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Top five sports stories of the year: No. 4
Boys basketball: Furious comeback give Thomas 500th win
BY JUSTIN THOMAS, jthomas@starlocalnews.com
Flower Mound boys basketball head coach Henry Thomas has had a giant No. 500 cookie waiting for him for some time.
That's because Thomas and the Jaguars defeated Plano West Friday night, 70-66, to improve Flower Mound's overall record to 14-15 (4-7 in district) and get Thomas to career win No. 500.
Flower Mound had to stage a furious comeback to beat West, ranked top 10 in the state and second in district behind defending Class 5A State Champion Marcus. After managing just 14 points in the first half, the Jaguars were on fire in the second, scoring 56 points to overcome a 13-point deficit at the break.
"We were down 17 early but we just kept adding on and adding on," Thomas said. "Then in the third quarter, we really went on a run and got back in it. We were making everything and they got a little cold. It was a great comeback and great way to get the win.
"I was teasing (Plano West coach Anthony) Morgan that it was payback for the regional tournament. We had a good laugh about it. I remember beating Irving Nimitz for my 300th or 400th, but this one really stands out. I won't forget No. 500 and to get it against a top 10 team in the state with a big comeback is even better."
In 2009-10, West eliminated Lewisville in overtime in the regional quarterfinals, 70-66.
Thomas had retired after wrapping up the 2010-11 season as Lewisville's head coach despite being at 486 wins.
When former Flower Mound coach Charles Freet was removed from his position three weeks prior to the start of the 2011-12 season, Lewisville ISD asked Thomas for a favor and he was glad to acquiesce.
But even with an additional season, it appeared doubtful Thomas would get to 500 wins with the struggling Jaguars. However, the team has turned it up after a rough start in district. Flower Mound has won three of its past four games, a run that culminated in Friday night's victory over West, the 500th win of Thomas' career.
Instead of the cookie, Thomas and the Jaguars enjoyed victory cupcakes the following Monday.
"It's a great honor, but I'm just proud of these kids and how hard they've fought," Thomas said. "They were really pumped. I'm in this to make a difference in their lives, and hopefully these last couple of games are a turning point and something that they will remember."
Among the victories and seasons that stand out to Thomas are the 1993 and 1995 Class A Calvert teams that reached the state tournament, reaching the playoffs in his fourth year at Denton after the squad had failed to qualify during a "15- or 20-year drought" and the 2007 and 2008 Lewisville squads which were eliminated in hard-fought contests by Duncanville in the regional quarters.
"I can't even remember who my first win was against at Calvert in 1988," Thomas said. "But I got to coach a bunch of special groups of kids and athletes."
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