In what already was an accomplished career as the Langley Saxons head girls basketball coach, Amanda Baker recently achieved another milestone, winning her 200th game as the Saxons' leader.
The victory came Dec. 29 when Langley defeated Surrattsville of Maryland, 64-34, in the Saxons' final of three games at the Cougar Holiday Classic at Oakton High School. Longtime Oakton coach and tournament director Fred Priester, who has nearly 800 career victories, presented Baker with a rose shortly after the win over Surrattsville.
This season is Baker's 13th as Langley's coach. During that time the Saxons have won three Liberty District tournament championships, one region-tourney title and two runner-up finishes and twice were second in Virginia High School League state tournaments.
"Winning 200 games was not something I aspired to when I became the head coach," Baker said. "As seasons have gone on, I have fallen in love with another new team and have kept going."
Baker has no plans to stop coaching anytime soon. She has been helped over the years by longtime assistant coaches Bob Fall and Clay Buckley.
During her tenure as Langley's coach, Baker and her husband, Justin, have had three children. Baker credits her husband for keeping the family organized and in order during her coaching seasons. Justin Baker is a former assistant coach in Northern Virginia at West Potomac High School.
The Langley girls team had a 12-1 overall record this season and 3-0 district mark after a 60-21 home win over the Marshall Statesmen on Jan. 2. Langley has non-district wins over top Northern Virginia teams West Potomac, Meridian, Madison and Robinson.
Langley didn't have a winning record in Baker's first three seasons as Langley's head coach, then had a breakout campaign in her fourth, finishing 21-5 and second in the Liberty District tourney. The Saxons have continued as a top team and perennial district, region and state contender each season ever since.
In high school, Baker (than Amanda Bates) was a standout player at Forest Park High School. She was the same at the University of Mary Washington, where she helped the Division III team win three conference titles and reach the NCAA tournament final four one season, finishing third.
She was teammates at Mary Washington with former Madison High School standout Leigh Kampman.
