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Coaches Reflect on Legendary Coach Pat Summitt’s Passing

SCRANTON — Young basketball players were busy at the Backcourt Hoops clinic inside the Riverfront Sports Complex in Scranton Tuesday afternoon. The clinic...
pat summitt

SCRANTON -- Young basketball players were busy at the Backcourt Hoops clinic inside the Riverfront Sports Complex in Scranton Tuesday afternoon.

The clinic is run by John Bucci, who was head basketball coach at the former Bishop Hannan High School. He led the team to three state finals, snagging one championship title.

Bucci says the death of legendary basketball coach Pat Summitt is the loss of a powerhouse.

“Oh, she was so successful but not just about winning games, but about changing the culture for women, for girls, that it's okay. It's acceptable to be a girls basketball player. It's acceptable to learn how to compete. It's acceptable to try to win,” said Bucci.

Summitt helmed the University of Tennessee's women’s basketball team as head coach for nearly four decades. She holds the title of the winningest basketball coach in NCAA history, man or woman.

The young women coaches at Bucci's clinic say Summitt did really shatter the glass ceiling.

“Pat Summitt was iconic. She changed girls basketball. She was an icon for young girls,” said Jessica Plisko. “Growing up, I watched the Lady Vols. She really gave somebody something to look forward to. I wanted to be a Lady Vol growing up.”

“She brought so much to the game of basketball and honestly, I don't think it would be the same if she never coached and if she never coached the way she did,” said Gabrielle Giordano.

Kim Yencho is the former head coach for the girls’ team at Lackawanna College.

“She set the bar extremely high, even for women that want to coach basketball,” said Yencho. “Her players, every one of them had their eligibility with her graduated.”

Summitt had been battling early onset dementia since 2011.

Yencho says Summitt won't just be remembered for her battles on the court but for her dignity off it as well.

“Her grace and class and how she taught her athletes to be and handle themselves,” said Yencho.

Summitt was 64 years old.

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