Caledonia boys basketball ended season on their terms, with a win
CALEDONIA, Minn. (BVM) — In 2018, the Caledonia boys basketball team lost in the Class 2A state finals to Minnehaha Academy.
鈥淚t was still a heck of a journey. Getting to play the last game of the year is always a goal of ours,鈥� Warriors head coach Brad King said.
Last year, Caledonia had the same goal but was unable to achieve it, losing to St. Charles in the sectional semifinal. That loss fueled the Warriors to come back this year and get to that last game.
鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 have been more proud with how hard everyone worked,鈥� King said.
That hard work paid off as the Warriors went into the postseason with only one loss which came against Minnehaha Academy. Led by senior Noah King, with a supporting class of young talent that included sophomore Eli King, junior Casey Schultz and junior Austing Klug, Caledonia looked to make a strong run for the 2A title.
鈥淲e felt really good,鈥� coach King said. 鈥滻 think most people liked our chances.鈥� However, as the postseason began in early March, there was uncertainty about the tournament鈥檚 status due to COVID-19.
鈥淓ven before the Stewartville game we would talk about it at practice and say, 鈥榠t鈥檚 changing by the hour all that we can do is control what we can control and that鈥檚 our effort and our attitude,鈥� King said. 鈥淟et鈥檚 approach this like it might be our last game. If it is the last game let’s end it on a good note.鈥�
That game was the sectional final. The Warriors were ready, but they were still unsure if it really was going to be their last game. There was another factor though that was adding to the importance of the game, and that was the fans.
鈥淣ow you鈥檙e hearing most places aren鈥檛 even allowing fans in so then we were telling the guys, 鈥榯his is it, this is the last game in Minnesota that鈥檚 going to be played with fans so even if we鈥檙e fortunate enough to play another game we will not have fans so let’s go out there and give them what they鈥檝e been wanting all season long, an opportunity to play in the state tournament鈥�,鈥� King said.
The thought of the fans not being able to continue on with the team into the tournament was a big deal to the players and coaches because the Warriors are special to the community. The Caledonia community loves their sports and loves to support the town鈥檚 athletic teams.
鈥淥ur community is top notch,鈥� King said.
According to King, the combined pressure of it being the last game with fans and possibly the last game of the season weighed on Caledonia in the first half. The Warriors only had a one-point lead at the break. That鈥檚 when King talked to his team in the locker room.
鈥淭hey are pretty much telling us we may not play another basketball game,鈥� King said. 鈥淭his is the last one that you鈥檙e going to get to play; let’s leave it on the court and they were fantastic.鈥�
Caledonia held Stewartville to 19 points in the second half, winning the sectional final, 71-55.
鈥淓ven if we had lost that game I would have still been grateful and so would the kids that we got to play the game,鈥� King said.
The finale provided a little bit of closure during a time of uncertainty. It was something to look back and be proud of, to show that this season was not a failure because it ended abruptly, but a success for how the Warriors handled it. The Caledonia boys basketball team achieved its goal of playing in the last game of the season and winning.
