CIF NorCal basketball: Coach Derek Swafford’s career ends as Fortune falls on late basket
When it was over, the players wore long expressions, shoulders sagging, hearts heavy.
But not the coach. Not Derek Swafford. Not the man who built this newer-school basketball program in Sacramento called Fortune Early College from nothing into something substantial in three short seasons through the will of his coaching and personality.
The young and talented Panthers lost to an experienced and gritty Sierra High of Tollhouse team 57-55 on Thursday night in a CIF Northern California regional Division V quarterfinal in Fortune’s splashy new gym.
Junior guard Logan Kilbert, all 6-foot-4 of him and his rolling momentum, went coast-to-coast, driving to the bucket for the winner with three seconds remaining, and Fortune could not get a clean shot off in time, igniting a celebration scene for the visitors from the Fresno region.
Sierra players, fans and coaches mobbed Kilbert, who has more than 2,000 career points and had 28 in this one, and there was Swafford, consoling his dejected bunch before walking over to congratulate Chieftains coach Ryan Watt.
It wasn’t just the final game for the Panthers, who finished 21-9. It was the last hurrah for Swafford. He coached Sacramento High to six Sac-Joaquin Section championships and then took on this monstrous challenge of elevating a school with 115 students on a campus that is still adding new classrooms and is nestled in the southern tip of Sacramento County, surrounded by new housing developments or wide-open fields.
“I told our kids that we already won,” Swafford said. “We made history here, went farther than anyone expected, and that we’re still champions. What a great game and great environment. We just fell short.”
Swafford said he was “blown away” at the vision of Fortune High, where students adhere to dress codes and prepare for the college life. He craved a new challenge, having done all there was to do at Sac High. He will remain with the school as athletic director, turning the basketball program over to assistant coach Raphael Jemmott.
Swafford is a towering man with a booming voice and broad grins when he isn’t glowering for more stops or at referees. He wears a letterman’s jacket on campus with a big block F and his name, and it soon caught on with players, coaches, staffers and administrators. For games, Swafford switches to a suit, but he wears his favorite sneakers.
“The letterman’s jacket builds culture,” the coach said, adding: “I’m a lucky man. This has been such a joy doing this. But I’m 70 years old. It’s time to stop coaching. I’ve been a social worker for 28 years. I’ve taught at Sacramento City College for 30. I’ll be retiring from all of that at some point but remain here as AD. We’ve got so much more to do.”
Fortune has just two seniors in twin guards Tyrece and Tyree Rose, and they will be part of the school’s third graduating class. Tyrece Rose had 19 points to lead the Panthers. The returning players for the program include starting guard Jabari Pugh and forwards Corey Lark and Christian Barrett. Barrett is the team’s tallest player at 6-4, but he’s growing and may be a college prospect if he does.
Fortune’s gym is state of the art, including a video board that includes the image of, “Made in the 916”. Thursday’s game was packed, including the school’s spirited and loud drumline.
Fortune will not field a football program, but it does have volleyball, soccer and track and field. And one heck of a basketball program.
“We’ve come a long way,” Swafford said. “We had nothing at first. We played at park and rec, a church, anywhere. Now, we’re here.”
Sierra players and coaches were impressed. Watt, the head coach, said he was even more impressed with his team’s effort and season. The Chieftains are 29-5 and have won 20 of their last 21 games. Kilbert, the game hero, and his teammates have grown up together.
“I’ve got a team that refuses to quit and give up,” Watt said. “We came into this great new facility, this great environment and atmosphere, and won. So proud of them.”