After winning their third TSSAA Class AAA state title in four
seasons, and beating three nationally ranked teams along the way,
the Spartans finished No. 10 in USA Today's end-of-season national
rankings.
White Station was USA Today's No. 9 team in 2001-02.
"The credit goes to the kids," Spartans coach Terry Tippett said.
"We don't look like much, and everyone thinks they can beat us, but
we just go out and beat people."
Seniors Dane Bradshaw, Travis Strong and Leon Pattman led White
Station to its second consecutive 36-2 season.
Besides winning another state title, White Station won the
prestigious Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in Springfield, Mo.,
with wins over national powers Springfield (Mo.) Kickapoo, and Bronx
(N.Y.) St. Raymond's.
Kickapoo finished 12th in the Super 25, while St. Raymond's was
14th.
White Station's only losses this season came to Rochester (N.Y.)
McQuaid Jesuit, which finished seventh in the USA Today rankings,
and Ridgeway, the TSSAA Class AA state runnerup.
"We probably deserve to be ranked a little higher," said Tippett,
citing a schedule that included wins over a number of other state
and national powers.
Bradshaw credits former Spartans standouts such as Robert
O'Kelley and Kyle Buggs with raising White Station's profile to the
point where the Spartans regularly are invited to some of the
nation's top tournaments and showcases.
"We're real fortunate to be able to play in those. They help put
you up there with some of the great teams and get you respect across
the country," Bradshaw said.
In addition to its spot near the top of the Super 25, the
Spartans are ranked No. 5 nationally in composite rankings by
HoopsUSA.com.
That Web site takes into account rankings such as the Super 25;
the National Prep Poll (No. 4), the Student Sports Fab 50 (White
Station is No. 6); and iHigh.com (No. 13).
While the Spartans lose four key seniors from this year's squad,
they will bring back a number of experienced and promising players.
They include rising seniors Reiley Ervin, Johnathan Ball and Taylor
Schall, and rising junior forward J. P. Prince.
"I've been in the business long enough to know it's got to come
to an end someday," Tippett said. "We're on a high point of the
cycle, and we're gonna ride it as long as we can."
