Preston joins elite 600 club

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January 25, 2012

Preston joins elite 600 club

Davenport coach 19 wins away from retired leader

By Rob Centorani Staff Writer The Daily Star Wed Jan 25, 2012, 02:30 AM EST

ANDES _ Perhaps it's fitting Davenport's Ray Preston became the second girls basketball coach in New York state to win 600 games in a gym that's slightly wider than a one-way street and where a medium-length outlet pass and one dribble constitutes a fastbreak.

That's because he's succeeded in the state's smallest classification for 33 years, providing Grade-A coaching to Class D girls.

The man who turns 63 on Saturday has no state championships of which to speak _ just a resume of winning on an alarmingly consistent basis.

So with 1 minute, 21 seconds left in a 58-33 Delaware League victory over Andes on Tuesday, it was announced to a two-thirds filled gym that Preston was about to win his 600th game.

It was met with polite applause _ no standing ovation _ for several seconds.

A few pictures, some hearty congratulations from parents and fans, and many smiles _ including one adorned by the man himself _ followed the victory.

"This is like a huge accomplishment," Davenport senior Lauren Hotaling said after scoring a game-high 11 points. "I don't even know any other coach who's done this."

To answer Hotaling's question, one other girls basketball coach in Empire State history has reached the milestone. That would be former Red Hook coach John Kuhn, who retired after the 2009-2010 season with 619 triumphs.

"There are a lot of memories," said Preston, who took over the program in 1978 and has a 600-157 record. "I thank the girls for being part of it. Obviously, any girl who's played for me is a part of it and it's a big number."

It's the second big number Preston's reached this academic year. He earned his 400th girls soccer victory in a 2-0 win over Roxbury on Oct. 12. It's believed that three others _ former Tamarac coach Graig Gilbert (478 wins), former Oneonta High coach Helen Sandford (440) and former Arkport coach Melody Harwood _ have reached that milestone in New York.

To put 600 wins into perspective, South Kortright girls coach Josh Burroughs has a 90-10 record in his fifth season. If he continues to win at his current pace, Burroughs would reach 600 wins during the 2033-34 season.

"It's an amazing accomplishment," first-year Andes coach Tom Little said. "Just the longevity needed is tough to do. I tip my hat to him. It's a lot of work."

One only needs to watch Davenport's girls closely to find the roots of Preston's success. Even on Andes cramped floor where three-point arcs run out of room about 12 feet from the baselines and the mid-court line is well within former BYU standout Jimmer Fredette's range, the Wildcats proved Tuesday fundamentals work anywhere.

Preston's players catch with two hands before turning to face their defenders in the triple-threat position, they square their bodies to the basket before shooting, they rebound with two hands, they dribble with either hand, they run the floor, they slide their feet defensively and anticipate, they hustle back on defense and most importantly, they play hard from opening tip to final buzzer.

"We do so much straight from preseason all the way until now," Hotaling said. "Just yesterday, for example, we were all in different spots working down low and up high. We have assistant coaches working with us on dribbling drills all over the place. It's really helpful. From Day 1, we really work hard."

Scores of others who've donned maroon uniforms over the past three-plus decades probably would echo Hotaling's description of Preston's my-way-or-the-country-road approach to coaching.

It's helped him to 25 Delaware League division titles, 11 league championships, eight Section Four Class D titles, four trips the state final four and two appearances in state finals. He earned induction into the New York State Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011 and was inducted into the Section Four Hall of Fame in 2009.

"It's all fundamentals," said Preston, whose teams won 101 straight games against Section Four opponents from 1981 to 1984. "We work on fundamentals all the time. Even at the varsity level, you have to do fundamentals. It's not like college where they get guys and they've been playing for all these years. It's fundamentals.

"But then you look and see you had 20 turnovers and say, well, we didn't do something right or somebody goes by you on the baseline, and I remind them, it's fundamentals."

Preston said his players deserve the credit.

"God has blessed me with kids who want to work and this is part of the result," he said. "It's what the kids want to get out of it. How hard do you want to work? How good do you want to be? I expect you to work and they know they're supposed to be working."

The Wildcats (6-5, 5-3) took care of their work early Tuesday.

A stifling full-court press forced numerous turnovers that helped the Wildcats to seven layups during a 21-7 first quarter.

Hotaling and Sarah Haight scored two fastbreak layups apiece over the first 2 minutes, 35 seconds as Davenport raced to a 9-0 lead.

After Andes' Jade Litaker scored inside to make it 11-5 with 3:20 left in the first quarter, the Wildcats went on a 10-2 run. Kassie Jeffers hit three layups during the spurt.

Another inside by Litaker, who scored a team-high nine points, brought the Mountaineers (3-9, 3-7) to 26-15 with 4:15 left in the first half.

But four straight Davenport points _ a free throw by Haight, a layup by Hotaling off an inbounds pass from Kate Swantak and a free throw by Swantak _ made it 30-15 and Andes never drew closer than 14 thereafter.

"You just try to get a lead and maintain it," said Preston, who retired as a business teacher from Davenport six years ago.

Following the game, Preston said he ran into a player from his first team _ Debbie Sanford.

"That team went to the sectional finals and did very, very well," he said. "It's nice she showed."

Preston said he wasn't certain how long he'd continue coaching.

"It's certainly been a lot of fun or I wouldn't be doing it," he said. "As long as I like it ... but who knows when that's going to be? It could be next season or the year after. I have no idea, but I still enjoy the kids."

Davenport 58, Andes 33

DAVENPORT (6-5, 5-3): Cassie Wubbenhorst 2-12 4-8 8, Kassie Jeffers 4-6 1-2 9, Kate Swantak 1-2 1-3 3, Brittani Pietrefesa 0-2 0-0 0, Sarah Haight 3-7 2-4 8, Melissa Sperry 1-4 2-4 4, Sam Maidens 3-7 0-0 6, Lauren Hotaling 5-19 1-2 11, Jenna Lutz 3-6 3-4 9. TOTALS: 22-65 14-27 58.

ANDES (3-9, 3-7): Ashley Terry 2-8 0-0 4, Shianne Coss 3-9 2-6 8, Marissa Heannings 1-10 0-0 2, Desirae Coss 2-14 0-1 4, Kelsey Little 2-9 0-2 4, Jade Litaker 4-7 1-2 9, Jordan Day 0-0 1-2 1, Sam Falco 0-7 1-2 1, Amber Terry 0-1 0-0 0. TOTALS: 14-58 5-15 33.

Davenport ..... 21 11 10 16 _ 58

Andes ..... 7 10 8 8 _ 33

Three-point field goals: None.

Rob Centorani can be reached at rcentorani@thedailystar.com or 607-432-1000, ext. 209.