03/05/2006
By Jason Chlapek and Brian Porter , Staff Writers

PLANO - Officially mark down Plano as a basketball town.

In a span of about eight hours on Saturday, the Plano ISD clinched a girls state championship and a berth in the boys state tournament.

The Frank Erwin Center in Austin was blue-clad and jumping in celebration on Saturday evening after Kathleen Nash hit her second of two free-throw attempts to seal Plano West's ninth state championship in school history and the first Plano ISD basketball state championship in the modern era.

The Lady Wolves beat Rockwall, 54-47 in the title game.

"There'll be other state champions for years to come, but Plano West is the best in Texas right now," Plano West fan Willie Hester said. "The road we took to get here was not easy, and we didn't have one easy game.

Every game was a battle. We beat Arlington Bowie, Southlake Carroll and DeSoto to get here and then we beat Rockwall. There have been many times where we have cheered for tournament champions, but it was great to see teams cheering for us after we won."

About eight hours earlier on Saturday, the floor at Abilene Christian University's Moody Coliseum was flooded with Plano maroon. The floor was almost like home for Plano, featuring a Wildcat at half-court and Wildcats script at each baseline.

"I'm so happy tonight to see Don Patterson win a state championship and Tom Inman get a chance to coach in the state tournament," said Plano athletics coordinator Gerald Brence, of the coaches for the two teams. "Both of these men have worked hard and long for the Plano ISD. They deserve to enjoy this."

Plano defeated El Paso Montwood, 60-45, clinching its first state tournament berth since 1980.

"Don and I are the last two remaining girls coaches who opened this program seven years ago," Plano West softball coach Mike Ledsome said. "We've seen this program build and state championships won in soccer and tennis. We said, 'Wouldn't it be great to happen for us, as well.' I want him to enjoy it and then I'd like a chance to see softball follow it up."

Ledsome shares an office with Patterson and operates the clock at his games. They're longtime friends from years in the Plano ISD.

"I'm so thrilled for him," Ledsome said. "It's so great."

Plano West has state championships in girls soccer (three), team tennis (three), hockey (one) and lacrosse (one).

Brence has coached a state champion football team, and the Plano program has 28 team state championships. Twenty-nine would have a nice ring to it. The volleyball and football teams were close this year and basketball could help finish those runs off with a title.

"Sure they could," Brence said. "We've had a lot of years like this. It never gets old."

Hester's daughter, Rachel, was a guard for Plano West and recorded nine points, five assists, three rebounds and two steals in her final high school game.

"I'm screaming happy for Rachel," Willie said. "To finish your high school career like this is amazing."

Plano West finished the season 35-6 and will carry a 14-game winning streak into the 2006-07 season. Saturday's game also served as a milestone for Plano West coach Don Patterson, who won his first state championship in 25 years of coaching.

"This is unbelievable," Patterson said. "I'm ecstatic about this and it's still soaking in right now. It's a very surreal moment."

Paterson shaves his head by routine. He could soon be sporting the same look as Inman, who has promised he would let the players shave his head and might even get a tattoo if his team won the state title.

"I don't know about all that stuff," Brence said. "I do know his team will be prepared."

So were the Plano West fans, like Plano West senior Shane Shead, who was headed to celebrate after leaving the Erwin Center.

"I'm proud of the whole team and the way they matured throughout the season," Shead said. "There's a lot to celebrate and we'll celebrate in style."