PHOTOS: Warriors battle, but fall short in Coach John Halagan’s final game

Woodbridge players gather around their head coach John Halagan on his final night as Warriors coach. (Photo Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone)

Woodbridge High’s basketball players tried their hardest to send Coach John Halagan, who was wrapping up a 28-year run, out with a win.

But an inspired University team ended that plan, defeating the Warriors 63-53 in a Pacific Coast League game at Woodbridge Thursday night.

To see the slide show, please click on the first photo

Coach John Halagan before the introductions with Coach Steve Scoggin (left) who will replace him.

Woodbridge fans packed their side of the gym Thursday night.

Coach Halagan talks to his players right before tip-off Thursday.

Coach John Halagan talks to his players during a timeout Thursday.
Photo courtesy Paul King, For OC Sports Zone

Woodbridge players line up to congratulate Coach Halagan after the game.

Woodbridge finished up 5-21 overall and 3-7 in the PCL.

Halagan was honored a few weeks ago after a home game and after Thursday’s game, his efforts and years of dedication were acknowledged by public address announcer Paul King. Halagan, 61, began his career at Woodbridge in 1982 coaching the frosh-soph team.

Halagan, who led Woodbridge to seven league titles, exchanged hugs with players, supporters and school officials and remained upbeat, despite the loss.

“I’ll always remember them, you always remember your first team and your last team, certainly the CIF title team (1997) but all day my phone was blowing up, I had texts from guys who played on the frosh soph team back in ’82,” Halagan said.

“I’m going to pass the baton to Steve Scoggin and I’m really thrilled. He’s a great coach. He will get things going again and I think he will do a great job. Our guys always played hard, no regrets. I guess the only regret you have as a coach is that you wish you could have won every single game, that’s never going to happen.”

Halagan said he was appreciative of the support he received.

“I was very fortunate to be in a place where I always had great support, great administrative support, great parent support and that’s how one guy can do it for so long,” he said. “Bill (Shannon, the previous coach) trained me well. I couldn’t have had a better mentor or friend.”

Halagan was plotting strategy right until the end.

“What’s going through your mind is, ‘is there a 10-point play that I can call here.’ I knew we didn’t have enough time, then you start to look around and kind of realize I’ve been doing this a heckuva long time and I’m very fortunate and very thankful that I got to do it this long and work with some great kids who are now a lot of them, great young men.”

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com