Dineen focuses on successful finale
NORMAL -- Without a doubt, Buffalo Grove girls basketball coach Tom Dineen said, this one was the most difficult of all.
Losing in the state quarterfinals the last two years under the two-class system was tough.
But this season, the last of his 29-year career at Buffalo Grove, the loss at Redbird Arena was exceptionally difficult. A win against Whitney Young on Friday night would have put Dineen and the Bison in the Class 4A state championship contest for his final game.
Instead, the Bison (32-4) will play Marist tonight for third place after falling to the Dolphins 38-32 at Redbird Arena.
More Coverage Audio Tom Dineen talks about the state torunament
"I thought the third time was the charm," a somber and emotional Dineen said. "Everything was under our control. It just didn't happen. Things happen for a reason. But I'm at a loss right now."
The Bison led 20-15 at halftime and shot 42 percent in the first 16 minutes. They maintained a lead through most of the third quarter despite not shooting well.
But then it started slipping away. BG led 29-26 going into the fourth quarter but Young had gained some momentum.
The fourth quarter was disastrous. BG scored only 3 points and the Bison shot just 4-for-20 in the second half.
"It was gradual," said Dineen of watching the game slip away. "I never felt we were out of this thing. The kids have been here before and they're confident in their abilities."
But when Young took as 36-32 lead with 26 seconds left, Dineen said he knew a miracle would be needed for the Bison to pull out the win.
"There wasn't a lot of time left then," he said.
Which now leaves Dineen -- who is in his ninth trip to the state tournament and who won the 2001 Class AA state title -- and the Bison less than 24 hours to regroup and try to send the personable coach into retirement with his 676th win instead of his 230th loss.
"It's going to be hard (tonight), win or lose, to walk away," said Dineen, who has made it no secret he'd like to continue coaching even though he's retiring as a teacher.
"For the sake of these kids, I've got to coach all the way through the last night. I'm not the smartest guy in the world but 3 is still better than 4."
And a win in your final game as a coach is much better than a loss.