Waiting game pays off

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, Jan. 31, 2002 | 10:19 a.m.

When his Desert Pines football and basketball teams combined to win just one league game during their inaugural 1999-2000 school year, few would have faulted Derek Brown for moping.

Instead, the sophomore simply focused on the future -- a future he recognized as bright even during the fledgling Jaguar athletic program's dimmest hours.

"I knew it was going to be a good school for sports," Brown said. "We breed athletes here. As long as they're willing to play, there's no telling how good Desert Pines can be."

The past two years, the Jaguars have indeed lived up to Brown's expectations. Back-to-back 8-3 campaigns have the school among the area's elite on the football field, and last year's 18-7 basketball squad produced the school's first state tournament berth.

As the 2001-02 basketball season nears conclusion, the Jaguars appear ready to take one more step and challenge for Desert Pines' first state trophy in any sport. With Brown, a third-year starting guard, leading the way, the Jags are 16-3, No. 5 in the state and first in the Northeast Division with a 7-0 mark.

"I take that first year as a lesson learned," Brown said. "Everybody has bumps in the road. We took our bumps and now we're putting bumps on everybody else."

Long the Jaguars' vocal leader, the 6-foot-1 senior became their floor general as well this season, moving from shooting guard to the point. Desert Pines served notice to the state's best earlier this month, downing then-No. 1 Las Vegas High by 13 points.

"Bottom line: He's a leader, and he's been our leader for all three years," Jaguars coach Freddie Thompson said. "He's a vocal kid and a very good academic student. He would make an excellent coach."

Capable of knocking down an open jump shot himself, Brown generally looks to get his teammates going early in games. Many of his area-best seven assists per game go to forward Nick Porter (21 ppg) -- another of the area's top seniors -- and junior swingman Shyon Clark (14 ppg). Brown averages 12 points himself.

"His all-around game has blossomed over the years," Thompson said. "He's always been an outstanding shooter, but his ball handling has gotten better and defensively, he doesn't back down from a challenge."

A year ago, Brown and his teammates found themselves up against prohibitive favorite Bishop Gorman -- ranked No. 1 all season -- in Round 1 of the state tournament. The Jaguars lost but led at halftime, giving them a glimpse of their potential.

"It showed us that if we play hard, we can beat anyone," Brown said. "We're not the biggest team in the city, but if we play with our heart there's no telling what we can do."

Brown plans to play baseball this spring, after running track the past two years. His college plans include basketball, possibly for Western Washington, a four-year school that has been recruiting him.

But for now, his attention is focused squarely on the next month, and the chance to bring a trophy to a Desert Pines athletic program he has seen grow from humble beginnings.

"It really means a lot because after this my high school career is over," Brown said. "I think this is a golden opportunity for us to compete at state and hopefully bring the banner back to Desert Pines and keep the title in the south."