Warrior Coach John Halagan gets ready for final game on senior night vs. University

Coach John Halgan (with No. 23 Tyrell Flojo) asks about an official’s call Tuesday. (Photo Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone)

It figures to be an emotional night Thursday when long-time Woodbridge boys basketball coach John Halagan wraps up his coaching career with the Warriors in the Pacific Coast League final against University at Woodbridge.

Woodbridge (5-20, 3-6) has been eliminated from the CIF playoffs, but the Warriors are expected to play hard and send Halagan, the head coach for 28 years, out with a win.

University (9-15, 4-5) is still battling for the third CIF playoff berth from the PCL. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. and it will also be senior night for Woodbridge.

“It will be an emotional night Thursday,” Halagan said Tuesday after the Warriors lost to Portola. “I’m kind of emotional right now thinking about it. Talk about not only senior night, but last night for a guy who is really a senior, an old guy.

“You don’t want to do the kids a dis-service. My last game is not about me, we’re trying to figure out a way to win a ball game. That’s what we do every game. As a coaching staff, we owe our kids that and our kids have focused on making senior night memorable for all the right reasons. Underclassmen want to play well and for the seniors, in their last game, they want to leave on a positive note and we’re playing University, our crosstown rival. You can check off all the boxes. It should be a good game.

“And Uni is going to play hard and bring it. They always play tough so it should be a great high school game and a great experience for all the seniors, not just our guys, but Uni’s guys too.”

Long-time assistant coach Steve Scoggin will take over the Woodbridge program.

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