A day back in Clear Lake

Tommy Penders’ journey has been filled with moments of triumph and near-misses — the heartbreak as Head Coach of Angleton and their 2006 state semifinal loss, the honor of being named just the third head coach in Clear Lake history, the gut-wrenching 56-54 loss in the 2015 state championship game with Lake to Plano West, and the accomplishment of crossing the 500 win threshold just last year, just to name a few.

Those near-misses and the achievements are sometimes the fuel that drives him forward, shaping him into the disciplined, relentless coach standing on the sideline today. After all this is a game of victory and defeat.

Yet the distractions are important too.

"Especially if you're like me, and you live and die with the game- foolishly I might add- but if you live and die with every game, then you gotta have some other things you're good at.", Penders shared on The Jamodi podcast last year.

You can see the live-and-die-mentality on the sidelines as he coaches. He works the officials with a charm that few others can, winning the game within the game.

Clear Lake hosted Klein Collins for a Tuesday 1 p.m. game the week of Thanksgiving. Lake controlled the contest winning 64-42 leading wire to wire, but it wasn't without its share of stress.

With 3 minutes left in the third quarter and Clear Lake leading 46-33 the matchup encountered its most heated sequence.

After Klein Collins drove the lane on a breakaway a call went against them, and the KC Head Coach, Scott Harmatuk, could barely believe his eyes.

In the live action it looked like a foul should have been called on Lake, but the reaction while frustrated from Harmatuk was still controlled, after all the officials had been doing well all game.

Tough break, but the game goes on, and in general a moment of respect between the officials and coach.

Both know there is no changing the outcome, but a coach has an opportunity to defend a player, while also inspiring some energy from his bench.

Almost as if on cue the chess game was turned straight back now to Clear Lake's Tommy Penders.

A borderline block that could have been called goaltending goes against Clear Lake, and off it Klein Collins scored a quick basket cutting the lead to 46-35, Penders immediately called timeout.

"THERE'S SIX EYES HOW DO YOU MISS IT?" Penders boomed to the three officials as he entered the floor.

"That's a game changing play! You can't miss those!"

I have seen Penders toe the line with officials often enough to know he hadn't crossed it yet. But he was close.

The "six eyes" comment was a good one, as the officials chuckled, shying away from the heated Penders.

Point made. And, more importantly, momentum returned to the bench, albeit with a higher blood pressure coach than just moments before.

When he needs to step away from the action, when the blood pressure is a little too high, and he has to take a breath, and escape being a mentor and coach, what does Penders do?

"For me that's exercise, yardwork, and cooking."

Penders also emphasized something very separate in that interview that I myself saw on display at their game-

"I think that being one with the community, that's the most important thing. We are here to be role models, and for those kids whether they are your basketball player or a student in your classroom, I want them to feel safe."

"These kids don't get the same adult or even peer interaction we did. I want that for them."

As a former student myself (although from a different local school) who covered many Clear Lake games in high school, that comfort in his gym was real. A smile and a handshake as soon as he caught my eye, yet it had probably been ten years since we last saw each other in person.

And I looked around and saw the community that he chooses and that chooses him. Alumni, current students, community members with no connection to the team. It is a warm, diverse, and welcoming group.

As the players celebrated their win, Penders allowed himself a small, quiet smile.

Maybe he was thinking about one of those hobbies of his like his morning workout, the leaves that need raked, or the turkey still to come.

Or maybe. Just maybe... He allowed himself a moment, to appreciate the thrill of another Clear Lake victory.