Steady Hand: Longtime PH South AD has been a calming influence for a young Panthers squad

The Park Hill South boys basketball team started the season with losses in two of their first three games. It was a start expected out of a young and untested team, led by a new coach, that had less than a combined 40 varsity points returning from last year. Those thinking the Panthers might be in for a long year have been proven wrong, though.

After rattling off seven straight victories, starting with a 43-31 win over Staley on Dec. 8 and including an overtime victory against Liberty 44-43 in the opening round of the Bank Midwest /William Jewell Holiday Classic last week, their streak came to an end against a previously undefeated St. Joseph Central squad in the tournament semifinals, 58-52. Park Hill South rebounded and closed out the first half of their season and the 2011 year with a 52-49 third-place game victory over Fort Osage.

The Panthers’ start is a promising sign not only considering their youth, but also because of the tough adjustments that sometimes come with a new coach’s first year. Long-time PHS athletic director John Sedler isn’t the typical first year coach, though. In fact, if there was anyone more reliable to maintain the high standard of basketball Park Hill South has set for itself over recent years it would be Sedler, someone with a strong reputation as a coach and administrator in the district.

So when Park Hill South found itself in the situation of not having a head coach weeks before school started this past August due to the sudden resignation of former coach Anthony Perry, who now faces charges that he tried to initiate sexual contact with a student, it was only natural Superintendent Dennis Fisher and Principal Dale Longenecker looked to Sedler to lead the program.

For Sedler, 56, a graduate of the Park Hill School District and Alumni Hall of Fame inductee, it was a chance for him to return to coaching. He previously coached for 10 years at Park Hill before becoming athletic director at Park Hill South in 1998 where he said he has a more direct role in shaping kids lives, the reason he started coaching in the first place.

“I got into this business because I like kids number one,” Sedler said. “These guys have a great passion for basketball which has made it an easy transition.”

It would’ve been easy to implement a whole new system tailored to Sedler’s preference, but with the help of assistants Dillon Higdon and Tracy Mangels the Panthers are building on what was already in place.

“One of the exciting parts was that Coach Higdon and Coach Mangels were returning so we were able to keep most of what they did last year, so we didn’t just get rid of everything, but wanted to build on what they already had in place,” Sedler said.

Sophomore guard Anthony Woods who averaged 15 points a game in the William Jewell Tournament last week contrasted Sedler’s style and echoed his thoughts on the team’s progress.

“He’s been great. I mean he’s a really calm guy, which is a little different (than last year),” Woods said. “We just want to play hard and with intensity. We’re not really worried about wins and losses, we’re worried about going out and playing the way we’re supposed to.”

With the completion of the first half of their season, they’ve passed the point where youth can be used as an excuse for inconsistency and look to what will be a tougher second half schedule.

“We’ve quit talking about being young, because no one cares, there’s no excuses anymore, they’re varsity players so they have to play like it,” Sedler said. “We’re definitely getting better, everyday.”

Park Hill South starts 2012 with two homes games including a rematch against Liberty Wednesday followed by Raytown Friday night before going on the road next week against Raytown South. In the meantime, neither Sedler nor his top guard believes their work is complete.

“We have a bunch of great young kids with great attitudes, they’ve been very receptive. It’s great working with them. They know they’ve got to get better,” Sedler said.

“We’re been working on trying to gel and keep everything together,” Woods added. “We need to cut down on the turnovers and keep our defense up so we don’t get lackadaisical.”