Every great story has an ending; it’s not always fair but it is always final. Romeo and Juliet had a homicide and a double suicide, Star Wars had galactic peace, The Sopranos had the blank screen, and North boys’ basketball had Southeast Polk.

Teyontae Jenkins left his heart out on the court, Ben Hayes stepped up and knocked down a three, Terrance Bush threw down the dunk, so what happened? The same as what happened on January 10: we were outplayed. For those who claim referee favoritism down the stretch, recall that the first saw a ten-to-five foul advantage to North. Also don’t besmirch the Rams’ basketball team, they worked hard all season and came in hungry and prepared just like us.

In the thousand-plus packed house and the unknown multitude watching on highschoolcube.com and listening on the radio, intense entertainment ensued with a one point lead for the Bears at the half. That evaporated quickly and excitement appeared with the winner now uncertain. A raucous student section spread the excitement through the crowd, evident in The Oracle and yearbook advisor Ben Graeber who jumped like a kid, pounded on the elevated track’s guardrail and fist-pounded those nearest to him. It wasn’t enough though, with less than a minute left and Bush fouled out and Jenkins pounded the court with his fists. Loss was clearly spelled out to those in attendance.

Shift to the locker room and see a new world. Players are crying unashamed, gone is the joy of hours before. Players are embracing each other, their cries of family forever echo on the rock walls. Hayes grabs me and cries into my shoulder and says, “I love you man.” I react with my tears as well and a similar response. I embrace each player and try to offer my own words of comfort, each time I try not to cry even more. One player sits on a bench racked with sobs so badly that I doubt he could stand up.

They walk out, red-eyed, and see the student section still cheering for them even in defeat, and for the moment the pain is gone. This isn’t a story, it’s life. And this chapter closes with a bitter end. Two greats battled, one advanced leaving the other broken but hopeful.