FWIW if you are curious, guys, Ive coached for 26 years and been 13 years at 2 schools, fortunate enough to coach in 8 Title games, going 5-3. I left my first school when the new principal wouldnt allow me to retain the job for bizarre reasons that came back to haunt her.
So, I quit coaching for 2 years thinking I was done and then got a call from ODEA to come coach their JV and basically run their defense on varsity and do all the scouting. I had no idea I would stay 13 years. I have been priviledged to coach wonderful kids every year, as well have known the best and worst of times with buzzer losses in the Finals and huge upsets of #1s, which we've done three times, including this year.
I felt compelled to post this info bc I nearly quit coaching after my first stint following unfair treatment when i was still very young, but I was drawn back b/c I love kids. I want everyone to know that plugging through the dark times is what truly strengthens us, gives us character, wisdom, and perspective. I have been offered numerous head coaching jobs and turned them all down bc I was shown love and loyalty at my current school from the kids, administration and coaches. It was the best decision I ever made to come back into coaching and remain true to those who wanted me. As Coach V said, Never give up. Don't ever give up.
Finally, it isn't the incredible rush of seeing the kids smile when they cut down the nets that keeps me going, it's the love they share each and every day when they say"HI" before practice and then shake my hand after practice and say "See ya tomorrow, Coach" or when they give me xmas cards and invite me to their weddings later in life. Coaches and mentors of young men are as lucky as anyone can ever be. But the ironic thing is, my players have inspired and moved me far beyond anything I could have ever done for them.
god bless,
enjoy your family and friends,
gregg
3A Boys | O'Dea's champion again
By Craig Smith
Seattle Times staff reporter
O'Dea saved the best for last and is Class 3A state boys basketball champion for the third time in four years.
The second-ranked Irish, who had lost three times during the season to Bainbridge, thumped the top-ranked Spartans 56-31 Saturday night when it mattered most -- in the state-championship game before a crowd of 6,952 at Edmundson Pavilion.
"We just made sure we got the one that counts that was tonight," said O'Dea senior guard Jamelle McMillan.
The Irish (25-5) were in the title game for the fourth straight year. They won the title in 2004 and 2005 and then lost last year's title game to Seattle Prep.
Their fifth Class 3A boys title is a record, topping Rainier Beach's four.
Tournament-savvy O'Dea jumped to a 16-2 lead in the first nine minutes and maintained control against the Spartans (25-4). What was expected to be a taut game turned into a four-quarter O'Dea victory lap.
Bainbridge's 31 points is the lowest losing score in 3A boys championship-game tournament history. The previous low score was Timberline's 39-32 win over Cheney in 1980.
McMillan, playing in his fourth title game, had a super stat line with 12 points, seven assists and five steals. He scored seven first-quarter points to get the attack rolling. The first of his two turnovers came with five minutes left in the game and the outcome decided.
"This one is by far the sweetest," McMillan said.
His father, Portland Trail Blazers coach Nate, watched the game from behind the scorer's table with his family.
Irish coach Phil Lumpkin, who won his fifth state title and has the same number as retired Garfield coach Al Hairston, said O'Dea's experience in title games was important.
"I think it's paramount," Lumpkin said. "We're very comfortable in this setting, very comfortable in this environment and we know what needs to be done."
Lumpkin said a key difference from the three earlier defeats to Bainbridge this season was offensive consistency throughout the game. In the losses, the Irish always had a dry spell. Not Saturday night.
The game got off to a promising start for Bainbridge as Steven Gray made his first shot for a 2-0 lead. He then missed his next seven as O'Dea took off on its 16-0 run.
Gray, who averaged 16.3 points in the tournament, scored 13 against O'Dea and was named tournament MVP.
Gray made 6 of 17 shots and the Spartans shot only 36 percent (13 of 36). They were 1 of 9 from the three-point arc and were outrebounded 37-21.
