How they got to the Sweet 16:
Coach Ray Long topped Coach PJ Adams with 66% of the vote and then got 83% of the vote against Coach Russell Gray.
Coach Tom Brattan is the Cinderella of the tourney with upsets of #5 Coach Rinaldi with 85% of the vote and then Coach Powers with 80% of the vote.
Coach Brattan took over for Rinaldi in 1979 after 1 year at LC Bird. Brattan believe it or not was the first coach of LC Bird and has the distinction of being the only coach to coach at two of the elite programs of the region. In 1978 Brattan led the Skyhawks to their first winning season at 5-3 and in fact he never had a losing record at either school. 5 winning seasons in 5 seasons in the region, Brattan made the playoffs 4 times with a record of 3-4 including a AAA state semifinal appearance in 1981. 5-3 at Bird, 39-6-2 at Highland Springs... Brattan knew how to win finishing with a mark of 44-9-2.
Coach Ray Long is a legend in the game guiding the Patrick Henry Patriots for 28 seasons ascending to the top of the region for all-time wins. Along the way Coach Long posted 24 winning seasons, made the playoffs 16 times with a mark of 21-15! Coach Long guided the Patriots to 3 state title appearances with the crowning achievement, the 1994 Class 5 State Title. Long finished with a record of 228-86-1.
These two coaches faced off only once and Coach Brattan came away the winner.
Coach Ray Long topped Coach PJ Adams with 66% of the vote and then got 83% of the vote against Coach Russell Gray.
Coach Tom Brattan is the Cinderella of the tourney with upsets of #5 Coach Rinaldi with 85% of the vote and then Coach Powers with 80% of the vote.
Coach Brattan took over for Rinaldi in 1979 after 1 year at LC Bird. Brattan believe it or not was the first coach of LC Bird and has the distinction of being the only coach to coach at two of the elite programs of the region. In 1978 Brattan led the Skyhawks to their first winning season at 5-3 and in fact he never had a losing record at either school. 5 winning seasons in 5 seasons in the region, Brattan made the playoffs 4 times with a record of 3-4 including a AAA state semifinal appearance in 1981. 5-3 at Bird, 39-6-2 at Highland Springs... Brattan knew how to win finishing with a mark of 44-9-2.
Coach Ray Long is a legend in the game guiding the Patrick Henry Patriots for 28 seasons ascending to the top of the region for all-time wins. Along the way Coach Long posted 24 winning seasons, made the playoffs 16 times with a mark of 21-15! Coach Long guided the Patriots to 3 state title appearances with the crowning achievement, the 1994 Class 5 State Title. Long finished with a record of 228-86-1.
These two coaches faced off only once and Coach Brattan came away the winner.
