Sports

Deerfield’s Gruhl joins 900 Club

• Deerfield-Windsor boys basketball coach Gordy Gruhl beats Stratford Academy to earn his 900th career win.

Scott Chancey

ALBANY — The accomplishment was grand, yet the fanfare was few.

And on a night when Deerfield-Windsor boys basketball coach Gordy Gruhl had just earned his 900th career victory with a 53-44 win against Stratford Academy at Darton College — he seemed more concerned than accomplished.

Before Wednesday, the undefeated Knights’ closest previous winning margin was 21 points against Tattnall Square. And considering the GISA Region 3-AAA tournament begins Tuesday at Darton’s Cavalier Arena, a close call was what Gruhl felt his team needed.

“No question about it,” Gruhl said. “This game could not have come at a better time.”

Gruhl, however, drew from his 33 years of coaching experience, and his team remained undefeated at 21-0.

“He’s been through all kinds of situations,” said star guard Andre Young, who led the Knights with 25 points. “We just listen in and execute.”

That’s arguably the key to successful coaching — winning even when a team is having its worst night of the season. In fact, the Knights even trailed, 12-11, in the first quarter.

Young, however, made a jumpshot in the second quarter that gave his team a 20-16 lead, and the Knights began to slowly distance themselves. A 3-pointer by Young made it 33-22 with 56 seconds left in the second quarter and DWS appeared to have a comfortable 33-24 lead at halftime.

Stratford, however, spread Deerfield’s full-court press out and was able to take advantage and stay within striking distance.

During the fourth quarter against Stratford, after the Eagles’ David O’Shaughnessey made a free throw, bringing the Eagles to within 48-40, one fan looked at the scoreboard and asked another, “Is that right? Fourth quarter?”

The Knights were used to having a big fourth-quarter lead, but in this game, Gruhl’s team never was able to break away — the way it had in previous contests, anyway.

Stratford even closed to within 49-44 on a layup by Sims Holmes. Deerfield made free throws the rest of the way, and Ja’Voris Bland rebounded one final Eagles miss and dribbled out the clock.

After the game, Bland said Gruhl’s leadership was a huge reason the Knights won even while they struggled.

“He’s a wonderful coach,” Bland said. “He coaches in a way that we are both physically and mentally ready to play basketball.”

Gruhl will be honored Friday for his 900th win when Deerfield has “Senior Night” against Southland Academy.

“This is something that means a lot to me,” Gruhl said. “I’m glad it’s over. I didn’t want it to be a distraction to the team.”

That’s the typical coach. It’s never about him, but the guys wearing the uniform.

“Hopefully we have a few more wins left in us,” Gruhl said.

STRATFORD GIRLS 36, DEERFIELD 32

The Lady Knights (17-5) gave the 2007 state runner-up Lady Eagles all they could handle. With the game tied at 29 late in the fourth quarter, Stratford took a 30-29 lead, and the Lady Eagles’ Morgan Long added two free throws, and Stratford held on.

Dallas Joiner was the Lady Knights’ lone player in double figures with 11 points.

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