Photos by Alex Veliz

Girls Basketball

By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor

There aren’t enough superlatives to accurately describe the job that Scott Wiard did in 2021-22.

The 31-year La Salle coach, in just his third year at the helm, led the Lancers to heights not reached in program history.

La Salle won their first Camino Real League title since 2017-18.

But the fun was just getting started.

The Lancers would go on to claim their first CIF-SS Division 3AA and CIF State Division 3 Southern California Regional Championships in school history.

La Salle finished as the CIF State Division 3 runner up after falling to a talented Oakland Tech program (39-33) in Sacramento’s Golden 1 Center.

Making history and winning 91-percent of their games did not come without obstacles.

The COVID-19 virus and protocols halted their season twice for a combined 20 days.

And despite all of that, La Salle put together a 23-game win streak that stretched 91 days.

The Lancers 31-win season was most in school history and it led all SGV area girls programs.

It is for his leadership, success and ability to adapt and overcome that we name Scott Wiard the 210 Prep Sports Girls Basketball Coach of the Year.

Wiard’s nuanced approach, old-school mentality and a heavy focus on defense paid dividends immediately upon his arrival.

In 2018-19, the Lancers finished 7-13, and had a 3-5 mark in league.

La Salle would win 19 more games in Wiard’s first year (26-9), which included a 4-4 record in league, and a trip to the CIF-SS Division 4AA semifinal round.

After falling to Paloma Valley, the Lancers rebounded and won a pair of CIF State Division 4 playoff games.

Fast forward to 2021-22, and it wasn’t just the postseason success that has so many impressed, it’s the convincing fashion in which they accomplished that feat.

In the CIF-SS D-3AA playoffs, La Salle defeated Norco (58-34), Twentynine Palms (61-52), Calabasas (66-45), Hart (49-43) and Cerritos (46-33) by a combined margin of 280-207.

To make that historic run to a CIF-SS championship included road victories in the quarterfinal, semifinal and championship rounds.

La Salle even trailed late in the fourth quarter at Hart in the D-3AA semifinals.

The Lancers players, though, reflected the poise of their coaching staff and grinded out a six-point victory.

In the CIF State D-3 playoffs, the Lancers claimed victory over Eagle Rock (61-37), Rancho Bernardo (47-35) Scripps Ranch (52-36) and Porterville (62-49) to secure a CIF State D-3 Southern California Regional title.

La Salle outscored its Southern California Regional opponents, 220-157, and even had a three-point halftime lead over Oakland Tech in Sacramento before the Bulldogs went on a 23-14 second-half run.

So, how did Wiard reach this level of success in just his fifth year (two years at Duarte, three at La Salle) as a varsity head coach?

There are a lot of reasons, including his intellect, work ethic and having hard-working and talented athletes.

And it doesn’t hurt to have the best genes possible when it comes to coaching, especially in the girls basketball world.

His father, Richard Wiard, is one of the most successful and decorated high school basketball coaches in state history.

Richard Wiard won five CIF-SS titles and two CIF State championships at Bishop Amat.

Scott would be the first to acknowledge that he’s lucky to have his father serve as an assistant coach.

Looking back, Richard Wiard said the signs that Scott would one day enter the coaching profession were evident early on.

“I remember when he was only six or so, he was drawing football plays for his uncle, Tom Salter, at Bishop Amat,” Richard Wiard said. “They were plays to get Joey Getherall the ball. Tom said the plays were pretty good, especially because Getherall was getting the ball. When he played Madden Football, he would always explain why certain plays worked against certain defenses. I still think he would make a great offensive coordinator. He always watched all sports (football, basketball, baseball) with an interest in the strategy side of the game. I think he always wanted to be a coach. unlike me. I kind of fell into coaching and I liked it, so I decided to stick with it. Scott always knew. I don’t know about following in my footsteps, but he got an opportunity to coach with me and Coach Ertle (Amat boys coach) right after he graduated from high school. He learned a lot from Coach Ertle. I know he will always be grateful for Coach Ertle’s mentorship.”

Along with having his dad on the bench, Wiard’s mom, Kathleen Wiard, keeps score and helps prepare the team meals.

Scott and his new bride, Cynthia, said their “I do’s” just two days before the first team practice, and Cynthia is in charge of filming every game so the players and staff can go over what La Salle did well and what they need to work on.

Having his wife and parents on board is comforting for Wiard, but it also serves the greater good.

Several La Salle players credited the family atmosphere and unbreakable chemistry as playing a major role in the Lancers’ success.

Wiard has also earned the universal respect of the athletic department and La Salle’s coaches.

There are stars and role players on all successful teams, and the Lancers girls basketball program in no different.

But every member did their part in La Salle’s championship run, and that includes Sol Lee, Ellie Chen, Aubrey Ramos, Reese Wong, Ryann Riddle, Itzel Sosa, Kaden Cortes, Daniella Romero, Megan Ortiz, Avery Ward, Audrey Chen and Meghan Christensen.

I asked Wiard to describe what it was like growing up in the home of a great coach, what he learned and his thoughts on the season.

Said Scott Wiard: “In 1999, when I was eight, I sat on the bench and was the camera man for my dad’s program. When I got to do camera work in the fifth grade, I learned how to communicate, and I got to watch him build for things that are important. He built a program to be successful on and off the court. It was from there that I learned how to create a team atmosphere that encourages our athletes to compete together. To see the pure joy on our players faces after our hard work paid off this year is something I’ll never forget. We were in this together. I am so thankful to my parents for all they do to support me and the program and I’m eternally grateful to my wife for sacrificing so much and allowing me to do what I love doing. I am blessed in so many ways, and I don’t take anything for granted. We’re going to move up a division next year, but our starting five will be back, so the future is bright for La Salle girls basketball.”

