“Bittersweet!” Coach Brian Rambo had a one-word answer to a question about Senior Night. The Highlanders beat Haas Hall to end the regular season last week, capping off a great season, winning the conference and entering the district tournament as the top seed.
Rambo elaborated on the journey he has taken with this team. “I’ve had a lot of these guys since they were in seventh grade,” he said. “I can’t begin to explain what they’ve meant to the school and the community.” Those years have given the coach plenty of time to build close relationships with the players. “One of them is my son, and the others are like my sons,” he said.
The emotions and ceremony of Senior Night changed the game-day routine, and the Highlanders’ offense sputtered early in the game. The defensive intensity remained high, however, and the defense would soon lead to scores. “Our seniors really helped to put them away,” Rambo said, singling out Griffin Taylor, Garrett Cross and Carter Drennon. “It was a tremendous night,” he said, as the Highlanders cruised to a 60-37 victory.
Senior Night didn’t even cause a ripple for the Lady Highlanders. The team has no seniors, and Coach Ryan Sanchez has another year before he has to feel the sense of loss that Rambo faces now. His junior-dominated team had clinched the conference title the night before, but Sanchez was proud of the way his team “took care of business” and “finished the season right.”
The Lady Highlanders’ focus “spoke volumes” about the team, Sanchez said, and the team posted an easy 57-11 victory.
The teams both had games scheduled Tuesday evening in the district tournament at Yellville-Summit. The girls will play Flippin, and the boys will play Cotter. Both teams will play again on Friday, and those start times will depend on whether the teams win or lose on Tuesday.
As conference winners, both teams have a bye into the regional tournament the following week. If they win at least one game in that tournament, they will qualify for the state tournament.