COVID didn’t stop our Longhorn team

Last March, high school basketball season had just concluded when
 COVID-19 began to rear its ugly head. When fall  arrived, after a
spring without high school sports then limited summer baseball/softball, who knew if there would even be a winter sports season in 2020-21?
    But, Nebraska state and NSAA officials made the right decisions. With some restrictions, high school sports have been able to be offered this school year, providing one of the few activities families, and later on all fans, could attend in this COVID-cancelled era.
    Fast forward to this week’s state high school boys’ basketball tournament. Chase County will be there for the first time in 17 years!
    The Longhorns, led by a strong group of five seniors, overcame the virus that spread through its players and coaches during the season, suffered through some injuries, beat two higher seeds in the post-season and are now in Lincoln—one of just eight teams there in the Class C2 tournament.
    As they take to the floor Wednesday shortly after this week’s issue went to press, all of us in Chase County are cheering for them—whether in Lincoln or listening at home.
    Thanks, Longhorn boys and coaches, for bringing back that wonderful experience of a state basketball appearance. These are memories to last a lifetime. Enjoy the experience—all of us are proud of you!