Lexington coach Bailey Harris wins 600th game
After missing on the first try Thursday, Lexington High basketball’s Bailey Harris notched a personal milestone Friday.
The longtime Lexington coach won his 600th game as the Wildcats defeated Queensland Australian Travel team, 66-39.
Harris began coaching at Lexington in 1987-88 and has only had two losing seasons during his tenure. His Lexington teams have won 12 region titles, made it to the state semifinals nine times and state championships on six occasions.
The Wildcats won state titles in 1996 and 2000. Harris won at least 20 or more games in a season 16 times, including 10 straight years from 1993-94 to 2002-03.
Several of Harris’ former players have gone on to coach including three playing in the same region with him, including Bret Jones, who is now at Dutch Fork, White Knoll’s Devin Liferidge and River Bluff’s Ben Lee. Dorman’s Thomas Ryan also played for Harris and won the Class 5A state championship last year.
“I guess any of my reflections back at this points and fondest memories are the players and the assistant coaches that have made it all so much fun. Players like Bret Jones that I coached on my very first day here and in my very first game here versus Columbia when we were down 14-2 to start the game and came back for win number one,” Harris said. “Bret has remained a close friend today. My oldest son and I were even in his wedding. Assistant coaches like Rick Bouknight who has been with me for 28 of the 31 years, or Joey Reid who was my high school coach and is now in year 15 with me.
“Friendships like that and all the awesome players over the years are what makes me smile when I think back over the years.”
Mason Carver led Lexington with 18 points and Tyler Reed had 11.
Lexington scorers: Vandergeest 8, Mason Carver 18, Hiller 4, Green 2, Foulks 8, Long 6, Corley 6, Hilton 3, Tyler Reed 11. Queensland scorers: Garrick 18, Thomas 5, Tseng 2, Kahn 2, Toto 6, Cooper 2
This story was originally published December 8, 2017 at 3:59 PM with the headline "Lexington coach Bailey Harris wins 600th game."