Irvington turns out to celebrate as Gina Maher gets NY record 800th girls basketball win
IRVINGTON —Well before the first quarter had ended Thursday night, it was clear those packing the gym at Irvington High School were going to get what they came for.
They’d scrambled to find parking, the school’s multiple lots filled and then some.
They’d entered the school, walking past cases of trophies, including shelves of gold balls, denoting years of Section 1 basketball championships.
And now the architect of those championships — as well as six state public school , five accompanied by state Federation (public and private school) championships — was center stage, doing what she’s done in filled gyms and empty gyms every year for close to 50 years.
Gina Maher was winning, yet again.
Maher, who became head coach of the Irvington program for the 1975-76 season, won her 800th girls basketball game with Irvington Thursday.
Her current group of Bulldogs went on a tear, jumping out to a 20-0 first-quarter lead over Eastchester, then expanded that to 33-2 at the half before Maher went to her bench and Irvington finished on top 48-27.
At the final buzzer, Maher became the first high school girls basketball coach in New York state history to reach 800 wins.
She did so with three players from that first team and many other players and assistant coaches from the years that followed watching.
Seemingly, given the size of the crowd, the entire Village of Irvington watching.
No one might not have been there without Debbie (King) Turk, Beth Connick and Peggy (Reich) Hickey.
The three had played CYO ball for Maher shortly after she moved to Irvington in 1974 with her husband and two young sons.
The high school girls basketball coach left before the '75-'76 season and Maher's CYO players on the team wanted Maher as coach. Then-athletic director Harold Meszaros, though, had someone else in mind for the job.
But the kids were resolute.
“We wouldn’t leave his office (until he agreed to hire Maher),” Turk recalled of the lobbying.
Having some place to be, he finally agreed, not knowing, of course, doing so would, for decades, change the local basketball landscape and the lives of countless players.
“She inspired me. She made me a better person. I think you can see she inspired a lot of people,” Connick, who now lives in Pleasantville, said, glancing around the gym, which was named after Maher in 2007.
“She’s very well liked and loved. Everyone loves playing for her. She’s a special person,” added Hickey, a Dobbs Ferry resident.
Stanley Friedlander, who’d coached CYO basketball in Irvington with Maher’s late husband, Neil, and whose daughter and granddaughter both played basketball for her, wasn’t going to miss the night.
His 4-10 daughter, Lisa, was on Maher’s first state championship team in 1990 and she also won a state tennis title with Maher as coach. (Maher continues to coach tennis.)
“This woman is so wonderful,” he said after waiting his turn to congratulate her after a post-game ceremony that included multiple speeches.
Kathy Behrens, who played for Maher 1977-81 and is now the NBA’s president of social responsibility and justice, listed reasons for Irvington girls basketball's success.
She cited a community that’s like family, a line of great assistant coaches and "hard-working, talented players, who play the right way.”
But Behrens concluded, “At the heart of Irvington girls basketball is Gina Maher.”
“She treats everyone like everyone else, with respect and dignity,” current 24-year assistant BJ Constantine said, her words prompting applause and cheers.
Constantine, wno played on that 1990 championship team, called Irvington girls basketball the “best sorority on the planet: “Kappa, Kappa Gina.”
Quipping that she’s often asked about Irvington girls basketball’s “secret sauce,” Constantine said of Maher, “She is the secret sauce. She is the best. She is a legend.”
Maher is a legend who fretted for days, if not weeks, over receiving unsought honors. She was so afraid the pressure of the evening would hurt her team that she didn’t tell her players she was approaching the 800 milestone — not that they didn’t hear about it elsewhere.
“It’s just amazing to me. She’s had so much success but displays so much humility,” said John Buonamano, who was hired as Irvington AD in 2020. to replace departing, long-time AD Artie McCormack, now of Pearl River, and who was among the speakers.
Buonamano said the night's focus was on Maher having 800 wins, but her overriding focus is on “love and community.”
“Honestly, they don’t make them like her anymore. She’s an amazing human being. Tonight is an example of what she is," Buonamano said.
Alyson Raimondo, a junior on this year’s squad, said, no matter the score, “She’s never giving up on us. We can be down at the half and she lifts us up. She’ll say words at halftime that make us want to play hard for her.”
Of her recollections years from now of what occurred Thursday night, Raimondo, who had 12 points, said, “I’m going to remember how the whole community came together to support someone they love and who has had an impact on everyone’s lives.”
Maher, who was serenaded at one point during the game with a sing-song chant of GI-NA MA-HER, GI-NA MA-HER, pointed to seeing people of all ages, including long-retired Irvington teachers, past Irvington athletic directors, past players, past assistants, opposing coaches and even the young girls who played on the court during halftime, as the highlight of her night.
A good number of Maher’s family members were on hand, including sons Chris and Neil.
One of a kind: Inside look at living legend Gina Maher approaching 800 girls basketball wins at Irvington
Neil Maher, whose two sons, Riggs, 11, and Leif, 8, unveiled an 800-win banner on a gym wall, said the evening's focus had been on how much his mother had given to Irvington, but said she and her family were grateful for the joy Irvington had given them.
“It’s us who were given a gift here,” he said.
Neil shot down, with a “No way,” the notion his mother might retire anytime soon.
“If she keeps connecting with young girls she should keep doing it,” he said.
Of her poentially reaching 900 wins, he said, “I hope so. What’s the alternative?”
Riggs noted he was on hand several years ago for his grandmother's 700th.
Of the 800th, Riggs said, “It was super great hanging out with my friends, cheering my grandma on.”
Leif said the highlights for him were unveiling the banner and watching Irvington win
And he'll be glad to do both again in another 100 wins.
“I’ll be there, 100%," Leif promised.
Nancy Haggerty covers cross-country, track & field, field hockey, skiing, ice hockey, girls lacrosse and other sporting events for The Journal News/lohud. Follow her on Twitter at both @HaggertyNancy and at @LoHudHockey.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Irvington coach Gina Maher gets girls basketball NY record 800th win
