By Ryan Atkinson
ratkinson@joplinglobe.com
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Webb City head coach Eric Johnson spent his final game on the Cardinal sideline like he has most games during his 24-year career at the school.
He sat quietly in his chair, called few timeouts and saved his words of wisdom for the locker room or for one-on-one conversations on the bench.
After all, Johnson said, why change things now.
“You try to be pretty much the same,” Johnson said of coaching his final game. “When I started coaching quite a few years ago I was up and yelling a lot, but you mellow out over the years. It’s not that you feel like you’re wasting your time yelling at them, it’s that they don’t need to be yelled at.
“I try to coach and do it with common sense in a professional way. I just get their attention and remind them about things. It doesn’t do any god to yell at them. They respond because they’re competitors.”
Johnson announced in January that he would retire at the end of the season. He picked up his 500th win on Jan. 11 against Carthage and then led the Cardinals to 15 straight victories and a berth in the Class 4 state tournament. He finishes his career with 516 wins — more than 400 of which came at Webb City.
Minutes after his Cardinals earned the Class 4 third-place trophy with a 70-52 win over Lincoln Prep on Saturday, Johnson said it didn’t yet feel like his time at Webb City was over.
And, he said, it might take a while.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” Johnson said. “Maybe in about two weeks when I’m out on the golf course, I may think about it.”
The only timeouts Johnson called during Saturday’s game came in the final two minutes, when Webb City had the game in hand. Johnson made sure the team’s underclassmen got a chance to get on the floor and that the squad’s five seniors were able to leave to standing ovations from the Webb City faithful.
Johnson shared long hugs with the seniors as they came off the court and more as the team medals were being presented.
“It feels good because of the win, but I’m sad about losing the seniors,” Johnson said. “You’re always sad about losing the seniors and it’s no different under these circumstances.”
The Cardinals struggled early, but seemed determined to send Johnson out with a win.
“It feels great,” senior Alan Pink said. “It’s great for the whole team. We all wanted to make sure we did it the right way. It was a great win.”
Sports
Winning one for the coach
Career victory No. 516 marks end for WCHS' retiring Eric Johnson
- Sports
-
-
Kickapoo girls race past Joplin
Annie Armstrong poured in 21 points to lead the Kickapoo girls to a 65-28 victory over Joplin on Thursday night in an Ozark Conference basketball game at Missouri Southern’s Young Gymnasium.
-
Cheever is ultimate blue-collar snowboarder
As a World Cup snowboardcross racer, Jonathan Cheever has taken his share of spills over the years.
-
District wrestling tournaments begin tonight
Neosho’s wrestling lineup will have a different look when the Class 3 district wrestling tournament begins at 6 p.m. today at Carthage.
-
Late board work carries Lions past Pittsburg State
Pittsburg State displayed its offensive rebounding muscle during Wednesday night’s game at Missouri Southern.
-
Pitching holds key for softball Lions
Pitching is the main question Missouri Southern must answer as the Lions open their softball season today in Abilene, Texas.
-
Quapaw completes 12-0 run through Lucky '7' Conference
Quapaw High School girls basketball coach Rod Graves expected the 2011-12 Wildcats to compile another successful season.
They haven’t been a disappointment. -
Hillsdale women stop OCC
Visiting Hillsdale Free Will Baptist handed Ozark Christian a 68-47 loss in women’s college basketball on Thursday night.
-
Tomlin, Steelers welcome Haley as new coordinator
Throughout the 16 minutes that followed him glowingly introducing former Kansas City Chiefs coach Todd Haley as his new offensive coordinator, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin stood proudly in the corner of the second-floor media room at the team’s facility.
-
Rangers, Cruz strike $16M, 2-year deal
Two-time defending AL champion Texas has avoided arbitration with another of its core players, agreeing Thursday to a $16 million, two-year contract with AL championship series MVP Nelson Cruz.
-
Auburn’s Ward adapts game after injury at Texas
Auburn’s Varez Ward can’t take to the air quite like he used to. The onetime Texas starter is still trying to regain strength and explosiveness more than two years after rupturing his right quadriceps tendon while dunking during pre-game warmups.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
