One of the true class acts on the local prep sports scene, Walled Lake Central boys basketball coach Denny Butcher, eclipsed the 200-win plateau last week, with his squad's comeback victory over Milford in the KLAA Tournament.

Butcher has been coaching in the area since the early 1990s. He got his start on the sidelines as an eager 24-year old at traditional Catholic League powerhouse Orchard Lake St. Mary's and he was quick to make a reputation as a master motivator and tactician with a clipboard and whistle in his hands. His 1994 St. Mary's team, featuring NFL vet David Bowens in the post and all-state guard Diallo Johnson on the wing, lost in the state championship game at the buzzer, a heartbreaking defeat Burney suspects his main man DB will one day – IMO sooner, rather than later – make amends for in a major way.

Taking the reins at Walled Lake Central eight years ago, Butcher has done his usual GRADE-A job making the Vikings a perennial contender and consistently one of most tenacious teams in the area. The two best words to describe Butcher and his teams are-NAILS TOUGH!!!

While a prepster himself in the 1980s at Lakeland, he set a slew of Eagles records on the hardwood, showing the same take-no-prisoners attitude as a player than he does now as a head coach.

Butcher and the Vikings (14-5) have a good shot at taking home the program's first district since 2006 when the state tourney tips off next week.