Jim Gunnip may have reached a coaching milestone this year, but that's the least on his mind.

Earlier in the season, Gunnip picked up his 100th career win as the Union Springs girls basketball coach, but the more important thing to him are his players.

“I really don't like to talk about myself,” Gunnip said.

Nor do his players who have installed a “We, not me” mentality on their season, which has paid off in the long run as they are currently in a tie with Moravia in Division III of the IAC.

“We play in a very tough division,” Gunnip said.

Southern Cayuga is at the top of the IAC and will be the Wolves opponent in a match-up Friday. Unlike the Chiefs, the Wolves have just one senior, making them a team to be reckoned with in a few years.

“Overall as a team they are very close,” Gunnip said. “It's a very close core of juniors that stay together. They do different activities and stuff together.”

Two of the key juniors to defend are Alexa Schooley and Molly Clifford.

“We're what I call a lunch pal crew,” Gunnip said. “They're hard working and just go to work. ... They put that hard hat on and take over.”

As a team they respond well to direction from Gunnip.

“It's the first time a crew has enjoyed me yelling at them,” he said. “They really like it when I yell at them.”

For such a young team the Wolves are picking up some key characteristics that only come from game experience.

“They understand the game situations better,” Gunnip said.

They also recognize the defense and pressures better as a team. The knowledge that comes with each competition allows them to learn where they have to be when the shot clock is winding down.

“It's good to see them understand the knowledge and hustle like they do,” Gunnip explained.

They lost to Southern Cayuga on the road earlier in the year, but this meeting they host the first-place team for another chance at victory.

“They all chip in offensively and defensively,” Gunnip said.

“No one individually needs to score 20 or more points a game. We have girls that can do each role. Individually we don't have someone that sticks out, but that's a good thing when we play teams.”

Their unselfish mentality is something that professional teams could adopt to. On the team's bulletin board is a laminated sign with a motto and goals. On top of that Gunnip gives the players stars for doing good things, but not just on the court.

“The girls absolutely love these stars,” Gunnip said. “There are other ways to contribute.”

Unlike teams in the past, for Gunnip, this team seems to be the most well rounded. Off the court they all have their interests other than basketball.

“They have different ways of doing things, and backgrounds,” Gunnip said.

Despite the differences, they are still able to be teammates and do what is needed as a team to be successful.

“It's enjoyable for them,” Gunnip said. “They are a very determined, hard working group of kids. They never quit during a game. Just that lunch pal type of group I guess.”

Nothing can be scarier in the IAC then a young group.

“As a coach, after every game you see something positive,” Gunnip said. “There are things we can still work on, but there are positives also.”

For a coach that doesn't like to talk about himself, Gunnip has one moment in his career that sticks out to him.

“The kids gave me a note on a napkin after one game,” he said.

“I just kind of put it in my pocket, but after the game I took it out and there scratched on it was ‘Congrats Coach for your 100th win.' I realized that's how I would want my career to be. For me not to realize how many wins I have, but for the kids. That's special. It shows they care more about others then themselves.”

How fitting, coming from a coach who isn't too worried about his accomplishments, a key factor of the “We, not me” mind set.