Make it 900 times two for Lipscomb Academy coach Ernie Smith.

Lipscomb Academy girls basketball coach Ernie Smith celebrates with players following a 51-28 win over Martin Luther King Magnet School Tuesday, earning Smith his 900th basketball coaching victory.

Smith, who won his 900th game as Mustangs baseball coach during last postseason, picked up win No. 900 as the school’s girls basketball coach Tuesday evening in a 51-28 triumph over Martin Luther King Magnet.

“Right now it feels good,” said Smith, who has spent his entire coaching career at Lipscomb. “The biggest thing is that there were a lot of former players here tonight, and everyone has been so good to me.”

Smith, who has been coaching at Lipscomb (following an athletic career at David Lipscomb University) for 39 years (being head girls basketball coach since 1980) was inducted into the TSSAA Hall of Fame last year. He now has 1,800 career coaching victories at the school, split evenly with girls basketball and baseball.

“I feel really blessed,” said Smith, who will be retiring from coaching girls basketball following the season. “It doesn’t really feel like a job. I’ve enjoyed it so much – it’s a job you enjoy working at. I’m lucky to be able to have done this as long as I have.

“You’ve got to be lucky in a lot of ways. We’ve had a lot of great players and great coaches here. I was in the right place at the right time. I’ve had a lot of good kids to work with.”

Lipscomb (11-5, 4-1 in 10-AA) controlled Tuesday’s game from the outset, holding leads of 9-5 after one quarter, 25-11 at halftime and 44-14 at the end of three periods.

Gracie Simpson had a big night for the Lady Mustangs, scoring 18 points and hitting four 3-pointers.