It was nice seeing Bishop Gorman senior Aaryn Ellenberg light up the skies one last time before she takes her skills to Oklahoma next year.
But after watching Reed win a not-so-exciting state semifinal over that region that apparently still doesn't matter in the South and then get blown out by Gorman the following night, it felt like I've watched this scenario before. Then it occurred to me. This happens pretty much every year in girls hoops.
Except for the boys state semifinal between arguably the two best teams in Nevada, Bishop Manogue and Gorman, the 4A boys tournament wouldn't have been much better. At least on the boys side, there is some parity. Still, the final was something left to be desired, especially with two Southern schools playing in the North.
I don't understand how state championships are supposed to feature the two best teams in the state. Yet, the outcomes of the 4A championships were never in doubt. You'd think the games would at least be competitive.
Thank goodness for the 3A playing Saturday, so my last memory of the state tournament mirrors how I feel state tournaments should be like...you know with close games and such.
I caught the overtime of the 3A girls championship between favorite Spring Creek and Lowry, which had lost to the Spartans seven straight times. It was a regular old David and Goliath type matchup with David pulling off the upset. That was a great way to start the day.
Then you had the Sparks boys fight past Lowry for an overtime win.
As a spectator, you'd get chills after each team scored in the seesaw battle and fans erupted in the closing minutes. You waited to see which team would be the first to put together back-to-back scores and maybe start a game-changing run.
But that kind of excitement happens in the 4A - just not in the state tournament apparently.
The thing that's so great about the 3A games was how much support the teams received. You had entire communities come out and cheer on their respective teams even if members of those communities did not have any direct connection to the players.
Sparks High had the biggest student following of any school other than Bishop Manogue the first night.
As a member of the media, I'm supposed to remain unbiased, but you couldn't help but notice these 3A games felt like they meant something - not only to the players but to the teachers, administration, alumni and fans. You have parents who might have played in these same games at the same schools as their kids, bringing out that whole hometown feel.
I'm not saying winning state championships doesn't mean something to the bigger schools. Although, at times it seems some of these schools expect to win and playing the game is just a formality.
With a school like Sparks, which hadn't won a state boys basketball title since 1940, you know it means something to so many people. That's something I can appreciate.
Even Sparks Mayor Geno Martini stopped by Sparks High Monday afternoon to present the team and the school with an accommodation in front of a standing-room-only crowd at the Brickhouse. The Mayor, a Sparks High alumnus and Hall of Famer, was genuinely proud to call himself a Railroader.
And if that didn't make the Sparks players' day, they got to cap off the assembly by collecting on a bet from head coach Dick Lee and assistant coach Mike Jones. All I have to say is the two coaches ended up with the most hideous hairstyle I have ever seen. But they're men of their word, and everyone can appreciate that.
Aaron Retherford is a sportswriter with the Sparks Tribune. He can be emailed at aretherford@dailysparkstribune.com
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