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i.- - no i Mi U1 it imoMt ii . “t'tllit‘vldt ix tuba sow kÂ¥r _ . , v 7.”. ,w_‘_J A basketball classic C C C , . O I Renred St. David Celncs coach delighted by tournament named m his honour Bi BottVitMMt ~ _. h) two late In the game and lllrllr , - t hrtmuie‘ sift/L , fl , y". y mg to the wall and saying 'l’lease w t . (10d, let the kids Will ‘ here are always some nice {i , " l hat was the absolute high I accolades that come Will] the a; light of my career." end ol it long-storied coach \ > All If he has any regrets it might be iiig career, htit none are better '1 m I the relationship he had with the than the legan \ou leme behind. _‘ V referees But he said he uni) did it lhat‘s why lornier St David '\‘":V| ‘1 to get the benefit of doubt for his (‘eltii's girls basketball coach loni Z ' players. \ O‘Brien said the greatest thrill for - x " ~ . And once the game was li\('r. it ‘ him was when he deeided to retire g)! was over All the histrioniis that in lune was the Waterloo school s came Willi his passionate mat hing athletics department and school stile stayed on the court administration detidiiig to name it O'Brien said hatching the girls tit-\s tournament in hishonour . -. he llHlL lied den-lop all the not "lion man) gm s can say lroiti tirade ‘i lo the unnersitt lt‘\t‘l the) 've had that honour?" said g’,“_ over tlietears has been it thrill () Brien "Hots thotiglitlul lor the 5*“: 4 V. But it “its also the hitsis ol it athletic department .md titllllllllN ,~ ”1:1“! :"- . number ol lite long friendships lldlllitl todo that . C- i ‘ Pug ".l-“Jg, L “~~- ills retirement open house last "i still remembered sitting at “a a. a“? i a; BASKETBAL Iiiiie “its populated Will] former the .tihletit banquet \\llt‘ll lltt‘\‘ .\‘ _, ' ( '"' "is. V“ 5‘; plan-rs. coaches and people he made the .ttiiiotititeiiietii and rm . 1 g, ' '3" l _,":‘ f‘ had the pleasure ol' meeting In his in“ inst dropped ” a , 5‘ x“ "I f. :1.” basketball lli1\l’l\ lite inaugural ( out it it'ltrteii {3 1:" g 5‘ V‘ ”i" Mime? lotniei players like \tirtih ( l.issie Basketball tournament . 5’ v' , 2&3 a 512%., if? ’ ' (.tillins. and her sister lenii. were took the lloot (it the ( elties home " . A‘L’jf‘h" “W also on hand tor i‘rid.i\ ‘s terenio» gi [Illltl\llllll last iridti)‘ and was ’ I‘diftgi’ : Wa- \ t in: lhei‘ both played liir (“their at greeted Will] it touch of eniotioti ‘* .-. ‘ Q75" . the high school and utiiu-i‘siti and good humor hi the event's A} Fa???" e‘mvé, level and wanted to be a part of his tiariiesake. ‘ l~ . ; -. 3‘ _ _ I. " special day. “As long the_\ don't call it the ’ ' , ‘ ' “T i a» 1’93, ‘ p,» "i remember meeting him in memorial." said O'Brien. laughing W ,. ”EM w“ 5, ‘ (trade 4 or (iratde 5 and him saying. ‘ ~ after speaking to it gym lull of slur ’ _ ‘ . , 12‘7“. . ' " i '- « j ' ‘Yup. you‘re tall enough â€" \ou‘re dents. lormer players and coaches 7‘; egg: ,, A "V ’ , goitig to be a basketball player. ”l‘ve already heard some sttidents .5 eh . g: 7.4 i f .5. said lenn. calling it a memorial tournament, if? ’ ‘- ":1: in} 1 1 t .~ ' t . ’3 “lie was my first coach in (irade "l‘m not quite ready for that." " “‘ 3”." A J“ 1"” 5 9 and then went on to coach me at The former (Ielties basketball Former St. David Celtics girls basketball coach Tom O'Brien sits in an unfamiliar position â€" the end of the bench university. guru. who also had a lotig career â€" last Friday. The fiery coach was renowned for pacing the sidelines during most games. He was honoured for his “I made decisions based on his coaching women's basketball at distinguished coaching career at the Waterloo school last week with a tournament named after him called the coaching because i wanted to play the university" level with the.Uni» COBCh O'Brien Classic. . for him.” versity ofWaterloo and Wilfrid “"“M‘ “He always focused on the per- laurier University. said he made versity of Guelph, convinced him â€" that's a little cold water in the their first (IWOSSA triple A title in son." said Sarah. who even invited the right decision to stay with the to help the Gryphons' program as face." their home gym. and became the O'Brien to her Wedding. high school game for more than 31 a recruiter and assistant coach But it was while with the Celtics first senior girls team in school his- “I chose Iaurier because of how 3/06”» A health scare got him out of that he formed his fondest memo- tory to go on to playat ()FSSA, good a coach he is and the rapport “The kids have just been labu7 full~time coaching in 2007. but he’s ries. as he shared some of them Those memories are still fresh he has with other coaches and lous OVCr that time here." he said. excited to be still involved in the after receiving a warm welcome from that emotional victory and of players in the area," “I was even prepared to come back game in some way from the boisterous crowd. players like Kim Devison and Ash» “The basketball world is a very ht‘tt‘ and math tht’ senior git“ “l'm living the dream," said During his3l-year tenure at the ton liavigne that helped bring small one." said O'Brien. "This was heforelgor thetiuelph job." O‘Brien after a 40-year teaching school he helped guide three home thetitle. always about the kids and the ()‘Brien's official retirement did A career “I'm doing all things I want- teams to undefeated seasons and “The gym was packed and the school w this school has always n't last long as one of his former ed to do now. except i got my first three District 8 titles. The highlight fans were going craly." said been very good to me fl and I players. Angela Orton and the Utti- Canada pension cheque last week was in 2007 when the Celtics won O'Brien. "l remember we were tip wanted to give something back." . ‘ . - ‘ ’ ' I t, . a. i ‘ . ' - . ‘ -\\il student. \lulii ....i:i. I'm/w in,” [in Hon/t». to: .i \ ,A" ‘ i ‘R "l" \‘l""‘ \"“H 3", IlliIl//\*v‘\'li (in; Her/twin] [Hill/i [In ‘ m “:2 ,t ' -' .K _ \, [Vill‘zlyl‘IIzl'lt' L Snub”. IV III: liitw filth-l“ I/ii Hun/stir I...:.v..i~ , 5‘“ “V J ‘ 1,”, k“‘I\l.3‘\Hllll‘l|._ ill (Ii/iiiitilu \liiillirui v \ n ' N e «.3! LAURIER GOLDEN HAWKS vs WINDSOR LANCERS ()(‘l‘()BICR lll'lH - l:l)() l’l\l - UNIVERSI’I‘Y Sl‘»\l)lUNl - \‘wfi‘ " “" lickel inlurinatinn: :I‘LHS-lll'f'lll \-l3§h’ 9â€"2,“ .. www.l.1urierath-letics.com