Hoops History: Chasing Number 664

As the 2018-19 high school basketball season gets ready to tip off, how about some historical numbers on some of Maine's winningest hoops coaches.

Dick Barstow's 664 wins is the number to chase. The Maine Basketball Hall of Fame coach was a longtime schoolgirl coach at Sherman HS, Katahdin HS, Central Aroostook HS, Waterville HS and Presque Isle HS.

He is the winningest high school coach, boys or girls, in the Pine Tree State.

Among active coaches, I.J. Pinkham begins the 2018-19 season with 630 wins. The Boothbay HS boys coach is in his fifth decade of coaching. His first few years were spent coaching at Buckfield.

On the girls side, John Donato begins his second year as Orono coach with 524 wins. He has coached at Houlton, Hall-Dale, Mt. View, Messalonskee and Lawrence.

Other active coaches in the 500-win club include Dave Halligan (Falmouth HS Boys) with 509 and Camden Hills boys coach Jeff Hart wth 500.

Portland's Joe Russo is the lone active coach from the 14 member 400-win club. He begins the season with 429 victories.

Rangley HS girls coach Heidi Deery could join the 400 club this winter. She has 395 wins. Presque Isle girls coach Jeff Hudson has 381. Lee Academy boys coach Randy Harris begins with 380 and Fort Fairfield's Larry Gardner, who has coached both girls and boys teams over the years, starts the season with 379.

Active North Boys Coaches:

Jeff Hart - Camden Hills - 500

Joe Russo - Portland - 429

Randy Harris - Lee - 380

Scott Graffam - Oxford Hills - 369

Active South Boys Coaches:

IJ Pinkham - Boothbay - 630

Dave Halligan - Falmouth - 509

Mark Karter - Gorham - 418

Tom Maines - Morse - 369

Active North Girls Coaches:

John Donato - Orono - 524

Jeff Hudson - PI - 381

Larry Gardner - Ft.Fairfield - 379

Matt Rossignol - Van Buren - 258

Active South Girls Coaches:

Heidi Deery - Rangeley - 395

Al Venziano - Madison - 371

Paul True - Lake Region - 335

Mike Murphy - Deering - 328

The first countable games for the 2018-19 season are scheduled for Friday night.

NOTE: Stats are courtesy of longtime high school coach and basketball historian Jamie Russell...Sports Radio 92.9 The Ticket and 929theticket.com will have a full schedule of live game broadcasts, beginning with the Class A North boys matchup of Brewer at Nokomis Friday night at 6:30pm.