STATE EXTRA: Gap aims for 2nd title

SWOOPE
Buffalo Gap coach Chad Coffey may not share his entire sports literary collection, but he has taken excerpts from the pages of successful coaches to teach his team some lessons.

“Some of the girls will tell you that I read from a book before every game about stories from people’s lives, not to fire them up, but to make them think,” Coffey said.

This season, Coffey has taken passages from books writen by legendary UCLA coach John Wooden.

“Nobody can doubt what he did, winning 10 championships in 12 years,” Coffey said. “It’s applicable stuff that anybody can take and apply to their lives. And hopefully, I have more pregame readings to go.”

Whether the pregame talks come from a paperback or from Coffey’s instincts, the Bison are two games shy of repeating as Group A, Division 1 champions.

Last year’s title marked the first time the Bison had brought home a state title since 1984.

“These girls, when they walk out of that locker room, know what’s at stake,” Coffey said. “And they know what I expect and what the program expects.”

The Bison lost only three games this season. The team lost their season opener to Broadway and went on a 13-game winning streak after defeating Stuarts Draft. The black and gold finished the regular season 16-3.

“The girls know that Gap has a rich tradition in girls basketball,” Coffey said. “The girls have tried to live up to that.”

Coffey attributes his success to what he has learned from experienced coaches and other people he’s encountered.

“Anybody that I come in contact with, I try to learn from,” Coffey said. “I talk to these girls about life. Basketball is life to some extent. Sports are about life to some extent. We talk about core values and character a lot, and what they do when nobody is watching.”

Besides hard work in the weight room and at team practice, the Gap girls have learned values and morals that they will take with them after departure from their countryside high school. Besides reinforcing the pass, screen and picks, Coffey wants his players to take something home much bigger than the state crown.

“I want to teach them and instill values after they graduate,” Coffey said. “If just one is able to make that type of impact after they leave this team, I’ve done my job. It’s more than just playing a game. When they leave here, it’s a different type of world. I want them to become good people and make a difference in society.”

If Gap’s final manuscript is written today, Coffey offered advice for his squad and his seniors.

“I will tell them to cherish the memories, regardless of where we finish,” Coffey said. “They’ve had a lot of good memories over the last two years. But I want them to take those core values with them. Values like honesty, hard work and loyalty.”

The Bison will play Franklin High School in the Group A, Division 1 semifinals at the Siegel Center in Richmond at 11 a.m today. The Broncos (14-3) hail from the Tri-Rivers District. Last season, both teams played against each other in the Group A, Division 1 state championship. Gap defeated the Broncos 83-66.