Holbrook’s Rich Gifford joins the 500-win club
HOLBROOK >> Holbrook coach Rich Gifford needed a second attempt on Monday night, but he came away with victory No. 500 to become the 29th in state history with the milestone win.
Holbrook got out to an early 30-4 advantage and coasted from there for a 6841 victory over nonleague opponent Boston Collegiate at home.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Gifford about the accomplishment. “I thought 400 was big, but 500, only 24 or 25 guys that have won more. It’s unbelievable. I have great kids and I’ve had great kids with old Avon guys (in attendance). It’s a lot of wins.”
The Weymouth native won four state titles and about 270 of the 500 wins at Avon before retiring from the position in 2011 with the likes of Mike Ford and Julius Hood. With now over 32 years of head coaching experience, the coach is more than grateful to all the players he has coached along the way.
“That’s the amazing part,” Gifford said about coaching multiple generations through his nearly 50 total years of coaching. “(Sophomore) Allen Brown, Jr. will be the next 1,000-point scorer. Ironically, the older guys (I coached at Avon) still call me ‘Coach’ and they just know me as ‘Coach.’ That’s what it is all about.”
It was senior captain and 1,000-point scorer Armani Perkins who led with 14 points with nine of those coming in the first quarter of action.
“It’s great,” said Perkins about playing for Gifford. “He’s a great coach and he pushes us every day. Everyone in the gym just gets better every single day. Just that 1% just gets us to play well every year. It’s been great playing with him.”
Senior captain Cam Campbell added 12 points with six in each of the first two quarters as Holbrook (13-5) led 47-12 at the half before Gifford played his full bench as 11 of 16 players scored, including all players on the varsity roster.
“It feels really good getting (No. 500) for him,” Campbell said. “It was disappointing that we couldn’t get it for him Friday (against Latin Academy), but we got it today. I’m sure he is very excited that he got it and he’s overall such a great coach. … By him coaching, I feel like he makes everyone better.”
Gifford’s record now stands at 500-202 with two games left at Wayland and at South Shore Charter before tournament seedings are announced.
“Friday night was tough on them,” said Gifford about the loss against Latin Academy in his first attempt at 500. “I’ve been doing this for a whole bunch of years. … Now, we can just go out and play basketball. Maybe. We’ll make a little run like we did last year.”