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LINCOLN - As the parents, fans and team mingled after the consolation game win for Cedar Catholic the morning of Mar. 8 at Standing Bear High School, I decided to have an impromptu session with the five Lady Trojans who had just played their last game in a Cedar Catholic uniform.
I have watched these girls over the years and you kind of get as feeling, or notion of what kind of kids they are by the way they act on the court.
There is absolutely nothing like sports to show the best and worst of any person and it is a big window into the type of person someone really is when it comes down to crunch time.
Bailey Hochstein, McKinlee Lammers, Lauren Bernecker, Olivia Kleinschmit and Katelyn Arens stood with an old guy after winning their final basketball game as Lady Trojans and shed some light on why they were there.
Bailey explained how important it was to win that last game.
“It was really exciting, we have a really fun group, not just the seniors, but the whole group,” Bailey said. “I was just happy to get a win for these girls and go out with a win for our last game.”
McKinlee explained how they did it. “We work really hard all year and we go over and over things in practice,” McKinlee said. “And we play a lot of tough games through the season and we know how to just keep working harder and harder, to get to the fourth quarter and come out on top.”
While these five have been in the program, they have experienced a lot of success, this being their third trip to Lincoln in the last four years, Lauren explained what the journey has meant.
“Getting here three times is just awesome we have such a good program at Cedar Catholic and I feel like it’s because we work so hard to get better and keep moving forward,” Lauren said. “And we put God first, with him in our life everything will be all right.”
Olivia pointed to the entire school as a factor. “Everyone is supportive, whether you are girls or guys or out for sports, or classmates or in band or dance, everyone cares about each person,” Olivia said. “We get out and watch each others activities and games, we really just care about each other.”
Last, but certainly not least, was Katelyn who had just completed what I would call a tournament of a lifetime which saw her score 51 points in three games, was just happy to be where she was at the moment.
“This was just an awesome time for me,” Katelyn said. “I’m glad I could step up for these girls and I’m glad I got to do it with these girls. They got me the ball, all I had to do was get it in the basket.”
Last games are tough no matter if they happen in a sub-district, district, first round of state, it doesn’t matter.
But this group of five can be just a little happier knowing they are one of the very few high school basketball teams which won its last game...and frankly, I’m not surprised.
