An enormous effort

Though the Cougars didn't come home with a win from Tuesday night's second round district tournament game with Riverside, they have absolutely no reason to hang their heads in defeat. The young men from Rector can look their fans right in the eyes with both parties fully aware that the Cougars gave us all their very best. To push a team the caliber of Riverside to the brink of defeat in their neck of the woods is no easy feat. To do so six times in the course of an evening is a testament to how hard both clubs played. There truly were no losers in Tuesday's game.

I know these young men from Rector. I understand there's little solace they can take from these words, as they are all competitors of the highest order. Each year, only one team per classification concludes their season with a win. If you must go out on a loss, then a five overtime thriller that harkens back to the days of barnstorming basketball classics is pretty hard to beat. I doubt anything else in the tourney's remaining contests will be as memorable as the Rector-Riverside encounter.

I am proud of our young men for their efforts during the entire season. On behalf on the entire community, I would like to extend thanks to seniors Blake McCarroll, Justin Duke, Jacob Chronister, Matt Williams and their families for all they have done to entertain basketball crowds throughout the entire area. The Cougar basketball program is stronger for your time spent on the hardwood.