Thomas's team captures Conn. title game
BY STEVE SHEPPARD INDEPENDENT SPORTS EDITOR
It's a little over a week later and George Thomas still can't believe it.

The Independent file Former Nantucket coach George Thomas.

The former Whalers coach led the 12thseeded Panthers of East Windsor High to the Connecticut state basketball title on March 18. It is the first state basketball championship in the history of the school and the first state title for East Windsor since the boys' outdoor track team won it all in 1972.

Thomas captured the championship in his third year coaching the team.

"It's an incredible experience," he said Monday afternoon. "What makes it sweeter is the effect it's had on this town."

For the last week, he's been answering e-mails from alumni while the town plans a parade to celebrate the achievement. Three busloads of fans traveled to the championship game and the team was given a police escort back to the school after they had clinched it.

It's a dream come true for the man who began his teaching career on Nantucket in 1982 and coached baseball, football, basketball and softball, taking the softball team to the state tournament and his Whalers basketball teams to the tournament three years in a row. "It's my hope that all the kids I've coached share in this because they helped mold me," he said. "It's important that the Nantucket kids feel a part of this."

Going through the Connecticut state tournament with East Windsor, Thomas said, "was a two-week whirlwind - four out of the five games came down to one possession." The Panthers withstood two overtime games and a thrilling, 56-55, third round victory where the opponent's top player missed two free throws with 1.8 seconds left.

In the championship game, East Windsor was down 6 at the half before coming back to take the state title, 53-48.

For the three years he's coached at East Windsor, Thomas and his team have traveled to Nantucket for pre-season games in December. Although he has been teaching at East Windsor since 1992, his ties to Nantucket remain strong. He is married to Nantucket High School graduate and former NHS Spanish teacher Helen (Gillies) Thomas - who now teaches Spanish at East Windsor. The couple have three children: Alicia, 15, Justin, 13, and Catie 7 1/2.

Although he says "the state championship is beyond anything I can ever imagine," Nantucket remains in his heart.

"The greatest coaching experience of my life were those kids on Nantucket," he said.

"They helped me become who I am." I