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Saturday’s 12th Region finals’ loss was not just the last basketball game for Lincoln’s five senior girls, it was also the finale for their coach, Don Story.

Story, who has led the Lady Patriots for the past five seasons, said he knew prior to the 2009-10 season that this would be his last year on the sidelines.

“It’s going to be hard to step away from it in some ways but, in other ways, I knew that it was time,” said Story, 46. “Carter (Story’s 8-year-old son) is in the third grade and playing basketball. It will be fun for me to get involved in that. And Amanda is five now. I’ve spent a lot of time away from them these past five years, and I want to spend more time with them.”

“To do that I needed to step away,” he said. “Basketball is more than just a winter sport. It’s year-round and it takes a lot of time.”

Story knows of what he speaks, having spent the past 18 years as a coach in some capacity.

While at the helm of the Lady Patriot basketball team, Story has built a powerhouse program. During his stint as head man, the Lady Patriots have won 73 percent of their games, amassing a record of 110-40.

The Lady Patriots had only one season with double-digit losses (14) under Story. The number of losses dwindled over the past five season with this year’s 24-5 record the low. The past three seasons Lincoln went 24-7, 26-6 and 24-5.

“I think, for the last three years, this group won 74 games,” Story said. “That’s averaging almost 25 wins a year. I’m real proud of them. They’ve done so many great things. They’re a talented group and this has been a special time for me.”

“They’ve given their heart and soul to Lincoln County basketball,” he said. “Of, course, they were hoping for that dream ending of cutting down the nets (regional championship) and going to Diddle Arena (state tournament). Selfishly, for me, I was too. But, for whatever reason, it didn’t work out.”

The Lady Patriots claimed four 45th District championships under Story, including the last three tournament titles. Lincoln reached the 12th Region championship game three times during his tenure, finishing as runner-up his first season and his last two.

Although Story has bid adieu to coaching Lincoln varsity basketball, he says he’ll never lose that bond he’s made with his players.

“I’ll know them for the rest of their lives and I guess I’ll always be their coach and them my players,” he said. “It’s a special relationship. I’ll see them maybe at their weddings and when their babies are born.”

Is there a possibility that Story might re-enter the coaching ranks one day to form more bonds with new players?

“You never say never because you don’t know, but I’m probably through with high school,” he said. “I might get involved in Little League or in middle school with my kids, but that’s probably as far as I’d go.”

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