Dale High School boys’ basketball Coach Jeff Edmonson called it “a disappointing loss,” and Girls Coach Eric Smith said, “it was hard to take.”
The two veteran coaches were referring to their teams’ semi-finals losses in the state tournament.
It was the third consecutive year for each team to make it to the state tournament, although last year the tourney was canceled as it was about to start due to COVID-19.
Edmonson’s Pirates dropped a 57-47 decision to Howe and the Lady Pirates lost 49-48 to Silo.
Edmonson said, “We didn’t play our best game. We didn’t shoot the ball very well.
“Our kids have been ranked No. 1 all season long so every team was shooting at us each night we played.”
He pointed out, “We won the Cashion and Kingston tournaments, and we won the District, Regional and Area tournaments. They have nothing to put their heads down about” he thinks.
Smith said of his squad, “The girls were devastated. But we just didn’t do the little things we needed to do to win. We didn’t play our best game and still we had a chance to win it,” he believes.
Edmonson, commenting on his team, said, “This is a really good group. We lose five seniors, they are really good players, really good leaders. They will be hard to replace. They made my job easier,” he stated.
The Pirates finished the season with a 21-5 record.
“This is a very impressive group. Just as good as they are on the floor, they are even better off the floor, in the locker room, the classroom, the hallways. We are truly a family, and it hurts when part of your family graduates and moves on,” he added.
Smith also loses five seniors off a team that finished 22-4 for the season. “We played 10- 11 players and we have a lot of experience coming back. So we ought to be pretty solid next year,” he said.
The Lady Pirates won the Kingston tournament, and also claimed the District, Regional and Area titles as well.
“I’ve coached these seniors three years now. They are great kids. I’ll miss these seniors and I hate to lose them,” he noted.
“We were state runner up, then got to the state tournament last year and couldn’t play and back again this year,” Smith stated. “Got beat in the semifinals and it was a disappointment, but it happens and that’s why you play the game,” he said.