"We got some great shots," said Bainbridge coach Scott Orness. "When the ball doesn't go in, it's tough to stay in the ballgame, especially against a great team like O'Dea."
A big key was O'Dea's biggest player having a better night than Bainbridge's big guy.
O'Dea started 6-foot-7 senior Josh Scott for the first time in the tournament. Scott had been benched for the second half in the district-championship game loss against Bainbridge and 6-9 Coby Gibler.
In the title game, Scott scored a team-high 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Gibler had three points and six rebounds.
"This is the happiest ending I could hope for," said Scott, who indicated he had been through a tumultuous week.
When Lumpkin was asked if benching Scott was intended to light a fire under him, the former NBA player just smiled and gave the same answer he had given all week to questions about Scott: "Coach's decision."
At 1:55 of the third quarter, with O'Dea leading 39-16, starting Irish guard Chris Banchero hit the floor hard and was examined for about four minutes on the floor before walking to the bench. He didn't return to the game.
Banchero said after the game the preliminary diagnosis is concussion.
"I'm conscious enough to cut that net down and get another state championship," Banchero said.
Tipoff of the boys championship game was at 10:07 p.m., more than an hour late. There were two overtime games earlier in the day on the eight-game schedule, plus extra time taken for various introductions and trophy presentations.
The game marked the ninth time in the past 11 years and 12th in the past 15 that a Metro League team has won the state title. It was the third all-Metro final in four years. Bainbridge joined Metro six years ago.
Bainbridge was seeking its second state boys basketball title. In 1948, Bainbridge won the Class B championship.
"I'm so proud of our guys for getting to this point," Orness said. "The hard work they put in -- I couldn't ask for more of an effort from them."3
But as the night ended, Bainbridge was headed for the ferry with the second-place hardware and O'Dea was walking out the door with the treasured gold basketball trophy.
Craig Smith: 206-464-2178 or csmith@seattletimes.com
O'DEA -- Kelly Edwards 2-6 6-6 11, Brian Walker 1-4 0-0 2, Dominic Ballard 0-2 4-5 4, Colton Christian 0-0 0-0 0, Chris Banchero 4-12 0-0 8, Jamelle McMillan 4-7 3-3 12, Ellis Pressley-Whitman 1-3 3-4 5, Josh Scott 6-11 2-3 14. Totals 18-45 18-21 56.
BAINBRIDGE -- Jesse Powell 0-0 0-0 0, Caleb Davis 1-4 0-0 3, Rudy Sharar 0-1 0-0 0, Nick Fling 3-6 2-4 8, Austin Wood 2-5 0-0 4, Steven Gray 6-17 1-4 13, Ben Eisenhardt 0-0 0-0 0, Coby Gibler 1-3 1-6 3. Totals 13-36 4-14 31.
Three-point shooting -- O'Dea 2-13 (Edwards 1-4, McMillan 1-2, Walker 0-3, Banchero 0-4); Bainbridge 1-9 (Davis 1-4, Fling 0-1, Gray 0-4)). Rebounds -- O'Dea 37 (Scott 11); Bainbridge 21 (Gibler 6); Assists -- O'Dea 13 (McMillan 7); Bainbridge 3 (Davis, Fling, Gray). Steals -- O'Dea 11 (McMillan 5); Bainbridge 4 (Davis 2); Blocked shots -- O'Dea 3 (Scott 2); Bainbridge 3 (Fling, Gray, Gibler). Turnovers -- O'Dea 12 (Pressley-Whitman 5); Bainbridge 16 (Gray 5).
