Former St. Louis Cardinals’ Hall-of-Fame Announcer Jack Buck punctuated each Cardinal victory with the catch phrase, “That’s-A-Winner”!
In 1988, Buck’s commentary following Kirk Gibson’s pinch World Series homerun has become legendary………“I Don’t Believe What I Just Saw”!!!!!!!!!!
These two historic “calls” pretty much sum-up the Lakeview Spartans Girls’ basketball victory last Friday night!!!!!
Having lost twice to Old Quarry (15-0) during the regular season, and having to again face one of the most intimidating players in the conference, the Spartans came ready to play!!!!!!!!! After trailing 2-0, the Spartans battled and fought……literally……to stay either two ahead or two behind for the entire game. After trailing by three points with less than three minutes to play, the Spartans shut the door, and came back to win the championship, 22-21.
The Spartan win was a total TEAM effort…….Coaches Jacob Little, Brian Kukulski, John Holakovsky, and Beth Nyhlen, players, managers, parents, students, administration, teachers, alumni, as well as Mike the bus driver all pulled together to bring the trophy home. The Lakeview plan was three-fold…..
“PACK THEIR PLACE”, WEAR GREEN, and BE LOUD!!!!!!!!!
THE SPARTAN FANS WERE RIGHT ON!!!!!
As a side note, and this is something all the Spartans (6th, 7th, and 8th) of both genders should take notice about……..GAMES AND CHAMPIONSHIPS ARE WON ON THE COURT / FIELD, AND NOT JUST GIVEN TO THE TEAM THAT IS SUPPOSEDLY BETTER!!!!!!!!!!!! If you PLAY HARD, you will be successful!!!!!
Since 1974, I BELIEVE this is the FIRST Girls Championship in Basketball, and only the SECOND by either gender!
My personal congratulations go out to Coach Little and his entire program!!!!!!!!!!
On the Boys’ side of the season, I want to take this opportunity to congratulate my squad on their successes this season. Even though our overall record stood at 6-16, I feel that they reached three of the four goals I set for them at the beginning of the season.
All fourteen boys: 1) Worked hard! 2) Improved their game! and 3) Prepared for high school competition (in some sport)! The 4th….Win the conference tournament just wasn’t meant to be!!!
I look forward to seeing all our great players and parents at the Winter Sports banquet on Thursday; March 25th at Lakeview. More information will follow in the next few weeks!!
On a final note, I would like to say “Thank You” to all the parents who were supportive this past season! I have been on teams at both ends of the spectrum, so I realize how tough the feeling is after many close losses!!!!!!!!
Have a great week, and…………….
GO SPARTANS……………PLAY HARD!!!!!!!!
Coach Dodd
