A coaching legend in Nova Scotia basketball has reached another milestone.
Antigonish native Gail MacDougall has notched her 900th head coaching victory with the Dr. John Hugh Gillis Regional Royals Division 1 girls’ team.
The now-retired long-time sports editor of The Casket reached the landmark, Dec. 16, in a 45-39 come-from-behind win over the Lockview Dragons at the North Nova Education Centre tournament in New Glasgow.
After rallying from an 11-point deficit, the Royals improved to 2-0 in the tournament.
Grade 11 guard Charleigh Clarke and game star Jessica Mackinnon scored 14 points apiece for the Royals.
Mackinnon added eight rebounds.
Madison Gorman garnered the hustle award for the Regional.
The Royals opened the tournament with another comeback in a 69-65 win over Charlottetown Rural High School.
They trailed 21-7 after the first quarter and 33-26 at halftime.
Lauren Lowther scored a game-high 26 points, including 23 in the second half, and grabbed eight rebounds.
Clarke, the player of the game, collected 18 points, five rebounds and four assists, while first-year guard Emily Macdonald chipped in six points and 10 rebounds.
Lowther won the hustle award for the Regional.
The Royals wrapped up the tournament with a 78-42 loss to the rival CEC Cougars of Truro.
Emily Macdonald, with six points and 10 rebounds, was named player of the game for the Regional.
Brooke MacDonald, another Grade 9 player earned the hustle award.
Lowther added seven points and 10 rebounds.
MacDougall is the second Antigonish-based basketball head coach to earn 900 career wins.
Earlier this season, veteran St. F.X. X-Men bench boss Steve Konchalski also reached that benchmark.
