Chapter 82: Coach Scott's Office

Tuesday, January 3rd, Afternoon

It was the end of the school day when he walked into the office of Principal Glenda Farrell. She was recently promoted to principal from assistant principal, as assistant principal she was the head of discipline, earning the nickname at one point of Hang 'em High Farrell. Lucas took a seat across from her desk and looked at her. She smiled at him and rested her hands on her desk.

"Hi Luke, how are you doing?" Farrell asked.

"I'm doing, well, okay," Lucas said.

"You and the girls are having a good season, I see," Farrell said.

"Yes, we are. We're doing great, and I have a great group of girls," Lucas said.

"You also have Brett, and she's very talented," Farrell said.

Lucas nodded, "Oh god yes, she's one of the best players I've ever coached. I'm not surprised by her family background," he said.

"It also helps that her Mom is one of your assistance," Farrell said.

Lucas looked at Farrell, "Ashlyn has been a great addition to my staff. It allows Kiera to coach the guards which she's more comfortable with. Also, Ashlyn's a great coach and I'm glad to have her on my staff," he said.

"So are we," Farrell said, "As a Segway, this works."

"What are you getting at?" Lucas asked.

"The real reason I called you here," Farrell said.

"Which is?" Lucas asked.

"It's been fifteen years since the girl's team won its first title," Farrell said.

Lucas nodded, "Roughly, I believe, I've not counted," he said.

"Well we want to bring the team back, and honor them on Senior Night," Farrell said.

Lucas nodded, a little dumbstruck, "That's not a very easy thing to do," he said.

"That's why we're talking about it now," Farrell said, "Any other thoughts?"

"Who chose Senior Night?" Lucas asked.

"The School Board, I believe," Farrell said.

Lucas nodded, then shook his head, "I'm not against bringing the girls back," he said.

"Let's hear the but," Farrell said.

"Could you please, see about not doing it on Senior Night?" Lucas asked.

"Why?" Farrell asked.

"We shouldn't take away from the seniors. It's their last night here, Brett, Baylee, and Avril have played their hearts out for us. It's their moment that night. How would you feel if someone took it away from you?" Lucas said.

"Go on," Farrell said.

"Especially think about it. Ashlyn was on that championship team, and Brett is her daughter. Brett has already climbed a steep hill with her family connections just to get here. It's her night to shine, and how would you feel if your Mom took it away from you, Glenda?" Lucas said.

"I see your point," Farrell said, her face in a pensive look as if she was remembering something from the past.

"As I said, I'm not against honoring Ashlyn and Angela's team, but not on senior night, that's for Brett, Baylee, and Avril's night," Lucas said.

Ferrell nodded, "I'll bring your objections to the board," she said.

"Thank you," Lucas said.

"Okay, Luke, I believe you have practice," Farrell said.

"I do, I'll see you at the game?" Lucas said.

"I plan on being there," Farrell said.

Lucas left the office and headed towards the gym and his office. He maintained an office attached to the girls' locker room. One of the first things he did, after hiring a female assistant; was he had the window blocked off. Also, they eventually put a second door in, that connected to the hallway, so when students visited, they didn't have to walk through the locker room.

When he got to the gym, he saw Ashlyn Scott, his nephew's wife, and one of his assistant coaches was waiting for him at his office door.

"Where's Kiera?" Lucas asked.

"She got tied up at the middle school," Ashlyn said. His other assistant was a gym teacher at the middle school.

Lucas nodded and unlocked the door. They entered the office and Lucas took a seat behind the desk. Ashlyn took a seat in one of the chairs in front of the desk. Lucas looked across the desk at Ashlyn.

"Sorry, I'm late, I had a meeting with Principle Farrell," Lucas said.

"What did Hang 'em High Farrell want?" Ashlyn asked.

Lucas sighed, "They want to honor your championship team," he said.

"That's a great idea, getting the band back together and such," Ashlyn said.

"On Senior Night, Ash," Lucas said.

"Senior Night? That's not fair Luke, it's the girls' night, it's Brett's night," Ashlyn said, "I can't take that away from her, she'd more hate me for it."

"I asked her to talk to the board to move it," Lucas asked.

Ashlyn nodded, "Thanks, so what does this entitle?" she asked.

Lucas shrugged, "They want to bring Y'all back," he said.

"We've established that," Ashlyn said, "But, that's a lot of work."

Lucas nodded, "I know," he said, "You're here and Kelly lives in town. I talk to Angela and Kay regularly."

"Yeah, I talk to Angela all the time as well," Ashlyn said.

