Hatcher speaks and the district best listen

Jim Sacco / News Virginian
Published: January 22, 2008

With little, if any, prodding he spoke.                                  He of 832 wins.
He of four state titles.
He of 40 years coaching at one school.
He who coaches in a gym named after him.
He who coached a team to 85 straight wins.
He is coach Paul Hatcher, R.E. Lee's living legend. The sage of the hardwood. He whose snappy dress shoes no coach in Virginia is worthy to clean.
And Hatcher, taking a break from meticulously watching his JV squad start against Waynesboro on Tuesday, spoke.
The suffering fans of this darn fangled Southern Valley District wanted to hear what the Great One had to say and, on Tuesday, he said it.
Paul Hatcher the man. Paul Hatcher the myth. Paul Hatcher the legend wouldn't mind seeing the Southern Valley play its boys and girls games on different nights.
In fact, he says with that grandfatherly smile that almost lulls you into making some hot chocolate, sit at his feet by the fire and listen to him spin yarns, he would enjoy it.
"Tonight," he says, "with the two big games, I would have liked to see them separate."
Join the club, coach. It's not exclusive, but seemingly only saved for the masses. A group of working-class stiffs who, sure, don't have a master's degree in anything, but love the sport of basketball. The same people, the fans, who had to choose which district-clinching game they would watch.
Would it be the boys in Waynesboro-
Would it be the girls in Staunton-
Or would you just throw your hands in the air and act like you just don't care anymore-
"Plus," he says, "it would open up the gyms for practice."
Ah, that's the legend for you. His mind always on improving his team. His eyes always on the JV game Tuesday, even as he speaks about the scheduling buffoonery that boggles the mind of average fans everywhere.
"Tonight one of us could be at practice," he says. "Now [Wednesday] night, someone will be in the gym until 9 p.m."
He points to the Massanutten District, the northern part of what was once, hands down, the best basketball district in the state, then known as the Valley District.
"The Rockingham [County] schools have tried [same night, same sites] for their games," he says. "And it seems to have worked."
Hatcher does see a negative to that plan. If that happened, he wouldn't get to see his JV squad, evaluate talent and be able to gauge who's ready to make the step up and have the honor of playing under him.
So splitting the dates it is, coach.
And he went back to watching his JV game.
He with eyes locked on his next group of Leemen.
He who owns the most wins in Virginia.
He who spoke up.
The One the Southern Valley District best listen to because he's Paul Hatcher.
'Nuff said. 
Contact Jim Sacco at