Alberta Junior A Lacrosse League teams must feel like they're seeing double when they face the Okotoks Raiders.
Not just because the two-time defending league champions are once again running roughshod through Alberta, but 18-year-old identical twin brothers Marshall and Leighton Gibson have something to do with the Raiders run to a third title.
The Raiders' twins bring an almost identical toolkit to the floor and have carved out a niche as tremendously versatile runners, especially on defence and in transition as Junior A sophomores.
“ We definitely have built up a really good chemistry,” said Leighton, born one-minute after his brother. “ We seem to know each other well offensively and on loose balls too, we seem to know where (the other one) is and can pass it back.”
The synchronicity between the brothers helps them on every inch of the floor.
“ Sometimes we don't even have to call switches for each other we just know where we're going to be and then automatically do it.” Leighton said.
Marshall agreed, adding the unspoken communication on the floor lends itself well to their efforts in transition and on defence.
“ If we're on defence and if we're going to double the ball we won't even have to call it, we'll just go into a double,” Marshall said. “ And I'm really comfortable throwing him a backhand or sidearm pass and he's comfortable doing the same thing because we've been doing it so long.”
The Gibson brothers believe they've been box lacrosse teammates for more than a decade growing up in Calgary.
“ Coming up we played together every year, we always played on defence together coming up and both being lefties we always played on offence side by side,” Leighton said.
They also formed a formidable duo on the ice in the Calgary Northwest Bruins hockey program. The brothers played Midget AA for the Bruins as tenacious forwards, strong on the cycle and even earned invites to the Western Hockey League's Medicine Hat Tigers' camp in 2010.
When things weren't going their way in athletics the twins took their frustrations out on each other in the basement of the Gibson residence in northwest Calgary.
“ It's either getting the sticks in the hands and throwing the ball around for a couple hours or it's scrapping downstairs with the boxing gloves on,” Marshall said. “ When we would get mad we would try and kick the (crap) out of each other. That's where the rivalry comes in the most.”
The Gibson's found their true vocation in box lacrosse where Leighton said the sibling rivalry manifests itself in less violent terms.
“ With loose balls there's kind of a rivalry, it's something we like to keep track of,” Leighton said. “ I'm beating him in points and he's beating me in loose balls so I'll give him a few shots here and there about that.”
The Gibson brothers played in a combined 35 games during their rookie season with the Raiders in 2011, but have improved by leaps and bounds in their sophomore campaigns.
Marshall credited their ascension in part to former head coach Bruce Codd, a veteran defender in the National Lacrosse League.
“ Bruce Codd worked with us last year a ton, being small defenders and technical defenders in the league, he taught as a ton about loose balls and getting into hands,” Marshall said. “ We're just that much more comfortable this year and with more playing time we get try out stuff more.”
Offensive improvements aside, the twins take tremendous pride in their ball hawking abilities.
“ I think our biggest desire is to play tough defence and then transition the ball and let the other guys get the points,” Marshall said. “ If we can chip in with a couple points a game that's awesome, but I'd be fine with zero points and a win.”
Raiders captain Brett Baron has seen a refined version of the brothers in 2012.
“ The biggest thing this year is they're feeling more comfortable, they're getting older and they're getting a little bigger and are a lot more talkative this year,” Baron said. “ They're acting like leaders on the team.”
Baron said the Gibson's work ethic on the floor is contagious.
“ I know even the older guys look up to them for just their heart and their hustle,” he said.
Telling the brothers apart is still a difficult prospect for teammates.
“ Off the floor I can tell them apart, Marshall looks a little older,” Baron said. “ They play almost the exact same so on the floor unless you see them from behind it's kind of hard to tell.”
Distinguishing between the twins on the floor has proven even more challenging this season.
“ Last year Leighton wore a brace on his leg so we had Leg-Brace-Leighton and Moustache-Marshall, but this year they both have moustaches and leg-braces,” Baron said. “ But, this year you know their playing styles, they do tiny stuff differently and you kind of adapt to it.”