Kiera Sinclair walked into the office just then. She was the senior of Lucas' two assistant coaches. "Sorry, I'm late," she said, "What are we talking about?"

"The school wants to honor the fifteenth anniversary of Ashlyn's championship team," Lucas said.

"Our first championship," Kiera said, with a tone of fond remembrance, "I see, and what were we discussing about it?"

"Who we are still in contact with, to bring back for that night," Ashlyn said.

Kiera nodded and took a seat in the other chair before Lucas' desk. "Well we can knock you, Ashlyn, off the list right away," she said, "Also Kelly is in town, Lucas you're related to Angela and Kay. We keep forgetting about Ashton, I have her son in a gym class."

"I think, Big Mack plays overseas still," Ashlyn said.

"That leaves Monica, Devyn, Cara, Evangeline, Jaslyn, and Anna," Lucas said, having pulled out an old roster from that season's file from his desk's file drawer.

Ashlyn nodded and pulled out her phone, "I almost forgot, I'm Facebook friends with Devyn and Eva," she said.

"We could ask Kay if she knows how to get in contact with Monica, Jaslyn, and Anna," Kiera suggested, "They played together all four years."

Lucas nodded, "I'll talk with Candi and Willa," he said, and held up his hands, "I know, I know different teams, but they played with Monica, Jaslyn, and Anna."

"I found Cara on Facebook," Ashlyn said, "I just sent her a Facebook Friend request."

"Okay, that's a plan to get a hold with just about everyone," Lucas said.

"Except for the elephant in the room," Kiera said.

"I've noticed no one wanted to bring her up," Ashlyn said.

Lucas nodded, "Yeah," he said, "Faith."

Ashlyn nodded, "You got to have Faith," she said quietly, almost too mournfully, using what they use to call out from the bench when Faith Brown scored or did something key on the court.

"It's been years," Kiera said, "We should be able to not have to avoid saying she died."

"I know," Lucas said, "But it's still tough."

"So, we need to get the family to represent her," Kiera said.

"But who? Kole? Her Mom? Her other brother?" Ashlyn asked.

"Faith had a son her senior year," Lucas stated.

"She did?" Ashlyn asked, "How come I didn't know?"

"We didn't broadcast it, nor did her family," Lucas said, "But her playing days were ended her junior year."

"That's how Candi got playing time that season," Kiera said, "Faith couldn't play, and Candi beat out Anna eventually as her replacement." There was still some attitude of I told you so in her voice directed at Lucas.

"So, Faith had a son," Ashlyn said.

"Two sons," Lucas corrected.

"Two sons?" Ashlyn asked.

"Yes, she married the first son's dad and they had a second son before she died," Lucas said.

"So, let's get the sons to represent her," Ashlyn said.

"Son," Lucas corrected again.

"Son?" Ashlyn asked.

"Her younger son was killed in a car accident four years ago," Kiera said.

"I see," Ashlyn said.

"That's a possibility," Kiera said.

Lucas nodded, "I'll get in contact with Kole, he's still in town," he said.

"Okay," Kiera said.

"Enough talk about this, let's get going on what we're going to go against tomorrow night," Lucas said.

Kiera nodded, "Yeah, we have had good guard play, but we need to watch because we're going against a good backcourt," she said.

"Okay, Kiera make sure Baylee and Faye are straight on what we're facing. Also, we have to make sure Corynn, Gracelyn, and Khole get their reps in. We might have to rotate them often," Lucas said.

Kiera nodded, "Got it," she said.

"How about the Bigs?" Lucas asked.

"We got this Luke, and I know it's going to be a battle in the paint," Ashlyn said.

"Is Brett, Avril and Jade ready for this?" Lucas asked.

"They better be, we've brought out the football blocking pads. It would be their own damn fault if they can't handle the play in the paint," Ashlyn said.

"You didn't go easy on them?" Lucas asked.

"I made sure Brett landed on her ass many times," Ashlyn said.

Lucas nodded, with a bit of a smile, "Good, we need to play our game, not their game," he said.

"Yes," Ashlyn and Kiera said.

"We don't have time to prepare for them, especially with a game Friday as well. If we work on what we do and play our game, we should be alright," Lucas said.

"Yes," Ashlyn and Kiera said.

Lucas looked up at the wall clock. "Okay, let me get changed, I'll meet you out on the court," he said.

The two women nodded and left the office. Lucas looked one more time at the whiteboard and nodded. It was his time now, and he needed to get focused on the team and the upcoming game.