WEBSTER GROVES, Mo. (AP) - A suburban St. Louis high school principal who is fighting brain cancer has marked his 100th win as a basketball coach.
Former players, coaches, faculty, students and the team united Thursday to give Webster Groves High School principal Jon Clark his 100th win, something he was one victory shy of when he left his coaching position at Rolla High School in 1996.
The basketball team's current head coach, Jay Blossom, organized the game with the help of faculty and students. The team played Rockwood Summit, a team it expected and needed to defeat to continue a 13-game winning streak.
"It's extra motivating," said Andy Bennett, a senior on the team. "We'd like to do this for him."
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch (http://bit.ly/1WhVpoc) reports that 49-year-old Clark had surgery over the school's winter break to remove a second malignant tumor from his brain.
Clark formerly taught math and coached varsity basketball at Rolla High School. He became assistant principal at Webster Groves High School in 1996 and was named principal in 2003.
"I'm honored to have this opportunity," Clark told the team before the game.
He said them he was proud of each of them.
"Now let's go have some fun," he said.
The Webster Groves high school team won the game 80-30. The team had put their principal on their shoulders as Clark smiled.
"He works so hard at being our principal and does so many things for us every day," Gulve said. "I don't know if everyone realizes how hard he works."