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It’s bound to happen.
La Jolla Country Day girls basketball coach Terri Bamford sits just three wins away from equaling the San Diego Section’s all-time record of 726 victories set by Poway’s Jay Trousdale, who retired three years ago.
Bamford, who’s starting her 30th season as a head coach, the last 28 at LJCD, sits at 723 wins heading into the 2024-25 season. LJCD’s first two games will take place at the Santiago Tournament in Corona before the Torreys return home for the Sweet 16 Tournament (Dec. 4-7) for four games.
“Going for the record is a tribute to the players,” Bamford said. “I’ve had great players.”
That’s for sure. Bamford can reel off names like McDonald’s All-Americans Candice Wiggins, Kelsey Plum, Jada Williams, Breya Cunningham and Te-Hina Paopao as well as section Players of the Year Maya Hood, Ariana Elegado, Mercedes Fox-Griffin, Janae Fulcher and Dominique Conners.
Bamford’s 30 years includes Division 5 state championships in 2001 and 2002, Division 4 titles in 2012 and 2015 and runner-up finishes in 2003 and 2004 in Division 4.
And then there was the asterisk year.
In 2020, the Torreys were 32-1, ranked No. 1 in the nation with the only loss coming against Long Beach Poly in a tournament before running off 16 straight wins to set up a title game against San Jose Archbishop Mitty, a team they had beaten to open the season.
“The day before we were supposed to leave, we were told the championships had been canceled over the concern of the coronavirus,” said Bamford. “It was very disappointing to me but even more for the team. CalHi, MaxPreps and everyone declared us the national champion, but that’s not like playing the game.
“We had a McDonald’s All-American in Te-Hina Paopao, and we were ready to go. It was so sudden.”
But it fit right in with Bamford’s philosophies.
“We always tell the kids not to worry about the things they can’t control,” said Bamford. “If you take care of the things you can control, you’ll always be able to look back and never second-guess yourself.
“It’s the journey that matters.”
Bamford said she sees coaching as a calling.
“What matters is the attitude and the effort,” she said. “Who knows what would have happened in that game, but it was very frustrating to end like that. Winning that game would have meant a lot for the whole team.”
One thing LJCD has always done under Bamford is play the toughest schedule it can, which can lead to slow starts. Games against powerhouses like Lynwood, Brea-Olinda, Santa Ana Mater Dei, Archbishop Mitty and recently Etiwanda and Sierra Canyon typically toughen the Torreys for a postseason run, especially now that they are in the Open Division.
Despite those rigorous schedules, Bamford has never had a losing season. When she passes Trousdale, she’ll move up to No. 8 all-time in the state.
The Torreys have only one senior on this year’s team, with first team All-CIF player Mei-Ling Perry (13.6) returning for her junior year. Mahlia Washington (7.4) and Safiyah Sugapong (6.9) were major contributors, along with juniors Jet Walton and Atlanta Bass-Sulpizio. Freshmen Kennedy Walton, Lucy Wright and Aoki Perry will help.
Bamford points with pride that ex-players like Alaysia Styles, Kiera Oakry, Latoya Cunningham and Destiny Villareal are still in the program as LJCD coaches or Wave club coaches. Others like the University of Chicago’s Mai-Loni Henson have gone on to coach college programs.
As for the record, Bamford said she knew she was close. But since she doesn’t worry about every win or loss — remember, it’s the journey — she thought maybe the Sweet 16 tournament would mean a little more this season.
“Oh, we have some very good teams coming here and you never know how many games you’ll win against high-quality competition,” said Bamford.
“Whether we set the record at home or not, I’m sure we’ll have a home game where we invite the players off those other teams to come celebrate with us.”
San Diego’s All-Time Winningest Girls Basketball Coaches
1. Jay Trousdale, Poway: 726 wins
2. Terri Bamford, San Pasqual/LJCD: 723 wins
3. Wade Vickery, Santana: 610 wins
4. Robbie Sandoval, Mount Miguel/Lincoln: 568 wins
5. Ray Jindra, Hilltop: 556 wins
6. Peggy Brose, Rancho Bernardo: 521 wins
7. Marlon Wells, San Diego/Bishop’s: 480 wins
8. Pat Moramarco, Vista: 438 wins
9. David Monroe, Mater Dei Catholic: 431 wins
10. Dan Marshall, Ramona: 364 wins
Note: Bamford, Sandoval and Moramarco are all still active.
Originally Published:
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