Chapter Thirty-Four

Playoff Basketball

After the Coronado game, we had only one loss in district play with three district games to play, including two games against our most serious rivals for the championship, Eastwood (our only district loss) and Burges high schools, respectively. Despite our high state ranking and our win totals, we were considered underdogs to both teams. Burges had come into district play with only one loss the entire season. Eastwood had been highly regarded at the beginning of the season but had six surprising losses even before district play began. We had made it into district with only two losses all season.

So, their appeared to be a three-way dogfight which was intriguing to our fans and the entire city, as well as nerve-racking to all the teams and coaches.

What kept us on track was the calm and even-keeled approach that Coach Goodwin maintained throughout. He had been through this before with other teams he coached and was confident that we would be the best prepared team. He emphasized that that was all we could do or control.

During the entire season, Coach Goodwin often said, “Just don’t lose faith in yourself or your teammates. That is all I really want you to bring to the game. That ensures that you will be involved and invested. That is all your teammates and I can ask of you.”

We won our game against Andress High School with relative ease, despite considerable foul trouble that taxed our team and limited what well could do offensively and defensively. We could not wear down our opponent with our deep bench and game-long full-court press. For the first time all season, we seemed to be as exhausted at the end of the game as our opponents. I, personally, could not remember a time when I was as tired as I was at the end of that game, emotionally or physically. Nevertheless, we notched the win and moved on to our last two games with Eastwood and Burges, in that order.

Both games were close, but we avenged our only district loss by beating Eastwood on the road. We then beat Burges, 66-61, a second time to convince the entire state that we were for real. We were our way to the bi-district championship game to be played on the campus of UTEP with a record of 28 wins and 2 losses.

Up next for us were the El Paso High School Tigers, defending bi-district champions. They came in with a record of 26 wins and only 4 losses. Another close game was expected, and we prevailed with a 45-42 win at Memorial Gym.

We were on our way to Abilene for our second regional championship tournament visit in four years.

When we were told that Midland High had prevailed in the bi-district championship game against their long-standing rival, the Midland Lee Rebels, the stage was set for a rematch with the team that we had beaten in the holiday tournament upset earlier in the year.

We were confident, but certainly felt that the game would be as difficult as could be and that we were in for a real fight. We were sure that the Midland High team would be out for revenge as well.

Though we only had less than a week to prepare, we worked hard at practice and did not let up for a moment. Coach Goodwin made sure that we were ready for the grudge match.

On the Friday morning bus ride to Abilene, we seemed to be quite focused on the task at hand; however, as we entered the city, we passed a huge auto junkyard full of old and abandoned cars and parts. On cue and to cut any mounting tension, Rick, our student manager, announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, the arena is going to be rocking tomorrow, the fans are lining up 24 hours in advance, just to make sure that they get a seat for this monumental, once-in-a-lifetime championship battle.” It was just the right thing to say at just the right time. It broke the ice perfectly.

The next day broke, cloudy and chilly. To begin the game, once again, our speed and full-court press hurt our opponents and kept them from taking control of the game. We kept the game close, but their star center who towered over all of our players had an incredible game with 25 points and 16 rebounds. We really had no answer for that type of performance. We lost 47-41 and just like that our season was suddenly done.

It was without a doubt a jarring and unexpected loss that was a shock to me, my teammates, the coaching staff and the entire school. What had been a season full of joy, pride, success and accomplishment was over in a flash. No one was prepared for this and did not know how to handle it.

The bus ride home from Abilene was silent. Our team was stunned and had nothing to say for the first time that we could remember. Even Coach Goodwin was at a loss for words. It was strange, long and uncomfortable trip back home that seemed to last forever.

I could see the disappointment etched on my teammates' faces, mirroring my own feelings of disbelief and sadness. We had come so far, worked so hard, only to fall short when it mattered most. It felt like a cruel twist of fate, a bitter end to a season that had held so much promise.

But as we returned to our high school, the silence that enveloped us on the bus was met with a different atmosphere. The moment we stepped off the bus, we were greeted by a sea of fans, parents, and classmates holding up signs and cheering for us. They didn't seem disappointed or let down by our loss, but rather proud of our journey and the grit we had shown throughout the season.

As we walked through the crowd, smiles, hugs and kisses were shared, and words of encouragement filled the air. It was then that I realized that our season wasn't defined by that final loss in Abilene, but by the heart and determination we had displayed along the way.

Coach Goodwin gathered us around and spoke with a hint of a tear in his eyes, "Men, our season may not have gone the way we wanted it to or ended with a championship, but don't you ever forget all that you've accomplished this season. You've made your school, your families, and yourselves proud. This loss doesn't diminish our success. No one can take away our district and bi-district championships. No one!”

When he said that, I quickly remembered all the training sessions and practices that we endured. I envisioned running the stands individually and as a team in the gym day after day for conditioning. I recalled partnering up with Tomas to carry each other “piggyback” up the stairs to improve our stamina and strength each day as well.

And, I remembered what Coach Goodwin said many times, “Anything worth having is worth working hard for.” At that point in the season, that seemed truer than ever.