MaxPreps Oregon Team of the Week: Sutherlin girls basketball

On the record books there's not a single blemish. Sheer perfection. A rather remarkable 56 wins in a row — a second straight 28-0 season culminated last week with a 51-46 triumph over Henley for a second straight Oregon 4A state championship.

Not a single loss for the tightly-knit, detail-oriented, hard-charging girls basketball team at Sutherlin.

Not unless you count the ultimate kind.

Two weeks before their regular season ended, so did the life of their beloved 84-year-old assistant coach and community jewel Bill Spelgatti.

Known as "Coach Spel," by most, Spelgatti had taught the game — and much more — since 1952.

Like every other day since forever, he arrived home from practice last month, had dinner, and melted into his recliner to watch a little college basketball.

"His wife (Anne) left the room and when she came back he was gone," Sutherlin coach Josh Grotting said. "Just like that."

His heart had given out. He'd given it away for 63 years, teaching the game he loved to kids he adored in a no-nonsense sort of way. He wasn't sentimental and he wasn't a hard-ass either. He believed in defense first, stressed a good attitude and preferred country living and teaching country kids to the fast-paced city life.

"He required little fanfare or attention," Grotting said. "He taught kids and then he taught their kids and even their grandkids."

Spelgatti was a successful head high school coach, racking up more than 500 wins in Oregon. But after retiring from coaching and teaching he wasn't nearly through.

"I just love to coach," he told reporter Craig Reed in 2002, during his 50th year of coaching. "It allows me to share whatever expertise and experience I have. It's better than going down and swapping war stories (with retirees). … I just like being involved with kids. They're our future. Where else than in athletics, in team sports … can you teach commitment? Where else can you teach dedication? Where else can you teach attitude?"

Giving it your best shot every day was his best lesson. It was an example he set right up to his last breath.

"There's worse ways to go," Grotting said.

But still, it wasn't expected. He seemed in perfect health and certainly of mind. His sudden death hit hard and deep. Especially for Grotting, who was befriended and taught the ropes around Sutherlin by Spelgatti when he arrived nine years previous.

"He was with me every step of the way," he said.

It was more of a dance really.

After going 18-11 his first season, Grotting and Spelgatti tangoed to a state 4A title in 2007-08. Other than an 11-14 season in 2010-11, they two-stepped to records of 26-1, 21-6, 27-2 and 27-2 before the back-to-back 28-0 campaigns.

That's 110-4 over four seasons. 

"We've had a great run and coach Spel has had so much to do with it," Grotting said. "As much as he taught the girls and me about basketball, he taught us about life. We've had to apply a lot of it the last month or so to get through."

The most important lessons were shared in one of Spelgatti's favorite passages called "Attitude," from author Charles Swindoll:

"The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. … We can not change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the string we have and that is our attitude."

So rather than feel the void left by Spelgatti, the Bulldogs embraced his teachings and his spirit and played with a special furor, especially on the defensive end.

In a pair of league games, their opponents had just two points at halftime. In the state quarter- and semifinal games they allowed 60 combined.

With the win over Henley, they became just the third team in Oregon history to win two straight titles without a defeat, joining Oregon City (96-97) and Joseph (81-83). In the title game, senior Olivia Gulliford had 19 points. Miranda Mendenhall had 12 points and Kayce Mock added nine points and eight rebounds.

Gulliford, one of four seniors on the team who had played together since grade school, told Oregon Live: "I've never felt anything like this and never been on a team like this before. It's been the most memorable experience in my life."

Spelgatti had so much to do with that. Grotting told reporters after the title game that his presence was definitely felt.

"He was here with us," he said. "We talked about him and had a video from a practice this year where he was talking to the girls and just yelling at them, ‘Defense never quits - defense never quits.' It was a great reminder of what's important to us."

Though the winning is terrific, it's the relationships that make all the difference. The seniors have left a lasting impression. They are:

Mendenhall: "She did everything for us. She was like a coach on the floor. She didn't care about where she played, whether she scored 30 or went scoreless — and there were times she did both — she found a way to help us win."

Gulliford: "Oliva could score at will. She's a big strong kid with great feet and hands. She made some huge baskets for us all year. When we struggled on offense, we could get the ball to her and good things would happen."

Ricki Mock: "Ricki is as tough as nails. She always played the other team's best player. She's only 5-6 but led the team in rebounds three straight years. How many 5-6 kids can say that? She also scored at key times for us."

Baylee Merrifield: "Baylee is our unsung hero. She did so many things that don't show up in the stat sheet. She was our best screener. She never complained or whined. She'd always find the open person. Everyone needs a player like Baylee."

There will be a celebration of coach Spelgatti's life 1 p.m. Sunday at the school gym. The 56 straight wins and back-to-back titles were something of a going away gift to a life well lived. Spelgatti would probably say it's a reminder that a good attitude and full effort each day leads to good things. Even perfect and historic things.

Grotting says Coach Spel's legacy, like defense, will never quit.

"He'll be missed but never forgotten," he said.