Any victory over a Scott Robinson-coached team is special, but when Oakland Mills defeated Howard, 38-25, Friday night it was a significant win for Scorpions' coach Seth Willingham.
It was his 100th victory as girls varsity coach, and it came with the Scorpions outscoring Howard, 13-0, to end the game.
"I never thought I'd get there (100 victories) after the way we started the first couple of years," said Willingham, now in his ninth year at the helm of the Scorpions' girls program.
Things were dismal early on. The 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons, Willingham's first two years, were both ended 5-17 and the next year was only slightly better (9-13).
But since those 19 wins in the first three seasons, the Willingham's Scorpions have had double-digit victories each year and only one other losing season.
"I've been blessed to have a lot of good people in the program," Willingham said. "The people around me, and good girls who bought into to what we are doing."
Assistant coach Mike Twardowicz has been invaluable asset to the team, Willingham said.
"After two or three years we started getting some basketball players, which helps, instead of two- or three-sport athletes showing up Nov. 15" for the first day of basketball practice, he said.
The Oakland Mills players started participating in AAU basketball, which has been a boost to the program. Recent standouts include Miriam McKenzie (a former Player of the Year), who is now playing at Loyola University, and sisters Nicole and Jasmine Hill. Jasmine, now a senior, was last year's Player of the Year. Kara Hight, also a senior, is a returning all-county first-team player.
Although Oakland Mills has never won a county girls basketball title in school history, the team finished second last year and is in the hunt this season. The Scorpions (10-1 overall) are 7-1 in county play, second behind undefeated Glenelg (8-0).
Oakland Mills is deeper this year than last. "I really feel comfortable with eight girls coming in and contributing and doing well," Willingham said. "Our goal is to get better every day."
And that's been his goal for the team since he began coaching - get better every day.