Everybody pulled together for Braves, Lambert

To mold a successful basketball program takes a special blend of talent, managing people appropriately and the ability to take advice when it is warranted. During the 2014-15 boys basketball season, no team had a more together unit, players, coaches, fans and the entire community than District 1 Class AAA champion Octorara.

The Braves finished the season at 25-3, won the Ches-Mont League American Division title and advanced to the Ches-Mont League championship game before losing to Downingtown West. In the playoffs, the Braves took home their third district title in school history by defeating Glen Mills in the championship game. All this from the smallest school in the Ches-Mont League.

For all these accomplishments and by bringing an entire community together as one, Making Octorara games must-see, sold-out events, Gene Lambert is the Daily Local News All-Area Boys Basketball Coach of the Year.

“We really were together as a team this season,’ Lambert said. “And to all our fans that came out right from the beginning of the season and hit the road to support us, I want them to know we all appreciated what they did this season. The community was fantastic. I don’t know what our record would have been without all the fan support.’

The Braves finished the regular season at 21-1, garnering the top seed in District 1. They had a tough matchup in the first round of states, falling to nationally ranked Archbishop Carroll.

“We had a lot of success and I could not have done it without all the hard work and dedication of my staff, Jason Ralston, Tim Kaufman, Chris Henley and my brother Keith,

were all there for the kids and me the entire season and into last offseason,’ Lambert added. “They are a great group to be with and work with and they deserve tons of credit for what we accomplished. The kids were great also. Before the season, I knew they would be good, but I did not know how mentally tough they were and if they could fight through things when they went wrong. But, they were really tough and they tore through the season and had a lot of things not go their way and they fought through it and won a district championship.

“This group was a combination of skill, dedication and togetherness and they came to play every single night and every single practice. It is the best group to walk the halls at Octorara and they will be remembered for a very long time.’

And so will Lambert. The longtime coach has put the Octorara program in the Ches-Mont League championship discussion and in the District 1 Class AAA scenarios consistently for the last few years. It is not by chance. The man in charge breeds a family atmosphere with everybody from coaches, players and administration all pulling in the same direction.

And in the 2014-15 season no area coach had a better season than Gene Lambert.