Chapter 274: Coach Sinclair
Sunday, January 29th, Noon
Taking a seat in the television room, Ashlyn pulled up the school website on her tablet. On-time, as always, the new video appeared on the website; staring at the walls in the room around her, she wasn't sure if she wanted to press play. Kiera was a colleague. Her view of Kiera Sinclair changed since she played for her. Ashlyn feared Brett would go through the same pattern with her. Maybe she should talk to Lucas, Kay, and Candi about how their relationship had changed over the years.
Putting her tablet down, she stood up and walked to the windows. Looking out onto the Atlantic Ocean, Ashlyn studied the waves lapping onto the bench. Maybe she shouldn't watch it, but Ashlyn knew she's a person that liked to complete things.
Turning away from the window, Ashlyn returned to the sofa and picked up her tablet. Holding the tablet, she stared at it but couldn't pull the trigger.
A knock broke Ashlyn's thoughts on the door. Saved by the bell, Ashlyn put the tablet down and looked to the door.
"Come in," Ashlyn said.
The door opened, and Maeghan walked into the television room. "Mom, what are you doing?" Maeghan said.
"Sitting here, checking on things, adult stuff," Ashlyn said.
"Can I spend time with you?" Maeghan asked.
"Where are your brothers?" Ashlyn asked.
"In the gym," Maeghan said.
Ashlyn knew her younger daughter disliked basketball, so if the twins were in the gym, that usually left Maeghan out. "Where's Brett?" Ashlyn asked.
"She's packing to go to her dad's," Maeghan said.
Ashlyn nodded, "I was about to watch a student video about Mrs. Sinclair," she said.
"Can I watch it with you?" Maeghan asked.
"It's about her and basketball," Ashlyn said.
"It's okay; I just want to watch with you," Maeghan said.
Ashlyn nodded and remembered a time when she would watch game footage and have a four-year-old Maeghan on one knee and thirteen-year-old Brett on the other side. Ashlyn thought about it; maybe it was about spending time together. "Sure," Ashlyn said.
Maeghan climbed up on the sofa next to Ashlyn and cuddled up. Ashlyn picked up the tablet and woke it back up.
Ashlyn looked at Maeghan, "Are you ready?" she asked.
Maeghan nodded, "I'm ready," she said.
"Okay," Ashlyn said and pressed the play button.
The video buffered for a moment, the video started. The usual tilt cards appeared, A Tree Hill High School Audio Video Production, with the next card the words appeared, In Association with Tree Hill High School Athletics Departments. Once it faded, the credits began. Ashlyn noted this was different; instead of the players' regular clips, there are clips of the coaches on the sideline. Ashlyn chuckled at how animated Lucas could be.
I
Will
Be
I Will be Heard.
The credits ended, and the screen faded to the Tree Hill High School television studio. Trey sat behind the desk, and Ashlyn noted he had a new tie. He looked at the camera.
"Hello, I'm Trey Tertho, and this is Be Heard: A Championship Defined. Today our subject is one of the architects of this championship team. The long term assistant coach on this team was in a unique position to scout the incoming talent. Also, for several games this season, as Coach Scott recovered from health issues, she kept the team rolling along. Let's hear her story today on Coach Sinclair," Trey said.
Angela appeared on the screen.
"Momma, that's Auntie Tall," Maeghan said.
Ashlyn nodded, "Yes, that's her," she said.
On the screen, Angela nodded. "Coach Sinclair," she said.
Ashton appeared on the screen in her Doctor's office. "Coach Sinclair," she said.
Ashlyn appeared on the screen in her guidance office.
"Momma, that's you," Maeghan said.
"Shh!" Ashlyn said but also nodded.
"Coach Sinclair," Computer Ashlyn said.
Mackenzie appeared on the screen next. "Coach Sinclair," she said.
Devyn appeared next on the screen. "Coach Sinclair," she said.
After watching, several of the other women appeared on the screen. Finally, Coach Scott appeared on-screen, sitting in the bleachers.
