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Mike Phillips has started at the roots to improve the Panthers. And despite Wednesday's loss in the state semifinals, he's not done yet.
By FRANK PASTOR
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 9, 2001
TAMPA -- Mike Phillips still remembers the conversation.
It was 1996, and he had just been named Plant's coach. He was taking over a program that had won three games the previous season and had been to the playoffs only once in 22 seasons.
"Great school," somebody told him. "But don't expect to win."
Phillips ignored the comment. After all, he hadn't left a successful Bloomingdale girls program to lose at Plant.
Starting at the grade-school level, Phillips and his staff rebuilt Plant's program from the ground up. The project reached its zenith this season as the Panthers posted the best record in their 73-year history and advanced to the state semifinals for the first time since 1963.
Not even a 55-39 loss to Belleview on Wednesday could diminish the team's accomplishments.
"We're 27-5 now," Phillips said. "And there were a lot of my friends up (in the stands) watching that game that would have loved to be 27-5."
Phillips isn't the first coach to win at Plant, but he is the first in a very long time.
Bill Burns led the Panthers to their only state championship in 1958. Fred Lapper's 1963 team finished as state runner-up.
Plant reached the final four six times, but Wednesday's appearance was the Panthers' first in 38 years. In fact, this season marked only the third time since 1973 that Plant qualified for the playoffs.
To turn things around, Phillips and assistants Eddie Flom and Bill Heilig set out to create a feeder system for the varsity team. But so many students were playing football, baseball and soccer at the time, the coaches had to first find a way to create interest in the sport. They started working with the fifth-graders, conducting camps at affordable prices and making every effort to make the players feel a part of a larger family, which included the junior varsity and varsity programs.
Though those players have not reached varsity age, the coaches' efforts succeeded in creating interest throughout the community.
"Before, we had kids that liked to play basketball but just weren't serious about it," Phillips said. "Now we've got kids that go to parks and do the things that we have to do and play year-round."
Phillips' first team went 14-12, winning two more games than Plant did in the two previous seasons combined. After losing seven seniors to graduation, the Panthers stumbled to 8-16 the following season. Plant got back on track with a 19-7 record in 1998-99 and has made the playoffs the past two seasons.
As the team improved, Phillips noticed a change in players' attitudes, too.
"They get to JV and kind of weed themselves out," he said. "By the time they get to varsity, they know they have to work to succeed."
Plant should continue to build on this season's success.
It returns its top two scorers, power forward Michael Williams (14.7 points per game) and point guard Tyler Azzarelli (14.5), as well as Brad Birrenkott, Michael Cincunegui, Wayne Lawton and Devon Littles next season.
Plus, sharpshooting guard Jonathan Seber is expected to transfer from Armwood. His parents sold their house in Seffner and are looking to buy a house in Plant's school zone.
As the clock wound down in the final minute of Wednesday's semifinal, Belleview's fans turned to Plant's and chanted, "Tampa Who? Tampa Who?"
Phillips wasn't listening. He has heard it all before.