Despite loss to Artesia, Seahawk basketball on solid foundation

Mike Sciacca, Independent

Jim Harris has experienced a lot of highs, as well as a few lows,

during his 22 years as the head basketball coach at Ocean View High, but

it’s the perspective in which Harris places those triumphs and tragedies,

including last Saturday’s 83-46 loss to top-seeded Artesia in the CIF

Southern Section Division II-A championship game at the Arrowhead Pond,

that ranks him among the best in the coaching business.

“It was discouraging to perform the way we did, and it was really

disheartening to have the final score turn out how it did. Luckily, we

have a chance to redeem ourselves,” said Harris, whose Seahawks (29-3)

traveled to Bakersfield Tuesday to take on Central Section Division II

champion Foothill (19-12) in the opening round of the State CIF

Basketball Tournament. “We needed to crash the boards and limit our

turnovers against Artesia -- two things we did not do.”

Although the 2000 Southern Section title game didn’t turn out the way

Harris had hoped, the past four years have been wildly successful for a

program that is anchored on a solid foundation. Included during that span

is the school’s first-ever section title (Division IIIAA) in 1998, and a

semifinal appearance in ’99.

Despite the loss to Artesia, the 1999-2000 Golden West League champion

Seahawks have already established a new school record for most wins in a

single season.

But, for Harris, his coaching tenure, he says, has been enjoyable beyond

the wins and losses. It’s bound by the relationships he forges with his

players, past and present.

“You know, a reporter once asked me after we won our CIF title in ’98 if

it was the pinnacle of my career. I flat out told him, ‘no’,” Harris

said. “I think the reason why I’m still coaching is because of the great

kids I’ve had come through this program. It’s those relationships that

I’m most fond of. Sure, I enjoy coaching the game, but everything’s

enhanced by the relationships I’ve built here.”

In fact, Harris said that if he had to name his favorite team, it would

be the 1993-94 squad that finished 14-16 overall, yet qualified for the

Southern Section playoffs, won its first round game, then took top-seeded

Glendora to the wire before losing.

“Each team has it’s own personality, it’s own limitations, to a degree,”

Harris said. “Based on what it can do, I will judge a team on its ability

to overachieve, go beyond what it’s capable of. That’s why that ’94 team

is so special. It wasn’t expected to do much, and it achieved much more

than anyone thought possible.”

As Harris finished his statement and the interview was about to wrap up,

two former players, including all-CIF guard Tony Dow from the 1998

Southern Section championship team, walked through Harris’ classroom

door.

With that, Harris, who said he’s not looking to retire anytime soon,

broke into a wide smile.

Some relationships never can be broken, win, or lose.