Gather around children and teenagers because I’m about to tell you a little story. You’re going to think it’s make-believe but it’s very, very real. This story isn’t about the Fouke monster or Bigfoot. This story is much more frightening than those tall tales.
A long, long time ago back in the early nineties, there was something called the state tournament.
Now hold on. I know you think you know what the state tournament is all about but the event I’m talking about is much different than the one that’s played today.
You see, back in the olden days, getting to the state tournament was sort of hard to do. Actually, for most teams it was an incredible dream, hopelessly out of reach. Basketball coaches used to highlight state tournament appearances on their resumés with golden thread.
Thinking back, any team that extended its season beyond the district tournament had reason to smile. Regional tournaments, many of them, were like mini-Final Fours, played in sweaty, jam-packed, often far-away gymnasiums. For most of the best teams, their seasons ended in the regional tournament. The list of teams with 35 or more victories that didn’t qualify for the state tournament is almost endless.
Yeah, I know. Scary, isn’t it?
I can remember a district girls championship game played in either Poyen or Donaldson between Union and Parkers Chapel. Both teams had more than 30 victories. In fact, almost all of their losses were against each other.
PC and Union were playing for probably the fifth or sixth time that season. Although they’d qualified for regionals, there was still a lot to be decided on that Saturday night - a top seed in the regional. The loser would have to beat Delta, ranked No. 1 in the state, in the regional at Monticello. The winner only had to get through Arkansas City, which was ranked No. 4, to earn a berth in the state tournament.
The Lady Trojans and Lady Cyclones fought for four quarters. At the end of the night, Union’s players cut down the nets in celebration, although the players knew there was still a mountain between them and the state tournament.
The Lady Cyclones won twice in the regional, including a thrilling upset over Arkansas City, which qualified them for the state tournament. I rode the bus with that team to Harrison. I documented their frustrating first-round loss to Mount Pleasant.
Despite a quiet, somber bus ride home from Harrison, I watched a team have an incredible journey.
That’s the difference. It was a long, hard, arduous journey with each step more tumultuous than the last. Every victory represented another step. Each step was a celebration.
It seems far-fetched that a team could win close to 40 games and not make it to state. But, it’s true. And, yes, there used to be schools named Union and Delta and Arkansas City and Mount Pleasant with mascots called River Rats and Bluebirds.
Those schools don’t exist anymore. Everything is different, now.
I’m not saying the state tournaments today aren’t as good. I’m not saying it was better in the olden days. The fact that I liked it better back then is simply my opinion and isn’t any more valid than anyone else’s.
It’s just different.
You don’t have to be great to make it to state these days. You don’t even have to be real good. In the large classifications, you can be actually be winless because every team automatically goes to the state tournament in Class 6A and 7A.
Sort of makes it less of an accomplishment doesn’t it?
It’s different and different isn’t necessarily better or worse.
Area basketball players who participated in the state tournament last week should be proud of their accomplishments. I’m not going to lie and say getting to state isn’t easy because it actually is. But, players have to travel the road to get there that’s put in front of them. Youngsters in 2012 didn’t choose their path anymore than those teams did back in the olden days.
All I’m saying is, even though it’s different, now, appreciate the journey.
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