For Temple High School boys basketball coach Steve Robinson, seeing his team commit to working hard on defense and hustling this summer was a big step. It would be one thing if it was just words, but the coach said his guys are backing it up.

“We committed early. And I mean, a lot of times those guys, they remind each other. And to me, that shows maturity as a team,” Robinson said. “They remind each other, and they get in it together.”

It is a constant for the guys, whether they are playing well or having an off night.

“Sometimes we have good moments. Sometimes we don’t have good moments, but they all know that in the end we’re going to hustle back on defense, point our guy out,” Robinson said. “And everybody’s responsible and held accountable on the defensive end.”

The coach is hoping it pays dividends both on and off the court this upcoming season.

“(We are) just trying to get a little bit of pride back in the Temple community through basketball, you know, try to do the things that’s going to actually help them become better men by using basketball,” Robinson said.

Two late free throws by the Tigers’ Tony Ross lifted Temple to a 46-45 win against Villa Rica at the Wildcats’ team camp on Tuesday. But Robinson downplayed the significance of the victory.

“I really want to keep teaching, and I want to keep making sure that we understand that we’ve got to keep getting better,” Robinson said. “It doesn’t matter what the score is, if you’re up or down.”

He said the result probably meant more to his guys than to him.

“These kids play together. They compete together. They grew up together,” Robinson said. “So I’m sure it’s bigger for the players than it is for me.”

Temple graduated four seniors from its 2008-09 team, but Robinson is pleased with how his guys are coming along.

“I think we’ve got a good group of kids back. We’ve just got to gel together as a team ... I tell you, losing Jake Shirley is going to be a hole that’s hard to fill,” Robinson said. “But we’ve got kids that are coming together, really developing.”

Robinson continues to see great things from rising junior big man Kendall Lawson.

“I’m proud of what I’m seen from Kendall Lawson this summer with his, you know, leadership ability and just morale-building, just keeping everybody upbeat. Keeping it positive,” Robinson said.

The coach is also pleased with rising senior Dee Clayton’s positive approach in encouraging guys who are not sure of where they should be on the court.

Rising sophomore Roderick Bass was particularly effective for the Tigers on Tuesday, part of a larger trend Robinson has seen.

“I think he’s a little bit ahead of the curve,” Robinson said.

Robinson added that guard Jaylen Sullivan has put Temple in good situations, played solid defense and practiced well.

He is confident the incoming freshman class, which includes Anthony Stewart and Trevor Shell, will help solidify the program. Robinson is also encouraged with how Isiah Strozier and Chris Powell have been playing.

All in all, he is convinced the playing time some of his younger guys got a season ago prepared them well for next season.

“We’ve got more experience, a little bit more experience than we’ve had in the past two years. You know, a lot of guys that had to play a lot last year out of necessity, this year they’re back,” Robinson said. “So we get a chance to utilize them and their experience.”