Prior to the final girls basketball game of the season on Tuesday night a loud ovation echoed throughout the Boiling Springs arena as the Boiling Springs fanbase paid tribute to their legend, Sheila Foster. While Tuesday night was the final girls home basketball game of the year it also marked Foster's final game as a coach in the Bulldogs program, as she has chosen to retire as a coach to focus on her health. While there were many cheers on Tuesday night there was also many tears from the fans, players, coaches, and even Foster herself as an era came to an end.
"It means a lot to me as tonight brought back a lot of memories," said Foster about the celebration on Tuesday night. "To have all these people that know me and love me here to celebrate just means a lot and I'll never forget this place or these people. I came from little Giles Drive to my career here at Boiling Springs, to Carolina, and then overseas professionally and I wouldn't change any of it for the world." Foster, who has been coaching with the girls basketball team for the past 15 years, was a multiple sport athlete during her Bulldogs playing career but her most successful ventures came on the basketball court. During her career at Boiling Springs Foster scored 1,348 points and grabbed 1,192 rebounds (both still Bulldogs records) including a 38 point scoring game and at least two games with 28 rebounds. She also brought the Lady Bulldogs their only state championship in girl's basketball when she stole the ball from a Wilson High School player and made the ensuing basket to wrap up the 1978 3A State Championship. Foster was also named a high school All-American for her play in 1978. After a successful high school career Foster went on to a remarkable career at the University of South Carolina where she still holds many records. At South Carolina, Foster led the Gamecocks to the postseason every season that she was there including the 1981 AIAW Final Four in her junior season and to the sweet sixteen in the inaugural women's NCAA Tournament in her senior year of 1982 which were both the best finishes in school history until recently. She finished her Gamecock career with 2,266 points and 1,427 rebounds and still holds the record for most rebounds in a career while sitting second in points scored, a record she held until 2018 when she was passed by WNBA star A'ja Wilson. Foster also registered 72 double-doubles in her college career which is another Gamecock school record. Foster's number 53 jersey is retired at both Boiling Springs and South Carolina. One couple in attendance on Tuesday night, who said they had been married 42 years, said that it meant a lot for them to be there to celebrate Foster because their first date was to go watch Foster play in high school. After leaving South Carolina Foster went on to continue her basketball career professionally overseas for many years. Foster said that she decided to retire from coaching to focus on her health after battling what she calls the three C's: cancer, car wreck, and Covid. "I'm still going to be around the school and they'll probably find me checking out basketball practice next year but my health comes first," said Foster. "I've been through the three C's but that C in Christ is a lot bigger than those and he brought me through those three C's. I'm in year seven of remission from breast cancer." Foster said that while she won't be coaching next year she will still be there for the girls whether it's cheering them on or giving them advice. She said that the opportunity she's been given over the last fifteen years to share her knowledge and experience with other generations has meant a lot to her. "As a coach I've always told the girls that I'm going to teach you what I did and I'm not going to teach you anything to make you look bad," said Foster. "I want all of them to carry that legacy on. I went from Boiling Springs to Carolina where I had my same jersey number retired twice and I want each of them to have that same opportunity as well." Comments are closed.
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