Harrisburg (H.S.), IL was playing its biggest basketball game of the season on Tuesday night. A win would send the team to the IHSA Class 2A Finals in Peoria this weekend.
This was no ordinary game as the team was carrying the hopes of this small town on its shoulders following the February 29th tornado that literally tore apart this small southern Illinois town.
Six lives were lost while hundreds, even thousands, found their lives forever altered. No game, no matter the outcome, can change that fact.
Playing in front of 7,500 fans at Southern Illinois University, Harrisburg fell to Breese by a final count of 37-30. What is remarkable is the fact that the team displayed the same grit and character they had all season.
Forget the outcome. No matter that Harrisburg won't go to the state finals, the team gave the town thrills throughout the season that will last a lifetime and beyond. Yes, for years, residents will talk about the horror of the life shattering tornadoes. But one thing is certain, these same folks will just as quickly and fondly recall that their hoopsters were within a step of reaching the pinnacle of basketball glory.
That one grim day of destruction was met with the applause of the 7,500 fans that saluted the Harrisburg team as it departed the court that March night. For one fleeting moment, Harrisburg had overcome the despair created by the path of destruction. Maybe, just maybe, it will lead to brighter days for the town.
Thanks,
Dick
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment