Teams strive to become family; Margaretta has five Baileys

Most sports teams want to instill a foundation of family.

For Margaretta boys basketball, it goes even deeper. The Polar Bears had five members of the Bailey family on the team this season.

Assistant coaches and brothers, Derick and Denny, and players Tate, Kale and Tyson are all Baileys. Denny and Derick played for the Polar Bears, although they played together for only a few games.

Denny graduated in 1991 and Derick in 1994.

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The tradition goes back one more generation to Dave Bailey, Denny and Derick’s father who graduated in 1971. Dave Bailey held Margaretta’s program record for field goal percentage until it was broken just a few years ago.

Tate and Kale are Derick’s sons and Tyson is Denny’s son. Growing up, Tate, Kale and Tyson always played whatever sport was in season.

Despite being close in age, they were only ever on the same baseball team.

“From fourth grade up we’ve coached them across all sports,” Derick said.

Denny began coaching boys varsity basketball at Margaretta in 1991 right after his graduation and Derick started helping out with the girls team before transitioning to the boys team.

With last season being Tyson and Kale’s freshman year, it was the first time all three got to share the court together. Tate is a junior.

“We’re able to understand what each other is thinking,” Kale said. “It’s nice to have the support. There’s not really a downside.”

While the Bailey’s are a tight-knit family in Castalia, they also have family members who live too far away to make it to some games. They haven’t, however, allowed that to prevent them from joining the Polar Bears’ family.

“We’re a close family and we love it that way,” Derick said. "The family watches all the games online.”

Denny said they always call and talk about the games afterward and they’re a great support system.

This season the Bailey trio appeared in every game, and each made significant contributions to the team. Tate averaged eight points a game, Kale brought size to the table which to help bring down rebounds and Tyson used his strength in the post to average 7.2 points.

The Baileys helped the Polar Bears reach their first regional final in 92 years and set a new program record for wins in a season with 24.

“It’s been a blast being with Coach [Steve] Keller,” Denny said of Margaretta’s varsity coach. “He has great attention to detail and he doesn’t let the kids get away with anything.”

Of course, being around your family that much there are going to be some drawbacks.

“The coaching doesn’t end at the end of the game or practice,” Denny said. “There is always something you can do to get better.”

Tate said he appreciated his dad and uncle always trying to help him improve as an athlete. The Baileys continue to pass the mantra along.

“Dericks’ son [Lawson] is in seventh grade, and they don’t take it easy on him,” Denny said. “It’s going to make him a better athlete in the long run.”

The Baileys make sure to keep their family bond intact as they take weekly trips to their grandma’s house every Sunday to have pizza. They also take trips to West Virginia where extended family can hang out, go hunting and make memories together.

“They’ll be in the barn playing basketball and the next thing you know, they’re throwing the football around,” Denny said. “They just don’t stop.”

It was a rewarding first season with five Baileys on the same team. They’re even more hungry for the next chapter.

“We’ve been looking forward to this for many years,” Derick said.

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Margaretta OHSAA boys basketball includes five Baileys