In Kentucky, the state (KHSAA) high school basketball tournament is one of a kind. Kentucky high school basketball is classless, it is not divided into classes based on school size. Most other sports are, but not basketball. Played at the infamous Rupp Arena, crowds exceeding 14,000 per game are common. The tournament has been called, "The Greatest Show On Earth," by high school hoops fans across The Commonwealth. To qualify, a team has to win their Regional Tournament, of which there are 16. This year our Tomcat Basketball team finished the season undefeated at 33 wins to 0 losses. We won our Holiday Tournament, the 65 year-old Ashland Invitational Tournament, our District Tournament, and the 16th Region Tournament. We finished the regular season ranked #2 in the state.
At this time the State Tournament is suspended indefinitely, and based on current events across the country (NCAA Tournament being cancelled), it seems this year's tournament won't be played, leaving an asterisk alongside the year 2020, noting the absence of a State Champion.
It's been said perspective is a tool used by the wise. In trying to wisely explain how to gain perspective on the tournament's indefinite suspension to my team, it became evident that the task was not going to be easy. Our players (every one) live their lives with CONFIDENCE, COMPOSURE, and CLASS, but they are still 14-18 year old kids with limited life experience. Our players LOVE TO GIVE AND LIVE TO LOVE, so disrespecting those affected by COVID-19 is not what they wanted, but they didn't know anyone directly or indirectly that has contracted the virus. Therefore, having healthy perspective on their state tournament being suspended was going to require belief in things unseen.
We began to realize together that in the game of basketball (in the purest sense), you are only as good as your last game. Frequently, we speak as a team about always being better than your last shot, but regardless, every shot attempt, just like every game, has a real and finite result. So if we are only as good as our last result, our team finished with a "W."
There are many problems our global community faces daily. Winning or losing a basketball game, playing or not playing in a basketball tournament, isn't a blip on the real-world-problem radar. However, if our players have developed the ability to execute, excel, and have discipline in a basketball game, they can begin to develop character that will help solve and navigate life's uncontrollables they'll face as husbands, fathers, and productive members of their communities.
I believe that God doesn't protect us from something He is perfecting us through.
The perspective we are gaining (an ongoing procedure) is to learn from the process they committed to in winning every game they played this season (Personal Development, Championship Experience). Yet, how they manage their disappointment in not playing in the State Tournament might be the most valuable truth they learn from this season.
Our players have learned that if they control the controllables, they will never be a victim to uncontrollable circumstances.
May God heal those affected by this virus and may we all grow stronger from our newly found perspective.
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