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The good just got better, the quick just got taller, the West High Panthers just became more than an afterthought.

After West’s 4A state championship run last year they lost a lot of experience, but more noticeably they got smaller.

“Our strength is our overall team quickness, push the ball up the court, and try to create with our hands (on defense)”, said Panthers’ Coach Bob Lyman. “We need an inside presence, we’ve been kind of short”.

The 2009-10 version of the Panthers sit at 6-2 after their 67 to 48 victory over their rivals, the East High Leopards. Moving up to the 5A level can be a change for anybody but the 2009-10 version possesses the speed and quickness that no other team in the state has.

“I wanted to come out and set the tone early”, said Tyrell Corbin, as the Leopards had no answer for the Panthers on either end of the court. “If we get up and pressure teams, we can take the tempo of the game”.

The Panthers are led in their back court by Tyrell Corbin and Thomas Bullock. While Corbin is the scorer and the talent the UHSAA basketball followers have taken a large interest in Bullock. On defense he causes turnover after turnover as they create opportunities for guys like Jordan Tanner (15.2 points per game).

Even with all this speed the Panthers were lacking one key element to become a legitimate title contender… a big man.

As of four games ago the tallest player on the Panthers stood at 6’4”… then in came a transfer from Atlanta, Georgia. “We looked at him and he said he could play, so we put him on the team”, said Corbin.

Gatete Djuma stands at a legit 6’8” and combined with his long wingspan he has become a force around the basket after his late arrival for a Panthers team that suddenly has an inside-outside game. Gatete opens up more opportunities for Corbin and Tanner as opponents have to respect the post and vice-versa when teams focus on Corbin and Tanner.

“The past few games he’s helped a little bit, tonight it was a lot”, said Coach Lyman. “He’s never played before so we’re trying to keep it simple for him, one, protect the basket, and he did a good job of that tonight”.

Tuesday was Gatete’s third game with the Panthers as they took on their neighbors, East High, and it might have been only a glimpse of what could come. After a competitive first period, West blew the game open in the second as they outscored the Leopards for the period 26 to 9. “

Behind the dazzling all-around play of Corbin and the raw but obvious potential of their new big man the Panthers dominated the game in all aspects. The low post, behind the arc, suffocating full-court defense, and blocked shots, the Panthers displayed it all.

Corbin once again led the charge in the box score as he finished with 29 points on 8-9 from the line and two three pointers. Jordan Tanner, their solid senior leader, finished with 16 points while hitting on three three-pointers… but the developing story for the season could be Gatete Djuma who finished with 12 points, seven rebounds, and six blocks in easily his best of his first three games.

Raving about his new big man, Corbin was quick to praise him, “He got a lot smarter in a week, he’s got a post move now”.

Don’t sleep on the young Panthers… they have a complete team now.