O'Dea 14 14 13 15 -- 56
Bainbridge 2 9 11 9 -- 31
Final flings for O'Dea
O'Dea is the first Class 4A or 3A school to win three state boys titles in four years. Results of the past four championship games:
Year Championship W-L
2004 O'Dea 68, Rainier Beach 64 (2 OTs) 24-5
2005 O'Dea 60, Mark Morris 48 26-4
2006 Seattle Prep 47, O'Dea 37 24-7
2007 O'Dea 56, Bainbridge 31 25-5
So, I quit coaching for 2 years thinking I was done and then got a call from ODEA to come coach their JV and basically run their defense on varsity and do all the scouting. I had no idea I would stay 13 years. I have been priviledged to coach wonderful kids every year, as well have known the best and worst of times with buzzer losses in the Finals and huge upsets of #1s, which we've done three times, including this year.
I felt compelled to post this info bc I nearly quit coaching after my first stint following unfair treatment when i was still very young, but I was drawn back b/c I love kids. I want everyone to know that plugging through the dark times is what truly strengthens us, gives us character, wisdom, and perspective. I have been offered numerous head coaching jobs and turned them all down bc I was shown love and loyalty at my current school from the kids, administration and coaches. It was the best decision I ever made to come back into coaching and remain true to those who wanted me. As Coach V said, Never give up. Don't ever give up.
Finally, it isn't the incredible rush of seeing the kids smile when they cut down the nets that keeps me going, it's the love they share each and every day when they say"HI" before practice and then shake my hand after practice and say "See ya tomorrow, Coach" or when they give me xmas cards and invite me to their weddings later in life. Coaches and mentors of young men are as lucky as anyone can ever be. But the ironic thing is, my players have inspired and moved me far beyond anything I could have ever done for them.
god bless,
enjoy your family and friends,
gregg
3A Boys | O'Dea's champion again
By Craig Smith
Seattle Times staff reporter
O'Dea saved the best for last and is Class 3A state boys basketball champion for the third time in four years.
The second-ranked Irish, who had lost three times during the season to Bainbridge, thumped the top-ranked Spartans 56-31 Saturday night when it mattered most -- in the state-championship game before a crowd of 6,952 at Edmundson Pavilion.
"We just made sure we got the one that counts that was tonight," said O'Dea senior guard Jamelle McMillan.
The Irish (25-5) were in the title game for the fourth straight year. They won the title in 2004 and 2005 and then lost last year's title game to Seattle Prep.
Their fifth Class 3A boys title is a record, topping Rainier Beach's four.
Tournament-savvy O'Dea jumped to a 16-2 lead in the first nine minutes and maintained control against the Spartans (25-4). What was expected to be a taut game turned into a four-quarter O'Dea victory lap.
Bainbridge's 31 points is the lowest losing score in 3A boys championship-game tournament history. The previous low score was Timberline's 39-32 win over Cheney in 1980.
McMillan, playing in his fourth title game, had a super stat line with 12 points, seven assists and five steals. He scored seven first-quarter points to get the attack rolling. The first of his two turnovers came with five minutes left in the game and the outcome decided.
"This one is by far the sweetest," McMillan said.
His father, Portland Trail Blazers coach Nate, watched the game from behind the scorer's table with his family.
Irish coach Phil Lumpkin, who won his fifth state title and has the same number as retired Garfield coach Al Hairston, said O'Dea's experience in title games was important.
"I think it's paramount," Lumpkin said. "We're very comfortable in this setting, very comfortable in this environment and we know what needs to be done."
Lumpkin said a key difference from the three earlier defeats to Bainbridge this season was offensive consistency throughout the game. In the losses, the Irish always had a dry spell. Not Saturday night.
The game got off to a promising start for Bainbridge as Steven Gray made his first shot for a 2-0 lead. He then missed his next seven as O'Dea took off on its 16-0 run.
Gray, who averaged 16.3 points in the tournament, scored 13 against O'Dea and was named tournament MVP.
Gray made 6 of 17 shots and the Spartans shot only 36 percent (13 of 36). They were 1 of 9 from the three-point arc and were outrebounded 37-21.
"We got some great shots," said Bainbridge coach Scott Orness. "When the ball doesn't go in, it's tough to stay in the ballgame, especially against a great team like O'Dea."
