Boys basketball coach Mike Lewis was congratulated by fellow coaches at the final Sunflower League meeting of the year.

After a successful season, he was recognized as the Sunflower League’s Coach of the Year on March 15.

The 12 Sunflower League coaches voted for Lewis to receive the honor for his and the team’s sportsmanship and skill throughout the season. The varsity team went 11-0 in the Sunflower League.

Lewis sees the award as a reflection of how well the team played together.

“It’s based on our team and how we performed,” Lewis said. “They were coachable, they played hard, and they were a good, talented group.”

Players think Lewis won this award because of his positivity. He ensures that his players have the same, constructive mindset.

“Anytime you mess up or miss a shot, he never gets on you,” sophomore jv/varsity player Braden Solko said. “He always tells you to keep shooting and keep your head up.”

Lewis’ attitude was well-reflected in the team’s style of play as well as players’ knowledge of the game.

“He’s a father figure to almost everyone and does what’s best for us,” sophomore varsity player Jackson Mallory said. “He knows everybody’s strengths and weaknesses, and he knows the other team.”

But Lewis’ impact on players is farther-reaching than a season record. He ensures that team dynamics off of the court are just as strong.

“If one person’s going through something, everybody is there to pick them right back up,” varsity player Fred Brou, a junior, said.

Players said there’s no doubt in their minds that Lewis deserved the award. Players describe his good attitude and his ability to work well with his team.

“Everyone is always having fun and smiling,” Mallory said. “Coach Lewis has a lot to do with that. He always tells us to be happy.”

Lewis himself works to get better at coaching. To win Coach of the Year it’s not only important to work internally with the team, but success also requires focusing on cooperation with other Sunflower League teams and coaches.

“Outside of the season, I work hard at getting better as a coach,” Lewis said. “I think I’ve earned the respect of the coaches who I coach against.”

This season, Lewis finished his sixth year with LHS with an overall 24-2 record and a second-place finish at state. However, he has been coaching since he was in high school.

He said the coaches he had as a player impacted his decision to become one.

“Looking back, I had good coaches in my life, and I saw a lot of positives from them,” said Lewis. “I think my environment and where I grew up and the coaches that influenced me, guided me into coaching.”

LHS’s overall high-standings in the Sunflower League rankings create a positive contrast to this time last year when Lewis was abruptly fired and quickly reinstated after outcry from the community. Players believe that experience brought them closer together and increased their drive to win.

“He impacted it a lot with him getting fired and everything,” Mallory said. “It brought us all closer and made us want to do it all for him and for each other.”

LHS had the hardest schedule in the Sunflower League, playing the best teams in the state and most often coming out victorious.

“I’m just really proud of the way our guys handled our season as a whole,” Lewis said. “I’m really proud of the way they stuck together and proved that they’re a true team and have good camaraderie.”