Smith wins 800th game

By Staff Reports

Great Falls High School basketball coach John Smith treats milestone wins as no big deal these days. But the rest of the world is unlikely to let him get away with brushing off his 800th career win.

That win occurred Friday when the Red Devils marched past McBee, 81-30. Smith seemed more concerned that it was the first region win of the year than the fact that it was win 800.

Smith conceded that his 500th win was a significant one. It's a watershed mark for all hoops coaches, he says.

But he has been less concerned about 600, 700 and, now, 800. It's just another victory, not much different from No. 799. He said he's really happy to get 800 out of the way.

But records count. Smith, who is in his 40th year coaching boys basketball at Great Falls, also can claim six state championships and 15 trips to the state title game.

His 800 wins are more than any other high school basketball coach in South Carolina history. Only 41 other high school coaches nationwide have 800 or more wins, and Smith is almost certain to move ahead of several of them next season.

But we can see Smith's point: It's not just the milestones or the records beaten; it's the quality of the whole experience, the satisfaction of successfully guiding young athletes for four decades, the intangible rewards of a job well done, day after day, season after season.

That work ethic can get you 800 wins. It also can give you a lot more in the process of reaching that plateau.