OPINION: Legacy on the hardwood

I’ve enjoyed all of the sports I’ve covered this school year in helping the News Advertiser out on a freelance basis a few times a week.

However, there’s a heightened level of interest for me when covering kids I coached. I know the writing has to stay down the middle as much as possible and I can’t let it become a gushing homer piece. (That’s what this opinion space is for today, actually.)

During the games, inside I’m still living and dying with every possession, and holding in the reminders to them that I used to shout from the bench as their coach.

Tonight I’m covering the Creston girls basketball team in their regional semifinal game at No. 6-ranked Prairie City-Monroe. The last time the 21-1 Mustangs lost was Nov. 25, 65-29 at Carlisle, which is also 21-1 and ranked fifth in Class 4A.

So, it’s an enormous challenge for a Creston team that’s been without leading scorer Kadley Bailey since she suffered a nasty ankle sprain nine days ago at Carroll Kuemper Catholic. She was on crutches until last weekend, and it was still badly swollen when she was on the bench for Saturday’s first-round win over Clarke.

If I get to write about a monumental upset win by these kids, that would be fantastic. But, if it’s the last time I have the opportunity to watch these five seniors, it concludes a great five-year connection I’ve had since their eighth-grade season.

As varsity head coach Tony Neubauer said after Saturday’s win, he’s happy for them in winning their last game on their home court, AND he’s selfishly glad that he got some extra days to work with them.

“They’re just good people and fun to be around,” Neubauer said.

Somehow, they talked me into doing “The Griddy” dance with them in the Shenandoah lockerroom after we concluded an undefeated middle school season. They were goofy and funny and generally a happy group, but when it was time to get down and compete they answered the bell.

Because they were talented as young kids and depth was an issue as they entered high school, several of them had to jump right into the fire of varsity competition when most kids their age are playing freshman or JV games. Yet, five of them hung in there and have comprised the starting lineup nearly every night this season.

Most nights, sophomores Jensan Tussey and Marlee Stalker are the first reserves off the bench. Junior Hope Henderson has also helped on varsity while being a mainstay on a good JV squad.

So, we’re nearing the end of seeing Hollynn Rieck, Braylee Pokorny, Ella Turner, Brynn Tussey and Kadley Bailey on the basketball court for Creston. Nobody in that group grew up to be a 6-footer, so they have often been at a size disadvantage in the Hawkeye Ten that I didn’t have to worry about when they were just as big as most opponents in middle school.

Yet, they have often found a way. Like last Saturday without Bailey, a 21-point scorer. They did it with an aggressive defense and the relentless pace of their transition game led by Rieck. Also one of the best rebounding guards in the conference, Rieck often starts her own fast break and has great court vision. With an arm like a quarterback to pitch it ahead, she often found Bailey racing for a transition layup when she was healthy.

“I miss my favorite receiver that I always knew was down there and could catch it,” Rieck said Saturday, “but we still had a pretty good fast break tonight. That’s always been our best offense.”

At halftime, Rieck had a stern statement for the team: “No way that team is going to win tonight on this court. No (blank) way.”

Everyone played with that determination. Turner made 11 of 12 free throws in scoring 17 points. Stalker got hot and scored 11 points in a short span during the first half. Rieck and Brynn Tussey each scored nine. Jensan Tussey and Pokorny combined for 12 points and effectively guarded the two best Clarke scoring threats. It was a group effort, and the five seniors showed emotion coming off the floor for the last time at their school.

I’m sorry that Bailey had to go out this way, not at her best when the biggest games at the end of her career are happening. In sports, it doesn’t take long to find out life isn’t fair.

I just want them to know that many of us appreciated how hard they competed, and how long they did it at the varsity level. We’ve had a lot of great kids represent the Creston community over the years, and these are definitely five of them who did it right. Thanks for the memories.

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Contact the writer:

Email: malachy.lp@gmail.com

X: @larrypeterson