VIEW from behind the plow

High school sports is one of the things that binds communities together, making everyone feel a part.

The recently-concluded state high school basketball tournament was a “red-letter” week for Kingfisher County. Kingfisher’s boys won the state class 4A championship for the second time in three years; Hennessey boys won the silver ball in Class 2A, the Okarche boys went to the state semifinals in Class A and Lomega girls reached the state class B semifinals – all way above average accomplishments.

The players, coaches and fans all deserve a pat on the back.

The Kingfisher Yellowjacket boys’ basketball team produced a championship season for the ages last weekend.

The team ran through the Class 4A state tournament like a hot knife through butter, demolishing every opponent by double-digits.

The Jackets shattered our long-held notion that every state champion has to have a lucky break somewhere along the way. The 2018-19 Jackets were simply superior. Their defense set a state tournament record for least points allowed in a three-game run.

Not only were they the best on the court, they were the classiest, in our opinion. It brought a lump to our throat when senior team member Trey Green gave a Heritage Hall player a “ good game, Dude” fist bump as one Hall player left the floor after fouling out.

The entire team displayed what every team should – great sportsmanship. They made us feel proud to be a part of their fan base.

Their team character reflects great coaching, great teaching and great parenting.

Green also almost brought tears to our eyes when in a post-game interview, he credited teammates for their efforts, mentioning particularly the tenacious defensive performance of fellow senior team member Reece Lafferty.

The one-for-all and all-for-one attitude was evident throughout the season and had to play a significant role in the championship season.

Kingfisher student fans attending the championship game were distinctive. They were all wearing green P&K John Deere caps. We heard a rumor that Heritage Hall fans referred to the Kingfisher team and fans as “crackers” (rural residents, we suppose) as in “sending them back home” to their tractors after narrowly defeating the Jackets in the state championship game a year earlier.

One can’t help wondering how they “liked them crackers” after Saturday’s game. Note: we have never seen anything unsportsmanlike on the part of Heritage Hall players.

Class is not a matter of where one lives but whether one is gracious in his actions – win or lose.

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The Hennessey Eagles performed outstandingly in the state 2A championship game Saturday night. They lost to Rejoice Christian, a private school at Owasso, in the championship game but played an outstanding team extremely close.

Rejoice Christian had a tall high-low post tandem that provided a difficult matchup for the Eagles.

The Eagles were state title contenders a year ago, also, and possibly surprised some folks by making it back to the state event after graduating a couple of all-stars from the 2018 team. The Eagles were a disciplined, well-coached team that represented Kingfisher County extremely well.

The Eagles provided one of the most dramatic games in the tournament when they tied the semi-final game on a last second buzzer-beater goal and then won it in overtime. It doesn’t get much more exciting than that.

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The Okarche Warriors, consistent title contenders year in and year out, maintained that distinction this year, arriving at the state tournament with their usual well-prepared demeanor.

Just reaching the state tournament is a distinct honor; reaching the semifinals even more so.

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Lomega girls returned to their traditional role as giant-killers this season, completing the year with a 26-5 record.

Their defeat at the state tournament was to Varnum, which won the championship the next afternoon.

Congratulations to the Warriors, the Eagles, the Lady Raiders and the Jackets and their coaches and fans for great seasons and all the other county teams, boys and girls, who worked hard and represented their communities with honor. You showed the rest of the state how it should be done.

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One last comment on the Jackets. The state tournament data (during the live stream of the title game) indicated they had compiled a 20-2 season record. They actually compiled a 28-1 season record. Their only loss was a narrow one to 6A Tulsa Washington in the mid-season Tournament of Champions – a game they felt they should have won. We’re thinking the Jackets would like a rematch with Tulsa Washington.

Too bad there is not a post-season Tournament of Champions involving all the state tournament champions.