber.
"We are focused on one game at a time right now," summarized Dickemore. "That's how we want to keep it. We will not look that far down the line."