LCC Wins!

Last Saturday something hugh happened. Lima Central Catholic High School won the state championship in basketball for their division!! This is the first state title ever for a school in Lima. One grandson graduated from this school and we now have two grandchildren there. One is a senior and the other one is a freshman. Basketball, and especially the March tournaments, are very important here in Indiana and Ohio. It is difficult to try to explain to those who do not live in this area just how very important basketball is to everyone. It has long been called Hoosier Hysteria in Indiana. Since I was born in Indiana and now live in Ohio, this has always been a special part of my life. I have been told that my father taught me to say "Rah Yea South Side" when I was two years old. He would have been listening to the game on our radio while helping me do the cheer leading. When I was 17, I would graduate from South Side High School. My husband and I sat in our living room last Saturday and watched as the fourteen point lead our team had was narrowed down to only one point with forty seconds to go in the game. Most of the players attend our church. One is the grandson of a friend who lives here in our building. Another player is the son of the wonderful photographer who took our photos for our 50th wedding anniversary. Finally, with 15 seconds to go, one of the best players on our team made two free throws and the final score was 60 to 57. We both sat there with happy tears in our eyes. We were so thrilled that they had won. Our son and family were at the game in Columbus. He called on the way home to share the joy of this great moment. The coach has been at the school for 32 years. At the post game press conference, he announced that he will retire at the end of this year. Sometimes the good guys really do win. He has been a great coach, teacher and counselor at the school. He has helped so many young people and certainly has helped our granchildren. It is a story book ending to his career. A writer would have had a fun time creating a story about a coach who celebrated his 500th win last fall and ends his career with a state championship! My husband and I have attended and watched many sporting events since we began dating in 1955, but we will never forget the thrill of watching this state championship game. Even though yesterday was Palm Sunday, at the end of mass, the priest congratulated the team and coach on the win. The players who were there and the coach stood up as everyone applauded for a long time. A perfect salute to a great team and their terrific coach. And these moments of shared joy are now a part of the tapestry of a long and happy marriage.