“I ain’t never lost a kid!”

December 2, 2022 by David Svien

Trent Diamanti (top) and Mike Duke have a story to tell.

This is NOT a story about a landmark moment in Coupeville High School basketball history.

No, it’s better than that.

This is one of those side stories about shenanigans and kismet, a tale told by those involved, and told in their own words.

It’s winter, sometime during the 2004-2005 boys’ hoops season, and our heroes are Mike Duke and Trent Diamanti, who have both gone on to become coaches and semi-responsible adults.

Featuring a wordless cameo from longtime Coupeville hoops coach Randy King, who will undoubtedly believe I made the whole thing up.

The locale? South Whidbey High School.

The time? After a game between the Wolves and Falcons.

And scene.

Trent Diamanti:

Well, we had an away game in South Whidbey and at some point, Mike and I went to wander around and talk – it really was that innocent.

And we lost track of time and ended up in a courtyard and suddenly realized it was past the time when the buses would be leaving.

Mike Duke:

Locked in a court with some sort of event going on in the South Whidbey commons.

It took way too long to realize we were locked outside and right when we did … off in the distance we see the bus leaving campus.

This was all obviously before fancy phones and text messaging available to everyone.

I believe it was the South Whidbey JV coach that gave us a ride to the Greenbank store.

Where we were going to call one of our parents to come get us, but the girls’ team was coming back from a game at King’s or something on the ferry side and we got a ride home with them.

Trent Diamanti:

Mr. King — bless his heart — either didn’t do a head count or forgot the number it was supposed to be.

I had a cell phone but no service.

There was some event going on in the high school and we started BANGING on the door for this old guy to let us in and he sauntered over as casual as could be.

Mike Duke:

If we are throwing people under the bus, I believe it was Blake Day who told coach that we went home with Trent’s dad.

Trent Diamanti:

Really took his time. So when he finally opened the door we sprinted past and saw the buses had left.

Mike Duke:

Sauntered is the perfect word. He reacted as though we were the first zombies in a George Romero movie.

Trent Diamanti:

So, the JV coach gave us a ride and somehow, we caught up with the girl’s bus.

Turned out the boy’s bus figured out we weren’t there and didn’t catch a ride about halfway.

I think the girl’s bus driver radioed the boy’s one to let them know they had us.

The funny part was we were afraid of being in trouble (at least I was, partly cause this was such a typical Trent thing, to lose track of time and get lost) but it was Mr. King who was super embarrassed.

Mike Duke:

The girl’s bus has no idea. They just stopped at the store to do the like south side kiddo drop off that they did for players that lived in that area.

Trent Diamanti:

Yeah, it was super lucky.

Mike Duke:

Oh yeah FOR SURE thought we were going to have to run all the suicides. 😆

Trent Diamanti:

I still don’t get service on my phone at South Whidbey High School…

Turns out it’s VERY IMPORTANT for coaches/teachers to keep track of all the kids under their charge. Something Coach Duke has NO IDEA ABOUT. 😆

Mike Duke:

It’s not that difficult.

I don’t like to brag or toot my own horn, but I’ve coached now 12 seasons of soccer between boys and girls at the varsity level … and I AINT NEVER LOST A KID hahaha 😆

Trent Diamanti:

I’ve lost kids but they weren’t my offspring, so it wasn’t a big deal … joking!

Mike Duke:

Hahaha

And this postscript, from the CHS girls’ basketball coach at the time.

Greg Oldham:

In my recollection, Coach King left at least one player behind every season.