Although this story is about Wiard’s preparation and ultimately his program’s success, to this writer, it’s Wiards heart that shined the brightest.

Back on senior night (Feb 3), and after a prior conversation with the St. Joseph coaching staff, the Jesters allowed an injured La Salle senior, Itzel Sosa to score an uncontested lay up for her first and only points of the season.

The video of that is directly below, followed by quotes from La Salle players and coaches.

 

Scott Wiard’s Record at La Salle:
2019-20: 26-9 overall, 4-4 in league, 5-2 in CIF playoffs
2020-21: 9-5, 5-3, 0-1
2021-22: 31-3, 8-0, in league, 9-1 in playoffs

2019-2022: 66-17 overall, 17-7 in league, 14-4 in the playoffs

Quotable:

La Salle football coach, Ben Buys: “Scott is an amazing coach. Ever since he took over, he has had a meticulous plan for success and has executed the plan. He has developed the girls in the program year round and instilled a sense of pride and teamwork that is clearly shown in their success. He is a basketball guy who eats, sleeps, and breathes it. I’m very happy for him and his CIF title year.”

La Salle boys basketball coach, Mike Lynch: “I have watched Coach Wiard build his program from day one and what an awesome job he and his staff did this year. To lead a young group of players the way he did this year was admirable! The lady Lancers played with the poise and confidence of champions! The future of the program is bright to say the least.”

La Salle assist & Scott’s father, Richard Wiard: “I think Scott has had so much success at La Salle for two reasons. First, and most importantly, we have good players who have worked hard and bought into a “team first” mentality. You can’t win as much as we have without REALLY good players. You can lose with good players, but you can’t win without them. Second, he has worked really hard so that we are always well prepared. He has worked hard to cultivate a team first attitude (which is not as easy to do in today’s age).

Like me, I think Scott is very competitive. All good coaches are competitive so it’s not out of the ordinary, but it drives his work ethic. He spends countless hours scouting and watching film. He spends a lot of time developing practice plans that are planned down to the minute. He always has our team very prepared. Scott sees the “whole picture” so much more than I did at his age. He understands that playing basketball is just part of the high school experience. He wants the players to take advantage of all that high school has to offer. He demands a lot from them, but wants them to have a positive experience. He sticks to his principles even if means we won’t have as good a chance at winning a game.”

Flintridge Prep coach, Jayme Chan: “Scott is an incredibly knowledgeable, hardworking, and experienced coach. He is well respected in the coaching community and clearly loves the game, and wants to contribute to the growth of the women’s game locally as well as nation wide by developing future collegiate athletes. As a La Salle alumni myself and member of La Salle’s first girls varsity basketball team, I couldn’t be more proud of everything Scott and his staff have done for my alma mater. Their CIF championship and historic state run this season was nothing short of amazing and meritorious. I see La Salle as being a one of SGV’s powerhouses for as long as Scott is captaining the ship.”

La Salle freshman, Kaden Cortes: “Coach Wiard has helped me with several things during my freshman year here. I’ve learned a lot about high school basketball this season and I know I’ll continue to learn during my next three years here. I’ve also learned to be more confident in myself from his program, both in my basketball and personal life. Family plays a big part here in our program. Everyone here is really close with one another. I felt especially welcomed by my teammates being the only freshman on the team. The coaches also are very kind to us. They would ask about how our day was and how our classes were. Overall, it’s like we’re just one big family.”

La Salle sophomore, Audrey Chen: “Coach Wiard has helped me develop as a player by being there when I needed someone. He has been one of the most organized coaches I have had, which helped us get as far as we did. He is very encouraging and came up with the phrase “32 minutes of us”, which we constantly referred to throughout the game. I know Coach Wiard would do just about anything to help us, even if it was out of his way. I am very grateful to be apart of the LaSalle program and am very proud to be able to call this team family.”

La Salle junior, Ellie Chen: “Coach Wiard has been an inspirational and amazing coach that is always there for all his players. For example, he constantly checked up on me during my ACL rehab to make sure that I was doing well. He’s so dedicated to helping us to be better players and teammates everyday. He treats us all like family and we always know he’s got our backs. He’s done an amazing job teaching us on and off the court; he is truly a coach you would want to play for, because there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for you, even following through on his promise to do the “jerk” on TikTok.”

La Salle sophomore, Avery Ward: “Coach Wiard has really played an important factor in my life by giving me a chance my freshman year and introducing me back into the world of basketball, and with the great season we have had, I felt I have really grown as an athlete and a person by working together as a team. I am also so excited to see what’s in store for this team. Family is a big part of our team because I have come to learn in order to win and be successful in sports, a team needs to play for each other. Meaning that every aspect of the game is focusing on being the team to victory and doing whatever it takes even if it means boxing out or passing the ball for someone else to score.”

La Salle junior, Reese Wong: “Playing for Coach Wiard since freshman year, I have definitely leaned a lot from him as a Coach. I look up to Coach Wiard as a person, because he is always looking out for us. Like a family, he takes care of us well and watches out for us, making sure we’re fed, how we’re doing in our classes, and so much more. He always stands up for us, especially during the game, when we start to get discouraged. He’s always letting us know that he believes in us. He really does a good job of taking us under his wing and guiding us in the right direction. I’m very grateful to be playing under him and look forward to next year’s season.”

La Salle sophomore, Ryan Riddle: “Coach Wiard has really been there for not only me, but the whole team this past season. He helped me become a better player overall, especially coming back to basketball after not playing for a year. Before he became my coach, I felt I knew just about all there was to know about the game of basketball, but his instruction and style of coaching changed my game in a tremendous way. He changed my mindset of the game for the better and I can’t wait to see what he has in store for me for my junior and senior years.”