State Championship - Game 3

Game 3. 3A State Championship Game. Carbon v. Emery. No big deal...I wish. This was the goal for this group of girls all season - to make and take State. Now we were finally to that point. No big deal. Or just everything we were dreaming about.

The game started (top left to right) - with the usually ref talk, the crowd taunting each other (We had the largest student section I have ever seen...it was UNBELIEVABLE!), warm-ups, and then the team introductions (in the Championship Game - every player is introduced on each side).

Then the starters are introduced and shake hands with the opposing player (2nd row - left to right), the girls huddle, and begin play. The score at the half was close - a one point game.

(3rd row)The half-time was special. First they honored two of our girls for Acadmic Allstate - Tia Pappas and Mariah Pollock. The average GPA was 3.99. Then our cheerleaders and drill team performed, and the girls tried to stay warm.

I'm lacking some important pictures here, but there was an unfortunate turning point in this game, late in the 3rd quarter. We started getting some terrible calls and then couldn't buy a basket at that point. The picture of Coach Carlson talking to the ref, sums up the frustrations with the end of the game. There are no excuses for our loss - but when the shooting fouls are 32-7 it definitely has an enormous impact on the outcome of the game. We had 3 players foul out.

(4th row) - Here are the reactions of the team. There were lots and lots of tears. But I was proud of their coach. She was the one who supported them to the end, she was the one who (literally) picked them off the ground to accept their trophy, she was the one that was proud of all they had accomplished.

Ending the season with such an incredible record - 22-2 and taking SECOND in the entire state is such an amazing accomplishment. But it has been difficult to find the joy after losing to our arch-rivals. Coach Carlson has done her best to be positive with the girls and help them recognize their successes. This was the text she sent out to her players the day after the game:
The Top Ten Reasons to Be Happy About our Season:
10. We finished 20-2
9. We don't have broken knuckles - oh wait, one of us does
8. We were region champions.
7. We won our playoff game to make it to the tournament against a solid team
6. We beat Cedar in double overtme, a game that could have gone either way
5. You're the best looking team in the state
4. We had brand new snazzy uniforms to play in
3. You got to be coached by El Riggs
2. We played in the championship game
And the number one reason to be happy - Your coach loves you and is proud of you.

So many of the girls described reading this text with laughter then tears then laughter and tears again (which I am doing as well just typing it). It was a hard loss, but this team has been strong, determined, and full of heart from the beginning, and they have nothing to regret. They gave it their all.

I will definitely miss watching them play. I love them too.