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Current players, Faust showed what Wash High basketball is all about
Isn't it nice to imagine the Prexies - a team comprised mainly of multi-sport athletes, no superstar players and no one taller than 6-4 - sending head coach Ron Faust off by winning the big one?
An improbable third PIAA Class AA championship to conclude one of the great high school coaching careers Washington County will ever see, sounds too good to be true.
Sadly, it was. Still, it ended with one heckuva ride.
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Like any close game played at a high level, it's easy to focus on the small stuff. There were controversial calls, no-calls and near misses.
No doubt, the sting of Robert Anderson being called for a charging foul with 10 seconds left in regulation will linger. Nearly everyone wonders how North Catholic managed to maintain possession during an on-floor scrum that ended when Trojans center Henry Pwono recklessly threw the ball toward midcourt, only to have it saved by a guard inches before it became an over-and-back violation.
That's missing the big picture.
"This was good stuff. I had forgotten how exhausting it is to make a run in the state playoffs," Faust said. "We hadn't gone on one of these runs in five or six years. These kids came to play."
They came to play every game. Anyone questioning Washington's effort doesn't get it.
This season goes down as a great one. These Prexies, who went into the state playoffs as an eighth seed, go down as one of the great basketball teams in Washington County history. Only a small handful have ever been better.
There's no disputing that fact.
"I don't think they realize what has happened," Faust said. "There will be people on the playgrounds this summer imitating Mark Wise going in for a dunk or Troy Wilson or Nick Bryant. They etched their place in our basketball history."
And what a history it is. Faust knows, he's been there for the best of it.
It's hard to believe everything Faust - humble in victory, gracious in defeat and fair to all - accomplished in 28 years. There were a few lucky people in attendance Wednesday night who were there for all of it.
There's the numbers, a lot of them. Faust won 520 games, nearly 19 per year. There's 16 section championships, countless playoff games, four WPIAL titles and two state championships.
There's the way he teaches the game; the positive impact he's made on so many lives; the glowing manner in which former players speak of their coach.
That talk, and looking at all the numbers, can make Faust a little uncomfortable. He's always been about the players.
"If I had to play that game again, I'd sit on my bench with my guys," Faust said.
Those guys, from the starters to the role players, caught the imagination of a community. They ignited a dormant fan base. They responded to pressure and provided a legendary coach with one final and deserved playoff push.
They made memories that will last a lifetime.
"There can be a lot worse ways to end it than that, even if we got beat at the buzzer," Faust said. "Think of the coaches out there who've been doing it for 20, 30 years and never had a winner, never had a section champion.
"They did what I wanted them to do. They gut-checked it. They didn't shy away. We did what Wash High basketball was all about."
And they did it better than most.
Mike Kovak can be reached at mkovak@observer-reporter.com.
Class and Heart : 3/19/2009
Way to go Wash High. our fans adn families are more than proud.
WHat A RUN!!!! : 3/19/2009
Congrats to the WHS BB team and especially coach Faust, coach Nicollela and the entire basketball family. I listened on line to the whole game and had chills throughtouth the 2nd half. You said it all above in the article...... "the glowing manner in which former players speak".......We have been sooo proud to brag about having played for Coach Faust years ago..The GLOWING may be an understatement. Attention to school board.....PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL IN YOUR REPLACEMENT FOR COACH FAUST AS YOU CAN SEE YOUR DECISION CAN EFFECT PEOPLE FOR 20-25 YEARS AFTER THEY LEAVE THE HIGH. Discipline and respect are huuuuge. X's and O's are very overrated, if the new coach doesn't instill discipline and command the respect from the players, the previous 28 years will be wasted. I know it is not easy but best of luck.,
Wash High Tradition : 3/19/2009
You had a great season. Thanks for bringing the community together. You should be proud of your accomplishments.
Wash High basketball : 3/19/2009
Thanks for a great season and thank you, Mr. Faust, for your great career at Washington High School.
Proud member of the Prexie Family : 3/19/2009
Although we all think "what if we went to states and had one more run at it for Coach Faust " but I think "WOW...look what these young men were able to accomplish with hard work and great guidance." I am proud to be a part of the Prexie family and proud of everything this team has accomplished. I don't worry about what if's I am proud that these boys and Coach Faust got to experience what few teams will ever get a chance to be a part of. This team has nothing to be ashamed of!! They will go down in history with the Faust Era.... what a great sending off to your coach! And to you coach Faust...you are irreplaceable...a legend....and will be sadly missed! Much love to you and Coach Nic. ! I don't care what anyone says... The HIGH THE HIGH THE HIGH IS ON FIRE ... WE DON'T NEED NO WATER LET THE LITTLE PREXIES BURN!!
Wash High Basketball : 3/28/2009
I have known many of you since you were 6 years old and it gives me great pleasure in knowing that you all did the unthinkable,Brought Prexie basketball to a new level,you are all Supermen in my book!
