By Dan Ventura, Boston Herald
EASTON, Mass. -- The first time Laney Clement-Holbrook heard from the McDonald's All-American Game committee, she wondered whether they had the wrong number.
A few days later, the same folks called once again to tell the Oliver Ames girls basketball coaching legend that she was selected to coach the East squad in the McDonald's All-American Game in Chicago on March 29. She is the first local coach nominated since Bill Loughnane was picked in 2000.
“It's an incredible honor," Clement-Holbrook said. "When you start thinking that you are going to be coaching 10-12 of the best high school girls players in the country, it really is amazing.”
There's no question few have the resume that Clement-Holbrook possesses. The head coach at Oliver Ames since 1976, Clement-Holbrook is the state's all-time winningest girls basketball coach with 651 wins. She was inducted into the Bridgewater State University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Dedham High School Athletics Hall of Fame in 1999.
“When they called me the first time to tell me I was a finalist, they explained that one of the things they liked was the fact I've been a high school coach the whole time, so that made me feel good,” Clement-Holbrook said. “Then when they called back the second time, I just couldn't believe it. Here I am getting a chance to coach kids going to schools like UConn and Tennessee – I still can't believe it.”
Clement-Holbrook will have a pair of familiar faces on the bench in Chicago. She was allowed to have two assistants and is taking her current high school assistants, Christine Hochstein and Brittany Engel. They will help her run the practices and be involved with the many events in the days leading up to the game.
“I want to learn about each of the girls on the team before I get there,” Clement-Holbrook said. “I don't want to go practice unprepared and having them wonder who is this old lady with gray hair.”
One thing they will find out is the old lady with gray hair is a class act and a damned good basketball coach.