Long week, but worth doing over again

I still have that teenage, hard-to-control anger.

Unfortunately.

Wednesday, I discovered this driving home from Des Moines, following Mount Ayr’s victory in the Class 1A state semifinals.

I was making good time. It was about 11 p.m. and I was approaching the Stuart exit. The gas meter on the truck ... just below a quarter of a tank. My truck, a 2000 Ford Ranger, gets below sub par gas mileage.

Why take the chance? I reasoned.

The radio stations were making my eyes heavy anyhow ... their voices were beginning to slow, like a hypnotist. A fountain of Wild Cherry Pepsi could provide an energy spark, I also reasoned.

So, I pumped the gas.

Then filled the fountain of Wild Cherry Pepsi, and back on the road again.

About three miles in, I picked up the fountain pop— a little heavy, because of the amount of the preferred ice. Ready for that jolt of caffeine, and delicious lightly cherried variation of Pepsi ... I elevated the bottom ...

No Wild Cherry, just the filthy taste of grit.

All carbonation.

Damn you Phillips 66 gas station. Down goes the automatic power window. The anger. I fired that fountain in the ditch.

As I drove this morning, to work, I realized that fountain may be the only piece of garbage from this week-long trip to the state tournament, that doesn’t remain in my truck.

Reeses peanut butter cups, the big orange wrapper and the smaller brown ones that hold the cups ... scattered on the passenger floor mat.

Cereal bar wrappers .. Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Honey Nut Cheerios ... nearly escaped the Ranger from the floor board this morning as I stepped out.

A mini aluminum Dr. Pepper can ... A mini Sunkist bottle, one half full the other empty.

The truck has been my living quarters, my thinking quarters this week. This state tournament week, watching Mount Ayr and traveling, has been straight up exhausting. The driving, the hours spent.

It’s also why you become a sportswriter.

To cover the big game, to see towns close down in support. There were nearly 1,000 Mount Ayr fans in attendance Wednesday. To give light to that number, there are 1,700 people in Mount Ayr ...

To see real tears flow because of happiness. Becca Pennington and Jensen Stewart were both emotional after defeating No. 1 Martensdale-St. Marys. And probably more tears were seen in the locker room and stands.

This is my second time covering a state tournament. The first, and one I’ll never forget, was a small town in southern Missouri named Clever. Like Mount Ayr, their following was heavy. Their emotion was raw. Their people were friendly.

The Raiderettes have already made memories, surpassed even personal goals. They’ve surprised the state. And are a reminder, that team basketball always gives you a chance to win.

But, as Pennington said so firmly on Wednesday.

They’re not playing for second, they still have one more win left to get.