Washington coach Kevin Brown remembers the first team he took to a state tournament. His wife had taken a job in Colorado and Brown stayed behind in Bloomington to finish the season at Central Catholic.

"That was a pretty bizarre situation. I was leaving the day we finished to be with my wife who was already in Colorado. I’m going to get to enjoy this one a lot more. I’d like to come in here and get two wins and really enjoy it."

There's no move planned after this trip to state and Brown is having the time of his life. The Panthers' lives have been touched by a coach who pushes each of them to reach their fullest potential.

"He may get on you a lot," said junior Dyricus Simms-Edwards, "but when it’s all said and done you know he wants the best for us. He really pushes us to become the best players we can be."

Brown has been more than a mentor to senior Matt Roth, whose seen the little boy in his coach this season.

"If we keep making this run he’s going to become even more of a little boy again. He’s living a dream again and it’s not just him that’s living the dream."

Brown also coached the Washington baseball team to state last summer and put a team in the Elite–8 in Colorado's state basketball tournament. But its his relationship with one player, Matt Roth, that transcends his position as head coach.

"He’s like a son to me. I hope his parents don’t take that the wrong way. We spend an unbelievable amount of time together. We text each other and call each other at 11:30 at night sometimes and not worrying if the other one’s in bed. That’s friendship. As much as I’m going to miss Matt as a player, I’m going to treasure the opportunity to be his friend when this is over."

Roth recalls the day that friendship began.

"He walked into Washington the same day I walked into high school. We really formed a close bond and he’s really pushed me hard everyday. Just to know that we’re in the final-four and we’re playing for a state championship it’s just a great feeling to know that we’ve worked hard enough to put ourselves in this place."