A big key was O'Dea's biggest player having a better night than Bainbridge's big guy.
O'Dea started 6-foot-7 senior Josh Scott for the first time in the tournament. Scott had been benched for the second half in the district-championship game loss against Bainbridge and 6-9 Coby Gibler.
In the title game, Scott scored a team-high 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Gibler had three points and six rebounds.
"This is the happiest ending I could hope for," said Scott, who indicated he had been through a tumultuous week.
When Lumpkin was asked if benching Scott was intended to light a fire under him, the former NBA player just smiled and gave the same answer he had given all week to questions about Scott: "Coach's decision."
At 1:55 of the third quarter, with O'Dea leading 39-16, starting Irish guard Chris Banchero hit the floor hard and was examined for about four minutes on the floor before walking to the bench. He didn't return to the game.
Banchero said after the game the preliminary diagnosis is concussion.
"I'm conscious enough to cut that net down and get another state championship," Banchero said.
Tipoff of the boys championship game was at 10:07 p.m., more than an hour late. There were two overtime games earlier in the day on the eight-game schedule, plus extra time taken for various introductions and trophy presentations.
The game marked the ninth time in the past 11 years and 12th in the past 15 that a Metro League team has won the state title. It was the third all-Metro final in four years. Bainbridge joined Metro six years ago.
Bainbridge was seeking its second state boys basketball title. In 1948, Bainbridge won the Class B championship.
"I'm so proud of our guys for getting to this point," Orness said. "The hard work they put in -- I couldn't ask for more of an effort from them."3
But as the night ended, Bainbridge was headed for the ferry with the second-place hardware and O'Dea was walking out the door with the treasured gold basketball trophy.
Craig Smith: 206-464-2178 or csmith@seattletimes.com
O'DEA -- Kelly Edwards 2-6 6-6 11, Brian Walker 1-4 0-0 2, Dominic Ballard 0-2 4-5 4, Colton Christian 0-0 0-0 0, Chris Banchero 4-12 0-0 8, Jamelle McMillan 4-7 3-3 12, Ellis Pressley-Whitman 1-3 3-4 5, Josh Scott 6-11 2-3 14. Totals 18-45 18-21 56.
BAINBRIDGE -- Jesse Powell 0-0 0-0 0, Caleb Davis 1-4 0-0 3, Rudy Sharar 0-1 0-0 0, Nick Fling 3-6 2-4 8, Austin Wood 2-5 0-0 4, Steven Gray 6-17 1-4 13, Ben Eisenhardt 0-0 0-0 0, Coby Gibler 1-3 1-6 3. Totals 13-36 4-14 31.
Three-point shooting -- O'Dea 2-13 (Edwards 1-4, McMillan 1-2, Walker 0-3, Banchero 0-4); Bainbridge 1-9 (Davis 1-4, Fling 0-1, Gray 0-4)). Rebounds -- O'Dea 37 (Scott 11); Bainbridge 21 (Gibler 6); Assists -- O'Dea 13 (McMillan 7); Bainbridge 3 (Davis, Fling, Gray). Steals -- O'Dea 11 (McMillan 5); Bainbridge 4 (Davis 2); Blocked shots -- O'Dea 3 (Scott 2); Bainbridge 3 (Fling, Gray, Gibler). Turnovers -- O'Dea 12 (Pressley-Whitman 5); Bainbridge 16 (Gray 5).
O'Dea 14 14 13 15 -- 56
Bainbridge 2 9 11 9 -- 31
Final flings for O'Dea
O'Dea is the first Class 4A or 3A school to win three state boys titles in four years. Results of the past four championship games:
Year Championship W-L
2004 O'Dea 68, Rainier Beach 64 (2 OTs) 24-5
2005 O'Dea 60, Mark Morris 48 26-4
2006 Seattle Prep 47, O'Dea 37 24-7
2007 O'Dea 56, Bainbridge 31 25-5
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