Sideline Slants

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN JOE KLEINSASSER
I’ve always told my parents that they spoiled me rotten, and I loved every minute of it. The same could be said for Hillsboro basketball fans.

The local high school and college basketball teams have spoiled us rotten.

We should love every minute of it.

When I was in high school, a trip to the state tournament was a rare occurrence. Now it’s become an annual rite.

Coach Darrel Knoll and his team had yet another exceptional season. To go through the season with only three losses is remarkable considering the tough competition the Trojans played. Congratulations for finishing third in Class 3A!

This year’s team showed how effective a balanced offensive attack can be. Of course, it didn’t hurt that they combined it with a stifling defense.

From a record standpoint, the HHS girls had an off year, but the young team was competitive and gained some valuable experience. The future looks bright.

Another basketball season has come and gone for Tabor College. I doubt that Coach Don Brubacher or the players received any satisfaction by finishing in a three-way tie for second. When you’ve had a lot of success, you set higher goals.

Bethel won the men’s title in a race that was up for grabs until the end. When five losses wins the title outright, it is an indication of parity, not necessarily greatness. It’s also an indication of missed opportunities for the three teams tied with six losses. Tabor’s slow start in the conference race-including two losses at home-proved to be too much to overcome.

Most teams are excited simply to be in a title chase. But when you think you have the talent to win a championship, it’s hard not to be somewhat disappointed. The question is whether Tabor’s talent was slightly overrated, whether the team failed to play up to its potential, or a combination of both.

The third-place finish by the Bluejay women was more satisfying as they continue to make strides toward the top of the KCAC.

Not that long ago, Tabor was at the bottom looking up. Today they are in the top tier of the conference. Bethany and Sterling were clearly the best teams, but Tabor has narrowed the gap significantly and there’s plenty of reason for Coach Rusty Allen and his players to be optimistic next year.

Of course, it’s one thing to move from the bottom to third place. It’s quite another to jump over the final hurdle and make it to the top of the class.

In any event, Hillsboro and Tabor fans enjoyed a lot of good and entertaining basketball this season.

* * *

Former Halstead High School great Dennis Latimore is in search of a new team. He left highly-ranked Arizona last month. I don’t know where he’ll play next, but it’s likely to be somewhere between the KCAC and NBA.

* * *

Speaking of area athletes, Hesston High graduate Christi Lehman, now attending the University of Nebraska, won the pole vault title at the Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championships in Lincoln, Neb., recently.

* * *

Collegiate boys’ basketball team had a disappointing 5-16 record this season, but two of their wins came over Class 6A schools Wichita South and Hutchinson. Go figure.

* * *

Here’s some basketball trivia to digest during March Madness. Did you know that more than 12 million basketballs are sold worldwide every year, with Americans buying 8 million?

The Spalding factory in Chicopee, Mass., has a machine that breaks in new balls by bouncing them against a wall 50 times each.

Each basketball is covered with 29,000 “pebbles” for grip; nearly two miles of nylon filament are wrapped around the ball’s inner rubber bladder for durability.

* * *

Did you hear about the player who was known for his famous hook shot?

Every time he’d fire one up, the coach gave him the hook.

* * *

P.S. Life is much like basketball: some score points, while others just dribble.

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