Tigers hand coach 501st win

Rick Patrick
ECB Publishing, Inc.

On a night when Jefferson County High School Head Basketball Coach Pat Kennedy was being honored for his 500th career win as a coach, the Tigers gave him one of the best honors a coach can receive. The Tigers gave Coach Kennedy his 501st career win by defeating the Lions of Community Leadership Academy, from Tallahassee, with a score of 53-34.
Before the game there was a ceremony when legendary sports broadcaster Gene Deckerhoff presented Coach Kennedy with a commemorative basketball to celebrate the landmark. Prior to coming out of retirement in order to take the helm of the Tigers' basketball program, Kennedy made a name for himself with 31 years coaching Division I men's basketball. Much of his coaching career was spent in Tallahassee, where Coach Kennedy led the Florida State University (FSU) Seminoles to the NCAA Tournament five times in 11 years, including an Elite Eight appearance. Coach Kennedy has served as the president of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), was the 1992 Atlantic Coast Conference Coach (ACC) of the Year, the 1985 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Coach of the year and the 1984 NABC District Coach of the Year. He has been named to the Florida State University Hall of Fame, the MAAC Hall of Fame, the Iona College Hall of Fame, the New Rochelle Hall of Fame and the Red Bank Catholic High School Hall of Fame. Coach Kennedy has also coached 27 players who went on to play professionally in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
During the game, the Lions took an early lead in the first quarter, but the Tigers were able to stay within striking distance. The score was 12-8 in favor of the Lions at the end of the first quarter. The Lions held a slight edge through most of the second quarter until Tavion Enzor hit a pair of three-point shots to put the Tigers in the lead. When intermission rolled around, the Tigers had built a 27-22 lead. The Tigers forced numerous turnovers and were able to take advantage to extend their lead to 38-29 at the end of the third quarter. In the final period, the Tigers outpaced the Lions, 15-5, to win the contest, 53-34.
The Tigers will return to their home court after the New Year on Thursday, Jan. 5, to face the Trojans of Hamilton County High School. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.