Coaching rewarding for Ex-Roseburg QB Brothers
When his professional football career in the Canadian Football League ended in 1972, coaching girls basketball wasn’t exactly at the top of Paul Brothers’ list of priorities.
Brothers — a 1963 Roseburg High School graduate who quarterbacked the Indians to their first state football title in 1961 and was Oregon State University’s starting signal-caller against Michigan in the 1965 Rose Bowl — came across a coaching opportunity a couple of years later. Karen, his wife at the time, asked him to help her out with the Marist High girls team in Eugene.
He would end up coaching the Spartans’ program for 10 years, along with being an assistant in football.
“I just stuck with it,” Brothers said earlier this week. “I fell in love with coaching them. You don’t treat them any differently (than boys). They did everything you wanted them to do and were very intent on learning. And they watch a whole lot less NBA than boys do.”
Coaching girls basketball has been rewarding for Brothers, now 62. He’s finishing up his 13th year at Willamette High, which is a member of the Class 5A Midwestern League. Brothers, who serves as Director of Basketball Services/Vice President at the United States Basketball Academy in Blue River, has shared the head coaching duties at Willamette on more than one occasion.
The Wolverines won their first state championship in girls basketball last year with a 45-29 win over Midwestern rival Churchill, finishing 23-5 overall. And they’re within two victories of repeating as state champs.
Willamette, ranked No. 3 in The Associated Press poll, got past No. 2 Ashland 55-48 in overtime in a quarterfinal game on Wednesday night at the Chiles Center in Portland. The Wolverines (26-1) meet unbeaten and No. 1 Jefferson (25-0) at 6:30 tonight in a semifinal contest.
Willamette’s lone loss this season was a 15-point setback to Sheldon, a 6A school, in December. The Wolverines went 15-0 in Midwestern play. They led the state in defense, allowing 38 points a game.
“Hardly any depth. We’re not very big, but extremely athletic,” Brothers said of his team. “My starting five all have great speed.
“Our philosophy is built on defensive quickness. We don’t press at all ... we just work really hard on defense, almost exclusively man-to-man. Our kids get up in your grill and bug the crap out of you for 32 minutes.”
The Wolverines have been led by junior point guard Aly Bruns and junior post A.J. Smith, who shared the most valuable player award in the Midwestern. Junior Katie Collins joined Bruns and Smith as first-team all-leaguers.
“This team has been a tiny bit of a surprise,” Brothers said. “We started three sophomores in the state championship game last year and we knew we had those three back. We needed a couple of others to come through and they have. What separates this team (from last year) is they absolutely hate to lose.”
Looks like it. Willamette weathered Ashland’s best shot Wednesday, turning back the Grizzlies despite a 36-point game by junior post Brenna Heater. Collins converted five of six free throws in the final minute of overtime and Bruns scored a team-high 26 points.
Bring on the Democrats of Jefferson, which were upset by Willamette in last year’s semifinals. Jefferson had no problem with Bend Wednesday, winning 60-38.
“I’ve been to so many state tournaments and seen so many upsets,” Brothers said. “You’ve got to play great defense, rebound and shoot free throws. If you can do those three things you have a chance against anybody.”
Brothers says he’ll continue to coach — as long as he enjoys it and his health is good.
“I’ve got great kids and really good parents here,” he said. “As long as I’m having a good time I’ll keep doing it.”
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