SHARONVILLE, Ohio — Lakota West girls' basketball coach Andy Fishman had no idea he was close to a career milestone a week ago.
That's only natural for Fishman, who has been a strong advocate for his Firebirds every year since he started the program in 1997. He'd prefer players received the spotlight instead.
There was no escaping the attention Wednesday night at Princeton High School.
The Firebirds' victory brought Fishman's career win total to 400, adding another distinction to his already memorable coaching tenure. He is one of at least 41 coaches in Ohio girls' basketball history to reach the milestone, according to the Ohio High School Athletic Association's unofficial records.
His record stands at 400-131 since old Lakota High School split into East and West in '97.
Lakota West defeated hosted Princeton 61-50 in a Greater Miami Conference showdown that will be the only time the two teams meet in the regular season. It snapped Princeton's 13-game winning streak — the longest such streak for the program since 2011.
Princeton (13-1, 7-1 GMC) is ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press Division I state poll, while Lakota West (12-1, 8-1 GMC) is ranked No. 6.
The win illustrated why they are one of the elite programs in the state. Lakota West has won eight Greater Miami Conference championships, nine district titles and had four consecutive GMC titles entering this season.
The program has sent 40 players to the collegiate level, including some who’ve played in the WNBA and overseas.
Lakota West will play Canton GlenOak at 3 p.m. Saturday in the Classic in the Country Challenge in Berlin, Ohio.
Princeton next plays host to Hamilton at 2 p.m. Saturday.
