School: Washington

He's qualified because: The last three wins of a 26-8 season were all delivered in come-from-behind fashion – 48-44 in overtime over top-seeded Central Valley Christian for the Central Section Division IV title and 74-61 over El Segundo and 69-65 in OT over Morningside-Inglewood in the Southern California Regional. The Panthers won the North Sequoia League with a 10-0 record and closed 21-2 after stabilizing with the addition of five players from the school's D-IV championship football team.

Nearly 10 years past that dreadful day – fired as Buchanan High's boys basketball coach – Tony Petersen stands tall, a champion and without bitterness.

"I look back with fond memories," he says. "I do not look back with bad thoughts."

In fact, he's at a professional high, having led Washington to a 10-0 record in the North Sequoia League, a 26-8 overall mark, Central Section Division IV title and two Southern California Regional wins – a run that's earned him The Bee's Boys Basketball Coach of the Year honor.

In a position to return a volley at Buchanan administration, he again takes the high road for he knows no other way.

"Don't get me wrong," he says, "it's nice to get these things. But I don't need championships and awards to validate my coaching. I'm comfortable with what I've done; I always have been. I don't need to say, ‘I told you so.'

"I enjoyed my time there, I loved every minute. But I'm not going to lie, it took me some time to get over."

In a 10-year Buchanan career, the 1977 Immanuel graduate won 150 games, but only one league title – a share of one at that.

Meanwhile, neighbor Clovis West had launched a section dynasty under Vance Walberg. And Petersen was dismissed in 2002.

"They gave me the opportunity to resign," he says, "but I said, ‘I'm not quitting, I don't want to give up on a program that I started.' I always taught my players not to quit."

Clearly, that message has taken root in Easton.

It was the Panthers' ability to overcome large deficits against top competition in the postseason that gave Petersen the edge as Bee COY against an accomplished field.

Consider:

• Tony Amundsen, knocking off second-seeded Bakersfield in the semifinals on the road and No. 1 Clovis West on a neutral court for the D-I title, delivered Bullard's first section crown in 15 years.
• Rob Streeter led Clovis North, with its first class of seniors, to the D-II championship. And he beat what would be three section titlists – Bullard, Hoover (D-III) and Washington – during a five-day span of the regular season.
• Nick French, in a story for the ages in the section, held Hoover strong following an early December automobile crash involving five starters and an assistant coach.
• Tom Orlich, as one of the state's leaders, has won 738 games in 34 seasons. But maybe never has he been better in guiding undersized Clovis West to the Tri-River Athletic Conference title and a 24-6 record.

At Washington, the Panthers closed 21-2 after a 5-6 start impacted by the late arrival of five players, including two starters, from the school's section championship football team.

But it was how they closed that was most impressive.

They trailed by 10 points in the fourth quarter before upsetting top-seeded Central Valley Christian 48-44 in overtime for the D-IV crown; trailed by seven points in a 74-61 SoCal Regional win over El Segundo; and twice fell into double-digit holes before rallying past Morningside-Inglewood 69-65 in OT in the SoCal quarters.

And perhaps the most admirable comeback of all occurred in a loss – flushing a 22-point deficit in a 70-68 overtime loss at D-I Buchanan in January.

"Even though we lost, that's when we started believing," says Petersen, who won a D-III section title in 2006 in his first season at Washington. "It took awhile, but I knew the team had an opportunity to be special."

And so it is for a coach given a second chance by Washington Unified School District superintendent John Pestorich.

"He gave me the opportunity," Petersen says, "and I've thanked my blessings ever since."