Francis takes own path to milestone

SONORA -- When Rick Francis wins his 600th game as Sonora High's varsity basketball coach, there might be a cake to mark the occasion, or someone might show up with a commemorative plaque.

But what you won't see presented in the hoopla is a rocking chair for Francis or tickets for a winter cruise. At 60, Francis isn't making plans to be anything but a Wildcat for years to come.

His 599th victory was a big one, a 60-50 win Wednesday night over a Manteca team previously unbeaten this season in the Valley Oak League.

The milestone 600th victory (against 340 losses) could come tonight, when Sonora hosts East Union at Bud Castle Gym.

It's true that Francis is giving up his teaching duties at the end of this school year, but he's staying on as coach and athletic director. He isn't about to turn in his trademark towel or relinquish the spot on the bench he's held for 33 seasons.

"It's been a lot of hard work, a lot of hours and a lot of trips down Highway 108," Francis said. "I've been so fortunate with the type of athlete I've been given over the years. They all work hard, and even in the years when we didn't have the great won-loss record my kids played hard, and what more can you ask?"

Actually, Francis asks a lot from the kids willing to take on the challenge of playing basketball his way. There isn't a player anywhere who doesn't enjoy showtime basketball -- the fast-breaking, high-flying game that creates YouTube highlights.

But that's not Sonora basketball.

Francis sets own pace

Instead, the Wildcats play the game not necessarily to a slower tempo, but to an altogether different drummer. So if Modesto Christian plays to a hip-hop beat, Sonora is marching to the Beatles.

Either way, the key to winning is making sure everybody's in tune.

"Kids want to run up and down the court, and even though it's fun, we can't do that," Francis said. "We always have to understand the teams we're going up against. We're playing teams that average 75 points, so what can we do against that except try to control the tempo of the game as much as we can and then work real hard on defense?"

If Francis' system didn't work, and if he hadn't found a way through the years to make his young athletes believe in his system, this story wouldn't exist.

"We're fine with playing like this because we know that's what it takes for us to win in this program," said Brenden Evans, a 6-foot-5-inch forward. "He runs this whole program and everyone in the whole town knows him and looks up to him."

The admiration for Francis doesn't stop at the Tuolumne County border.

"He's a legend," said Manteca coach David Asuncion. "I look up to him. As a coach, you someday want to have the same legacy he has. He's done amazing things up here and I have total respect for the man. His teams always are very disciplined and play hard every night."

To win at Sonora, there is no other way. The town is not blessed with the kind of natural basketball talent that would allow a lesser coach to average more than 18 wins per season.

And being in the heart of the Mother Lode means running a high-level summer program would be cost-prohibitive simply because of the time and fuel involved.

"We just can't get in the car and play somebody like they can in the Modesto area," Francis said. "Everything is a little farther away for us. But our kids are dedicated and they put a lot of time in."

Francis is quick to share credit with the assistant coaches and lower-level staff he's had at Sonora over the years. He knows playing with patience is not a trait a young athlete suddenly can adopt as a junior.

"I get a little emotional," Francis said. "But the coaches understand what I'm trying to get across to the kids."

And the kids? By the time they reach varsity, if they don't appreciate what it means to play for someone with Francis' legacy, then they've missed the whole point of what it means to be a Wildcat.

"I remember hearing a few years ago about Coach getting his 500th win," Evans said. "I was just hoping that I could be a part of his 600th win, and just being on the court for that will be exciting."

Bee staff writer Brian VanderBeek can be reached at bvanderbeek@modbee.com or 578-2300.

This story was originally published January 30, 2009 at 12:43 AM with the headline "Francis takes own path to milestone."