Almost three decades ago, Fairview girls basketball head coach Kyle Jinks set a lofty goal, and he is almost there.

He earned his 999th career win Saturday, a 59-15 win over Glenmora at the Pitkin tournament. He will go for 1,000 today when the Panthers host Midland at 6 p.m.

Jinks took over the Fairview program before the 1997-1998w season and has since won 13 state and 25 district championships. His career record stands at 999-140, a .877 winning percentage. The Panthers won eight consecutive state championships from 2007 to 2014.

Jinks has won 40 or more games in nine seasons and 30 or more 22 times with no losing seasons.

The Panthers are 17-2 and ranked No. 1 in the unofficial Class B power rankings with four players who started on last year’s state championship team in seniors Reesie Jinks and Kaylee Guillory, sophomore A.J. Williams and eighth grader Andi Turner. Other starters include senior Madison Turner and junior Andee Stanley.

“We are real similar to last year,” Jinks said. “I like our chances.

“Anything can happen in the playoffs. They play hard. They do what I ask every day. It is just a good group of kids. Our speed is probably the best I have ever had as a group. We rebound well. Some nights we play defense well and some nights we don’t. That is probably our Achilles heal, but we can score.”

Fairview’s only losses this season are to Oak Hill, the No. 2 team in Class B, and Woodlawn-Baton Rouge, the fifth-ranked team in Select Division I.

Midland (9-5) is ranked No. 3 in Nonselect Division IV.