The 800th win and a top 20 state ranking, the 2008-09 High School Boys basketball season is turning into a major milestone year for the Montwood Rams and Coach Tony Harper.  The Montwood team is un-defeated in District play (9-0) and is ranked first in District 1-5A.  On January 19th, the team was also ranked 17th in Class 5A by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches.   A week earlier, the team won its game against Socorro High School which earned Coach Harper his 800th win.

Coach Harper, who has been coaching for 41 years,  became one out of 28 coaches nationwide and one of four active coaches in Texas to reach 800.  Following the game, school administrators, students and former players congratulated Harper.   When asked about this particular game, Coach Harper attributed the historic win to his players.

“To me, it’s about the tradition that we have established at Montwood.  All the players have bought into the expectation and are held accountable,” said Harper who was surprised to see several of his former players come out to watch the game. “The kids have done it.  When we point them in the right direction, they’ll accomplish anything.

Harper got his first win when he was the Burges High School Varsity Coach in 1968. For the past 19 years, he has been the only Varsity Head Boys Basketball Coach at Montwood High School.  He has been coaching for 41 years with 37 of those years as a Varsity coach.

“I tell the players to fear no one, but respect everyone,” said Harper. “He is the epitome of High School Basketball. To be just one of a few coaches to reach this is an honor, you don’t get to 800 by mistake,” said Montwood Varsity Football Coach Chuck Veliz.