By Linda Bouvet, LSSU Sports Information Director

When Lake Superior State scoring leader Tim VanOudheusden needs a break during a game, coach Steve Hettinga calls on senior Anthony Gibson without hesitation. 

Although the two Laker seniors are best friends and play the same position, their roles are completely different. While VanOudheusden is quick, flashy and a creative shot taker, Gibson makes his presence known at the defensive end of the court.

"Defense is definitely his strength," Hettinga said. "We can put him in for a four or five-minute stretch to guard the other team's best player. He has versatility. He can guard their best guard or their best post player because he's so strong. It gives him a lot more flexibility when we put him in a game."

Gibson has transformed himself physically since arriving at LSSU as a 6-4, 2005-pound true freshman in 2004-05. He weighed in at 218 pounds last season and bulked up to as much as 241 pounds last summer. He's listed at 225 pounds on this year's roster.

"He is one of our best-conditioned athletes," Hettinga noted. "He's the guy who really takes care of his body with his diet, weight training and nutrition. He is optimizing all of his abilities."

Gibson said he immediately noticed the advantage that increased strength gave him the court.

"As a team we increased our bench press by an average of 65 to 70 pounds (per player)," he said. "It helps a lot with the recovery process. Our muscles recover a lot faster. Playing defense and rebounding is about positioning, but being strong helps a lot."

Gibson, who is from Bradford, Ont., played high school basketball in a region that generates little exposure for college prospects. His 18-under AAU coach, Ro Russell, gave him opportunities to experience tough competition and helped him with the recruiting process.

"Basketball wasn't that big at my high school," said Gibson, who played most of his AAU tournaments in the United States. "There were no fans at my games and no options for scouts to come to my games. It was not easy to find competition."

Now, after five demanding years at LSSU, he knows he is part of what may prove to be a landmark era for Laker men's basketball.

"It's definitely a special time to be a Laker," Gibson said. "It might be that much more special because we've been through the hardships. Someone on the outside might not see that. Seeing how hard we work in practice, we appreciate it that much more. We don't want to take it for granted. We want to continue to push hard. We don't want this to be a fluke."

Gibson is one of five Laker seniors who is enjoying his first winning season. LSSU, in fact, has not had a winning season since 2001-02.

"Maybe, if we are the group that turned it around, future teams will know that it's possible," he said. "We should be the prime example that anything is possible and that you can achieve great things."

Most of the current players on LSSU's team have been together for at least three years. Gibson, VanOudheusden and Mark Morse are fifth-year seniors. Gibson noted that their experience gives them "composure in tough situations."

"We've seen a lot of scenarios and have been through a lot of those situations," he added.

Most of the seniors played Division I national power Michigan State twice at the Breslin Center.

"Not too many people get to play at the Breslin," he said. "I feel very blessed to be able to do that. I was a lot more relaxed this time (compared to his freshman year experience). I just tried to take it all in rather than be overwhelmed."

Hettinga describes Gibson as one of the most well-liked players on the team because of his sense of humor, acceptance of his role and his knack for being a great teammate. Hettinga is also impressed with Gibson's artistic skills. Gibson painted a mural in the Laker lockerroom and designed his own tattoos.

"He's definitely a huge part of the glue that holds us together as a family," VanOudheusden added. "He relates to everybody. He is outgoing and includes everybody. That's important, especially from year to year, to include the newcomers. We both know how it is to come in and not feel like we're in the loop."

As for Gibson and VanOudheusden - they will continue to battle each other in practice and remain close friends.

"Tim is such a great player, and it's whom Anthony comes in for during a game," Hettinga said. "Tim plays a lot more minutes, but Anthony can accept it a lot more knowing it is a good friend of his. Tony has been a team guy ever since I've been here."

"We've been roommates for all five years," VanOudheusden said. "We used to play one-on-one against each other the year we red-shirted. We hated each other for the next five minutes, no matter who won the game. We definitely leave everything on the court, and it doesn't affect anything off the court. We both have the mindset that whoever can do the better job should be on the court. If I can't guard someone, I want him out there. If I can exploit someone defensively, then he wants me on the court."

"I'll get some rebounds and defensive stops, and provide some energy off the bench," Gibson said. "I'll give Tim a well-deserved rest. Every day I go against him in practice. We've had some heated battles, but we usually leave it on the court. We're so close, and we want to push each other. I know I can definitely help and make him better. I know I can guard him just as hard, if not harder than anyone in the conference."