Mesa Mountain View boys basketball coach Gary Ernst is close to another coaching milestone. This one is the biggest yet.

Ernst, 63, is currently tied with retired Sahuaro coach Dick McConnell for the most wins all-time in Arizona. Both have 774. Ernst can break that tie Wedneday night when Mountain View plays Desert Mountain in a 7:30 p.m. sectional playoff game at Desert Mountain. Ernst has 625 of his wins at Mountain View where he took over as coach in 1985.

McConnell, the father of Dobson coach Rick McConnell, retired at Sahuaro prior to the 2007-2008 season. Ernst won his 700th game in February of 2009. He finished the 2008-2009 season with 702 wins.

Mountain View has since added 25 wins in 2009-2010, 27 wins en route to the state title in 2010-2011 and 20 wins so far in 2011-2012.