"Kiera," was all Coach Scott said.
Coach Sinclair appeared on the screen in the coach's office. She smiled at the camera. "Talent, coaching, and chemistry, that what makes a winner. My job was the second, which enhanced the other two. That season I focused on the forecourt players and finishing off what I could with a great group of players. I'm Kiera Sinclair, assistant coach, and middle school gym teacher," she said.
Coach Sinclair returned on the screen. "Kiera and I both interviewed for coaching jobs that year. I initially wanted to coach the boy's team; she wanted to coach the girl's team. I got offered the girls' team, after discussing it with my wire, I took it. My one condition was I wanted a women's assistant; the AD suggested Kiera. I took her to dinner with my wife, and we clicked. Every year I've coached, she's been my number two, and I wouldn't have it any other way," he said.
Coach Sinclair appeared on the screen next. "He said we clicked? Well, I wasn't sure; he beat me out for a job I wanted and didn't interview for. We didn't know each other, and he took me out to dinner with our significant others. I still wasn't one hundred percent sold and was leaning toward not signing on. What changed my mind was Coach Scott's wife, Peyton. We ran into each other in the lady's room and had a conversation. It was Peyton that convinced me to sign on with him, and it's been something I've never regretted," Coach Sinclair said.
Evangeline appeared on the screen. "Coach Sinclair is tough; she wants you to work hard. She takes no mouth when she corrects you. I watched her recently, and not much has changed, except maybe less cursing nowadays," she said.
Mackenzie appeared on the screen, "Coach Sinclair rules, I used to know the numbers, but one of her first rule, train to consistency, right or wrong just be consistent, that way we can fix or improve your performance," she said.
Coach Scott appeared on screen again. "Kiera is the secret to our success. Being in middle school, she's well-positioned to scout the incoming student and suggest and recruit them. There are many times she knows more about the girls than I do," he said.
Coach Sinclair appeared next, "Lucas doesn't like judging his relatives and their friends. If anything, he wants to keep them off the team. I've been the one to convince him to put them on the team. Three key pieces, hell four key pieces were me convincing him," she said.
"Who were they?" The person behind the camera asked.
"The A's and Kay," Coach Sinclair said.
Devyn appeared on the screen. "Coach Sinclair, she's tough but fair. It's simple to follow her rules, and you should have no issue," she said.
"What rules are those?" the person behind the camera asked.
"Coach Sinclair Rules," Devyn said.
Coach Scott appears on the screen. "Oh, Kiera's rules, of course, I know about them; they're good rules," he said.
Ashlyn appeared on the screen. "It's hard for me to talk about the coaches back then, honestly, as I've worked with them over the years. I do know that they made me a better player, more importantly, a better person," she said.
The screen changed to Coach Scott, "Kiera has been there for years; she's been a good friend and colleague. There were years I could've gotten through them without her. She, well, without her, we wouldn't be here having this conversation," he said.
Coach Sinclair appeared on the screen. "Do I want to take over when Coach Scott retires? No, we're about the same age, and it's been discussed between us is that we'll leave at the same time," she said.
The screen changed to sideline footage of the first game in January, where Coach Sinclair coached the game; the footage showed her directing the team on the court. It faded to the most recent picture of Coach Sinclair with three championship trophies.
The screen changed to Trey in the studio. "Coach Sinclair, if it said that Coach Scott was the architect of this championship, Coach Sinclair was the engineer. She scouted the players, she helped choose the players, and in some cases made the final vote to get them on the roster. Without her, we might not be doing this show. Tomorrow, join us for the episode many have been waiting for, the mastermind, so please join us tomorrow," Trey said, and the video ended.
"They just only talked about, Mrs. Sinclair," Maeghan said.
Ashlyn nodded, "Yes, it was a bit of profile of her," she said.
"It's okay," Maeghan said.
"Yeah, it is," Ashlyn said, "So, what do you want to do now?"
"I don't know, I just want to spend time with you," Maeghan said.
Ashlyn smiled and nodded; that was something she liked to hear.
