PARMA, Idaho — Not originally on the schedule for Tony Haddock’s Imbler boys basketball team was a nonleague contest in Parma, Idaho. A few phone calls between athletic directors and a game was added for Friday, Dec. 22.

Beyond pushing Imbler’s record to 9-1 overall with a 49-46 victory over the Panthers, the trip was a chance for Haddock to join with the Parma community and his own team to celebrate his father’s legacy in the world of high school sports. The Parma gym was renamed for Larry Haddock, Tony’s father and mentor in both coaching and life.

The elder Haddock spent 49 years coaching baseball, basketball and football at multiple levels from youth to high school in the Parma area. This was in addition to his 52 years of teaching in the district.

“I, and my brothers and sisters, spent our youth as managers for one team or another,” Haddock said. “My memories are full of riding buses or sitting on the bench with my father. Looking back, it is a bunch of small memories just rolled into one big memory of my youth.”

That drive as a coach trickled down from father to son as Tony recalls taking his own 3-week old child to a game to scout an opposing player. In addition, both he and his wife coach in the Imbler area, while raising a family, a situation much like his own childhood.

“My dad always had success,” he said. “We are now making new memories together on the golf course.”

The players from both teams were joined at center court by former players, members of the Parma community and former players and students for the ceremony.

“It was a special night for my dad,” Haddock said. “He was humbled and a little embarrassed to be honest. There were players and students from many generations gathering to honor him.”

The elder Haddock only fully retired last year and was still coaching junior high school ball with his daughter.

“I just really want to thank the staff at Imbler for placing this game on the schedule and allowing myself and our team to be part of this for my family,” Haddock said.

The only drawback for the home fans in the newly named gym was the visiting Panthers knocked off the hometown team.

“It was a great high school game and a great environment,” Haddock said. “The kids played extremely well to knock off a very well coached Parma team.”

Haddock and Imbler (9-1 overall) place a four-game win streak on the line starting Dec. 27 at the Eastern Oregon Holiday Crossover with games in both Baker and North Powder gyms.