Every year we play in a huge Cass County basketball tournament held at Logansport High School. The Cass County teams that participate in the tourney are Caston, Pioneer, Logansport, and Lewis Cass High Schools. Our Lewis Cass teams always go into Logansport hungry and ready to win because Logansport has won the tournament for as long as I can remember. This is my first year actually playing in the tournament so it was a lot of great experience.

     Our first game of the tourney was on Tuesday against Logansport. I knew going into the game that it was going to be very difficult. After warm ups and the National Anthem, we finally got the game started. Right before jump ball, I realized how many people were there watching. There were a lot more people there than we have ever had at Lewis Cass. It didn’t bother me too much once we started playing. Right away we fouled Logan and they capitalized and made both free throws. Then we brought the ball down the floor and I got the ball and scored for a quick two points. Then, of course, Whitney Jennings, their best player came down and hit a three. After that we had some turnovers and Logansport had fast break layups to capitalize them. At the end of the first quarter I had five points.

To start the second half, Logansport got the ball and shot and missed as well as our team. Finally, Logansport got a board and scored. Then, after a couple possessions we came down and I scored a two point field goal. Then Logansport kind of took control and at the end of the first half we were behind 53-20. At half time in the locker room we were talking about the half and our coach gave us some encouraging words and we went out the second half believing in ourselves.

In the third quarter, Maci Maupin our senior leader came out and hit a three. The bad thing is Logansport came out and scored seven quick points. We just could not keep the same pace as Logansport and we kept turning the ball over. The turnovers were the thing that killed us during the game. I didn’t end up scoring at all in the second half, but I played some good defense and made some good passes. We ended up losing the game 84-43, but we outscored them in the fourth quarter 17-12.

Then on Saturday, we played in the consolation game against Pioneer. I had seven points all together. That was one of my worst scoring games I have had this year, but scoring is not everything.  We ended up winning the game and coming in third place in the tournament. Last year we got last place so we picked it up and are moving up and getting better.  Hopefully each year we will keep getting better and eventually win. Even though we didn’t win the tournament, I had a good time playing a better team than us like Logansport.  Whitney Jennings will be going to Iowa to play basketball next year. It feels amazing to know that I played against a college player. After the game when we were shaking hands, she patted me on the back and said “way to shoot”. She really gives me something to strive for.