Explore Escalante
It’s been a week of sports – mostly triumphs; some personal and some team oriented. In wrestling we’re delighted to congratulate Neil Owens and Keaton Durfey for their fourth place finish in their weight class. With 34 schools it means they were the top of probably 100 students. Good Job.
Our senior girls are playing basketball at Bryce Valley this year. They ended up in the top of the region, played Duchsene Wednesday and won; played Wendover Thursday and won. They are playing Panguitch Friday. If they win they’ll play either Rich or Piute. You’ll know by the time this hits the streets. We hope it’s been a good year for the girls.
The boy’s basketball game Thursday night was a different team than played Panguitch the previous Saturday. Their last two games were strong, focused and good. On to Regions. But I have to comment on the Saturday game.
Have you ever seen one of those movies where the whole town attends the High School home game? It’s basketball in this case, because the schools’ too small for a football team.
Its homecoming and they crown the king and Queen and court at halftime. The game is against their arch rival for the title, but in this case it was position in the regionals.
The game had been close all night, each team playing their hearts out, but minor errors and fouls getting in the way of ultimate success. With a minute to go the visiting team is ahead. The two teams trade the lead but time is running out. The home team fouls and the free throw breaks the tie. Visitors by one. With seven seconds left the home town boy grabs the ball from a miss by the visitors, dribbles down the court and makes a basket as the game buzzer sounds.
Screaming and jumping with joy, the town folk spill out of the stands; the team members hug and high 5 it; and there’s joy in the valley that night. The families slowly filter their way home. The boys start appearing from the locker room dressed for the homecoming dance. The town settles down as the music starts. And the streamers and signs are all that is left as the custodian sweeps up the gym.
But in the back of Logan McLemore’s mind he’ll always have the picture and joy of winning the game. Not giving up until after he caused the last foul and not until after the last second. And feeling the pride of knowing he made a difference, for himself, for his team, for his town.
Thank you Moqui’s for a great team effort. Wherever we go from here, I know that those movies could have been written about our town. A place where everyday life is shared by everyone interested in being a part; and that living the story is better than the movie. Until next week.
PS. We’ll be closed March 4-6 to purchase (hopefully) a photo kiosk. Reopen the 7th.