Hoops Before Hot Laps

Since I have been writing this blog, I have pretty much confined myself to writing about racing, the sport we all love. But today, I am going to step outside the lines for a moment. I want to offer up congratulations to the Canton, Missouri High School boys basketball team. After a hard fought  two point district championship win on Saturday, the Tigers moved one step closer to a trip to Columbia with a sectional title victory Wednesday night, defeating old nemesis Cairo by seven. On Saturday, they will play a state quarter final game against Father Tolton out of Columbia, with the winner going to the final four. Should they make it to the state championship game, it will be played - wouldn't you know it - the same night as our first planned race for 2014!  Many of you who know me also know my oldest grandson, Keagan, who is by my side at most of the races I attend. Keagan also spent the 2013 race season as a  driver check in assistant and scorer at Quincy Raceways. He has played basketball since seventh grade, and is now a 6'6" junior still growing into his slender frame. His basketball skills are somewhat modest, but he was called up to the varsity squad for depth as the JV season was winding down, and has now spent ten victorious games watching, learning, and picking up a few minutes of playing time here and there for the now 26-1 Tigers. He has been put on notice to spend the summer in the gym, hopefully he can now start growing bigger and stronger instead of taller and taller. I think he passed grandpa up sometime around five years ago! As someone who loves sports but had zero talent in any of them, it is thrilling to watch him and this group of hard working, respectful young men chase such a lofty goal. It is also satisfying to see this community of 2500 or so follow the team up and down the highway on these cold, snowy winter nights to cheer them on! With only eight teams remaining, there are no easy wins, indeed the run could end in the next game. But if  the Tigers manage to get to the title game on the big floor at Mizzou on the night of March 15, this proud grandpa will be there to cheer them on. Race season will just have to wait a few more days!
Thanks for reading.