McCluer North Coach Reflects on Season

The roots of the growing dynasty on North Waterford are easy to trace.

Three trips to Mizzou Arena throughout the past four years put in a special category.

Coach Randy Reed should be credited with putting the Stars in that elite class by themselves. As a player at Vashon playing for coach Floyd Irons, Reed learned the game of basketball at a different level.

Perhaps the most important aspect of the game he learned concerned getting through a long, grueling season centered around a tough schedule.

"Back in the day, he told us the only thing that matters is the last six games of the season," Reed said.

Like the football program, the simple statement and theory has put North on the map in high school sports.

When the Stars defeated Troy 63-53 to win the Class 5 title, it was the second title for Reed and his club. McCluer North previously won the title in 2007, and they finished second in 2008.

Reed said the short history and tradition pushed the Stars all season.

"I tried to use our tradition to my advantage," Reed said. "I told B.J. (Young) and Jordon (Granger) that they had never won a district championship and that they were the leaders. This time, they had to lead us. I told them about the '07 team and how they perservered. I think it was easy for the kids to buy into."

There were some peaks and valleys in the 28-4 season. North started out at 19-0 before dropping four of six games. Young had to sit out two games at midseason for picking up two technicals.

The bottom almost dropped out of the season when the Stars lost to Chaminade 78-56 in a nationally televised game on . The battle of Bradley Beal and Young went to Beal as he scored 40 points in a game that fans will talk about for years.

Like a seasoned coach, Reed did not panic or push the Stars after the loss.

"I always believed that we would come back, even after getting beat by Chaminade," Reed said. "I turned off the phone, stayed at home and found a way to get out of the deep hole we were in. I always thought we would be state champs."

Reed and his staff challenged the Stars after the loss to Chaminade.

"I let them criticize themselves," Reed said. "I did not get on them. I let them police themselves. They responded to peer pressure on themselves. Sometimes pressure from adults does not work. That really got us back on track."

As the loss to Chaminade was a wake-up call, the virtually was the state title final.

"You can never play the perfect game, but it was near perfect," Reed said. "To hold them to 56 points with arguably the best player to ever come out of St. Louis was simply unbelievable."

Reed admitted he got caught up in the emotion of the win in Columbia. He stated the team was the best he has coached at McCluer North. Looking back, he now has different feelings."

"This is a team that went through a lot of obstacles," Reed said. "Looking back, the '07 team had three stars. We had two really talented players on this team surrounded by a great group of role players."