Last week, the reigning National Champion University of St. Thomas Men’s basketball team lost a heartbreaker in the first round of our conference tournament. The Title follow up season could have been over then but for a long shot, wild card pick to go on. Monday we got the good news of the reprieve: another chance to go on!
Yesterday morning, Jay and Zack took off well before dawn, travelling east for the next round. All the players who had suffered through a stomach bug last weekend were healthy, strong and eager to move on. Two games would be played.
I looked forward to two days on my own at home. I always enjoy the quiet.
I spent yesterday with Katie and the babies. My brother Joe came to meet them as well. We had a lovely afternoon and after I gave the girls their first dinner, I went home to enjoy my 24 hour alone time.
Two hours after I got home, I got the call from Zack.
UST had lost the game due to a buzzer beater. OH, the heartbreak! But it was worse than that.
The National Champions had been up by 8 with less than one minute left on the clock.
Over the years many people have asked me when I can relax, knowing a game is as good as won. My answer: “Thirty points with two minutes left” usually makes them laugh but it’s not a joke. I’ve seen way too much basketball to think that a 20pt lead with five minutes to go is unsurmountable. I’ve seen too many 15pt leads disappear in the last two minutes of a game. Long ago, I saw my son’s high school team lose a 10pt lead with 10 seconds left on the clock.
Zack described to me what happened. It was every fan’s nightmare. Missed freethrows, turnovers etc. All coming at the worst possible time.
“March Madness.” Zack said. “There’s a reason it’s not called March Sanity.”
This morning (they got home in the wee hours) Jay showed me the video. We were actually up by 8 with less than 40 seconds on the clock. OUCH. The lesson of the last few months has been the same; IT AIN'T OVER TILL IT'S OVER.
The quest to repeat is over.
Sadness reigns.