The mid-thought gulp in the middle of Derek Thompson's sentence during a post-game interview was a short moment of reflection, but a long window into his feelings regarding the seniors on HP's roster. Talking about those 18 student-athletes, HP's head coach knew too well what a special group of student-athletes he had worked with the past few seasons. It would take more than a brief loss for words to reflect on what they have meant to HP Lacrosse.

 

"They bought into what we're trying to do here, and we were able to build the program with team speed and character," Thompson said. "We're the first program to win five state titles because of them."

 

Players earning All-American and all-state status is now the norm at HP. But Thompson is quick to recognize the contributions of players who don't always get on the scoresheet. Don't underestimate the roles reserves play in the program' success, he said.

 

Take Sunday's championship game as an example, Thompson said. Will Boeing comes off the bench and scores a crucial tying goal, then adds an assist and scores again in a 90-second span that totally changed the nature of HP's 6-4 title-clinching win over St. Mark's.

 

"We always tell the guys who aren't in the starting lineup to be ready. There will come a time when they're called on, and they'll get their chance," Thompson said. "Will Boeing steps in during a critical point in the game and delivers.

 

"Matt Kelly, too. He's a third-line middie. Again we tell them that when one kid goes down, step in when it's your turn. He did it, scoring our final goal to give us the two-goal buffer again. To see those guys succeed, in this kind of game today, is a testament to everything we're trying to promote to the kids."

 

Boeing, incidently, was a member of the All-North District team as an attacker.

 

Link to game story: Back-to-back-to-back on top

The THSLL Championships were the final on-field appearnaces for HP seniors Yates Bateman, Will Boeing, Parker Brown, Dillon Cook, Jackson Coon, Cody Crews, Josh Francis, Chris Hipps, Will Jennings, Mac Kelly, Jordan Lee, Will Merritt, James Mills, Drew Obenchain, Campbell Powers, Chase Prospere, Berton Spring and BG Yarto.

The THSLL Championships will be in Houston next year. HP has fond memories of previous visits to the Bayou City. The Scots won Division I titles in 2005 and 2008 in Houston, beating ESD in both games. HP also won the 2008 Division II title over Cypress-Fairbanks at the tournament hosted by Friendswood High School.

 

The Scots expect to have rising seniors Patrick Campbell, Sam Delagi, Carson Fronterhouse, Hunter Moeller, Campbell Puckett, Stephen Ramon, Bragg Smith and Campbell Sode returning to its Division I lineup next year.

 

 

The Scots now have two more state championships than any other program. Only eight programs have won Division I titles in the THSLL's 22-year history. Here's the list, with the number of titles won by each school:

5 - HP
3 - Houston St. John's, San Antonio St. Mary's Hall, ESD

2 - Houston Lamar, Houston Episcopal, Austin High, Houston Kinkaid
 

The North Texas Chapter of US Lacrosse honored Cricket Griffin during halftime of HP's semifinal game Saturday and inducted her into its 2010 Chapter Hall of Fame. Griffin was instrumental to the growth of lacrosse in North Texas and the HP program over the last 10 years. She worked with the Men's 

Collegiate Cup Lacrosse Championships in 2007 and 2008, helped bring the first Major League Lacrosse game to Texas Stadium in 2008, and helped create the Halloween Shootout and Holiday Roundup tournaments.

 

Griffin is a past president of the North Texas Youth Lacrosse League and has served on numerous lacrosse-related boards in the region and the state.