Mitty girls basketball coach Sue Phillips wins 800th game for nation's No. 1 squad
Mitty girls basketball coach Sue Phillips takes none of it for granted.
- Not the future induction into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame on April 27.
- Not the the recent championships at the Nike Tournament of Champions in Phoenix or the POA Holiday Classic in Portland.
- Not the 11-0 start or consensus No. 1 national rankings bestowed on the Monarchs the last two weeks.
- And certainly not Thursday's 79-8 West Catholic Athletic League opening win at Presentation, which gave Phillips her 800th career victory over a truly illustrious 31-year career.
Sophomore sensation McKenna Woliczko had 20 points, Belle Bramer 10 and. UConn-signee Morgan Chelli and Emma Cook combined for 17 in a game the Monarchs stopped fast-breaking after up by 30 points, which was in the second quarter.
They didn't attempt a 3-pointer either and waited for the 30-second shot clock to wind down to 10 seconds before engaging in offense.
Besides being a good, OK, a Hall of Fame coach — Phillips will join former WNBA stars Maya Moore and Seimone Augustus among others in the April ceremony — she's also a good sport. Piling on isn't part of the playbook.
It's just that these Monarchs are that good.
As always, Phillips was gracious and giving in her accomplishment. Phillips, who has just 137 losses, is the fourth California coach to reach the 800-win mark, according to the Cal-Hi Sports record book, ranking third behind active coaches, Kevin Kiernan, of Mater Dei at 887, and Harvard-Westlake's Melissa Hearlihy (824).
In a text to SBLive Thursday night, Phillips first thanked her current and former players and assistant coaches in the achievement.
"I am incredibly proud of the legacy we have created at Archbishop Mitty High School and the women's basketball program," she wrote. "And to be currently ranked #1 in the country in conjunction with win 800. ... I'm definitely stopping to smell the roses."
But she noted that Friday "It's back at it preparing for our next one on Tuesday," she said.
The Monarchs next play Tuesday at Saint Francis (9-1), before a another tough home tussle with Sacred Heart Cathedral (8-1).
