Coach wins 828!

Coach John F. Thames became the winningest active women’s basketball coach in South Carolina history in the gym that bears his name when his Lady Monarchs soundly defeated the Wilson Lady Tigers, 74-57, Wednesday night.

“They said they’d make a game of it and they did,” Thames said after the game.

When asked about becoming the winningest active coach in state history, Thames responded, “I did? What number was that?”

Thames said he’s “very relieved” to have #828 behind him.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Lady Monarchs lost to Lakewood, a team the Lady Monarchs had defeated twice already this season.

“That hurt the team a lot,” he added. “It was a lot of pressure. I didn’t want that for the girls. I’m proud we could rise to the occasion.”

The first half of Wednesday night’s game was close between Manning and Wilson.

The Lady Tigers took the early lead at 2-0, but the Lady Monarchs came back, took the lead and never lost it. The Lady Tigers cut the score to two but couldn’t regain the lead.

At one point in the second quarter, Thames encouraged the Lady Monarchs to take more shots from the baseline.

“They’re giving us the outside,” he told his team. “We can hit from the baseline.”

Ever the diplomat, Thames questioned at least one call by the referees.

“That ought to be a charge,” he shouted.

“Well, it ought to be,” he added under his breath as he walked away from the referees.

One player had the coach laughing late in the first half.

“Did she ask for gum?” he asked with a chuckle.

The Lady Tigers kept the game close by allowing the Lady Monarchs into the locker room at the half up by only three, 30-27.

In the third quarter, Thames urged his team to shoot the ball.

“If your foot is in the lane, shoot it,” he told them. “Shoot the ball.”

At the end of the third quarter, the Lady Monarchs extended the lead to 50-40.

Thames kept an active dialogue with his players throughout the game.

“Did you see anyone break to help her?” he asked.

“Not a soul,” he added.

Throughout the game, Thames talked to his players every time they’d go to the bench for a breather.

“Good game. That’s the way to do. Now you’re doing it.”

The Lady Monarchs played well on both sides of the ball Wednesday night. While their intensity may have waned from time to time, the team never gave up.

By the time the game was over, every player on the team had spent time on the court.

With 10 seconds left on the clock, the fans in the stands, former players and the players on the bench began a count down to end the game…9…8…7

When the clock came up all zeros, the team rushed around Thames on the court with many of them signaling #1. Fans from behind the bench and across the court flooded the court to congratulate Thames.

With a huge smile and a little relief on his face, Thames thanked everyone for their well wishes.

Win #828 was sweet, but it’s back to basketball for the Lady Monarchs.

“The next game is always the most important,” Thames said after the game. We take one game at a time.”

The Lady Monarchs will compete in the second day of competition in the Monarch Classic at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 21 with a game against Carolina Forest.