She kept coaching until the final buzzer
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
She kept coaching until the final buzzer sounded.
Her seniors already received their final bow as they sat on the bench, watching the seconds tick away on their high school basketball careers. But
their coach was there, kneeling in front of them, on the sideline, glancing up at the clock, coaching the underclassmen, knowing it was her final time giving direction on the basketball court.
It was all over with a sound of an annoying buzzer that has been heard hundreds of times before; the difference was this time was the final sound.
Once the final buzzer faded away, she put on her coat, took a deep breath and walked through the line congratulating players and coaches, as she ended her 22-year varsity coaching career, all at Lynchburg-Clay.
When someone thinks about Lynchburg-Clay girls basketball, one must think of Linda Hatten. Hatten, then Fettro, was at one point the all-time leading scorer for the Lady Mustangs during her playing days. Since then she has become one of the greatest coaches in not only the surrounding area, but the state.
Having the opportunity and privilege to cover the Lady Mustangs basketball program for what is now four seasons, I can honestly say Linda Hatten is a class act on and off the court.
Watching her interact with her players, fans, family and opponents, anyone can see how much she is respected in not only Lynchburg, but at any stop she and the Lady Mustangs make during any given season.
A few weeks ago when Hatten won her final home game she not only celebrated by going back in time with the Electric Slide, but many past players, fans, current players and pretty much anyone she has come in contact with was in the LC cafeteria to celebrate the coaching career of one of the best people around.
Somebody as passionate about not only basketball, but her players, will shed a few tears here and there, and in her final time on the sideline, on the radio, and her last post game interview with me, the longtime coach wiped away tears.
Those tears represented 20-plus years of hard work, love and dedication to a basketball program that became a tradition in Highland County.
The first time I covered the Lady Mustangs was back in 2006 when Coach Hatten gained her 300th win at Fayetteville High School. Since that time, I
have seen the Lady Mustangs have battles with North Adams, Eastern Brown and the McClain Lady Tigers, all of which have been games where the Lady
Mustangs played hard and celebrated with the W or held their head high and graciously accepted the defeat, learning something from the game for their
next trip onto the court.
Next season, just like it has been with other coaches who left their spot on the sideline after many years, will be different, not better or worse, but different, at LC. I am pretty sure Coach Hatten will be at the games (she did get a new chair in her retirement), and I wish the classy
coach nothing but the best as she takes on other career challenges, which we all know she will be most successful at.
So thanks, Coach Hatten, for all the phone calls for games I didn't make it to and thanks for helping out a young sports editor when he was just
starting out a few years ago for all your help with not only basketball, but seeing a better view of things: how games are just games, but more importantly, how people are good.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press.
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