It has already been a busy few weeks covering myriad basketball tournaments and the beginning of baseball season, and it’s only going to get more chaotic.
But I’ve enjoyed the journey so far, and I believe as it becomes even more hectic that it will become even more fun as well.
It began a little more than two weeks ago as I traveled to Seminary High School to watch Columbia and West Marion duke it out on the hardwood in the Class 3A Region 8 Tournament. Then it was on to East Marion to watch the Eagles and Lady Eagles both capture district titles.
Then last week the state tournaments began, and I ended up working all five nights throughout the work week. Monday and Tuesday night I was at East Marion for the girls and boys first-round matchups, respectively. Then Wednesday I spent about five hours at Columbia Academy as the Lady Cougars and Cougars played their first-round games, however, both were eliminated that night.
While both Columbia Academy basketball teams were eliminated the previous night, I returned to the Columbia private school Thursday to soak in Columbia Academy’s baseball team’s first home game of the season. I then returned to East Marion Friday night as both of its basketball teams advanced to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs.
Had it been a week full of regular season games I admittedly would have likely been miserable with the long hours. But the atmosphere surrounding state playoff games changes everything. Gone is the resentment of losing a potential night of leisure and in its place is an excitement as young athletes battle trough the biggest adversity they have faced in their young athletic careers. There truly is something special in the air when the entire season rests on every single dribble, shot and, in the Eagles case, dunk.
Which is why I’m excited to be back at it today. As this edition of The Columbian-Progress hits the racks I will be in Jackson as both East Marion squads battle for the right to advance to the Final Four. The Eagles play early Thursday morning at the Mississippi Coliseum and the Lady Eagles play Thursday night at Jackson State.
Covering those games under brighter lights will be pretty exciting for me. I’ve covered games at collegiate and professional arenas and stadiums before, but it’s been a few years and the two Jackson arenas are places I’ve never stepped foot in. I’ve been talking to East Marion head coach Calvin Brown for months now about reaching this precise point, and I’m glad it’s finally here.
While I have no allegiances to East Marion or any of the schools in Marion County, getting to know the players and coaches makes you root for them even if we’re not allowed to show it. I’m hoping both East Marion squads advance, so I can continue on this ride I’ve been on.
