AURORA — On a dreary, snowy Tuesday night, the gymnasium was maybe half-full.
His team could have surpassed the century mark, but he waved off any shot attempts in the closing moments.
Other than a few announcements and handheld signs, it was almost difficult to tell that a significant mark was about to be attained.
But at age 58, Ken Shaw is the law — a longtime figure on Colorado sidelines who won his 600th career game in boys basketball, as two-time defending Class 5A champion Regis Jesuit easily handled visiting Heritage 94-39 in the Continental League.
Earlier this season, Doherty’s Dan McKiernan attained 600, including victories out of state. East’s Rudy Carey hit 600 in 2008, and the incomparable Dick Katte is closing in on 840 at Denver Christian.
Afterward, Shaw was his usually calm self, and knew that he hasn’t done it alone.
“This is a team achievement, all the players and coaches I’ve had have been a part of it,” Shaw said.
It has been a long haul of memories — he can recall his first victory, over Haxtun while at Yuma in 1976, as well as the naysayers a man with 35 years on the job was sure to encounter.
“I’ve been very passionate about it and sometimes that has rubbed people the wrong way,” Shaw said. “But it has been good.”
Shaw, who coached at Sterling, Rocky Mountain and Smoky Hill before the Raiders, has won four state titles. Coached elite players, from Joel Tribelhorn to Bud Thomas. Tutored doctors, lawyers and others who never played organized basketball after high school.
He has butted heads with parents and administrators, and never seriously followed any inquiries from the college level.
What’s wrong with staying in high school and building on his 600-209 record?
“No question about it,” he said.
Senior guard Michael Clark, may not realize that his coached tossed 76 touchdown passes as an 8-man quarterback for Merino or that he still stands in the top 10 Colorado career hoops scorers — his 25.0 average ranks fourth — but salivated at the chance to be a part of his coach’s history.
“It’s just a huge accomplishment that goes over generations,” Clark said. “It’s something that I’ll be able to tell my kids. It’s just a special night.”
Heritage 4 22 10 3 — 39
Regis Jesuit 29 32 24 9 — 94
Heritage — Ellis 0 0-0 0, Sullivan 0 0-0 0, Cain 1 2-5 4, Bulba 0 1-2 1, Ross 5 3-3 13, Chirico 1 1-1 3, Chavez 3 0-0 9, Schandle 1 1-5 3, Debban 2 0-0 4, Madyun 1 0-0 2. Totals 14 8-16 39.
Regis Jesuit — Winters 3 4-6 10, Clark 5 7-7 19, Dyer 1 0-0 3, Smith 3 3-4 10, Samson 6 0-0 15, MacDonald 3 1-1 8, Perkins 3 2-3 8, Dickey 1 0-0 2, Rees 0 2-2 2, French 1 1-2 3, Lesnansky 6 2-2 14. Totals 32 22-27 94.
3-pt. goals: Heritage — Chavez 3. Regis Jesuit — Samson 3, Clark 2, Dyer, Smith, MacDonald. Total fouls — Heritage 21, Regis Jesuit 17. Fouled out — Debban. Technicals — None.
