Plenty Of Excitement, Nerves Going Into First Game
Posted
Jerad Shaw-
As the saying goes, in 49 states it’s just basketball, but this is Indiana. This week, high schools around the state will open their boys basketball season. A new season brings on a new set of goals and challenges for each team to face. High school basketball in this state is something special, and it’s no different here in Kosciusko County. While class basketball has calmed some interest, there’s no denying the passion that we have locally for the round ball. There’s also no denying the nerves that accompany both players and fans as opening night commences. As a player, there’s no better feeling than the nerves you feel gearing up for your first game of the season. The knot in the pit of your stomach as you take the floor might not be welcomed at the time, but later on you will come to appreciate it. While I can’t remember much of the game play in my first varsity game, I’ll never forget the feeling before the game. It’s an indescribable feeling of excitement and nervousness that until it’s gone, you can’t fully respect. It’s also a feeling that shows how much you’ve put into the game for not only yourself, but the community you will represent. Nervousness isn’t a bad thing, it just shows how much you care about what you are doing. And in this area, plenty of kids will feel that nervousness on Wednesday night. In what has become a night before Thanksgiving tradition, the Warsaw Tigers will open up their season on Wednesday by hosting the Tippecanoe Valley Vikings. It’s a local rivalry that was renewed during the 2005-06 season after four-year hiatus. It’s a game that both communities look forward to, not just because it’s opening night, but also because of the close proximity between the teams – about 15 miles to be exact. Hall of Fame coach Bill Patrick will begin his 46th season of coaching, this being his 17th at Valley after 29 seasons in the Whitko corporation. He brings with him 730 wins, which is good for second on the active wins list and puts him third all-time in the state. Over the years, the majority of us have been able to see the impact he’s had not only on the players he’s coached, but also the communities that he’s coached in. Regardless of the rivalry, you can only respect a man that teaches the game the way he does, even if his teachings led me to my first loss as a varsity player back in 2001. Wednesday night is the culmination of hard work and preparation that began long before the opening tip. It’s a night in which the hard work put forth by players throughout the summer can finally be showcased against someone other than their teammates. It’s an opportunity for the community to come together and support a team and a sport that has such a huge impact on so many people in Indiana. In 49 states, it is just basketball, and those 49 states won’t have as much fun as we will for the next four months!
