Some memories are State B aspirations that never materialized.
Colleen De Groot, a center for Sunnyside Christian in the late '90s shared her best memories with us, and as a postscript, she also shared her worst:

"My worst memory of the tournament is not being able to participate in the event as a senior despite an undefeated regular season record (only other team to do that was St. Georges the eventual state champions). With only one berth out of our district, we lost by one point and ended our season to Lyle, who took home the 3rd place trophy that year. A team, we had previously beaten two times.

1. Attending my first state tournament in 1992 and watching our guys bring
home the gold ball in the Old Boone Street Barn.

2. Keeping track of the St. Georges vs. Davenport rivalries during the
90's.

3. As an 8th grader, watching the girls team make it all the way to the
championship game against St. John-Endicott.

4. Playing in my first tournament as a sophomore and taking home the 7th
place trophy. However, as a player it was an extremely overwhelming
experience and I played no where to potential even contemplating not
playing anymore.

5. Coming back as a junior to the state tournament. Our first game against
Tekoa-Oaksdale our coach, Al Smeenk, was dreadfully sick and out of it.
The boys' assistant coach helped to coach us that game. We lost. Our coach
was somewhat coherent during our day 2 game and we pulled away to win.
However, that night he was rushed to the hospital and the doctor told him
NO BASKETBALL. Do not attend, do not coach, and to not even listen to it
on the radio. We played Manson (who we lost to for 7th place the year
prior when Katie Davis was still playing), and played an amazing game. It
was a game for Mr. Smeenk. And then, on the last day of the tournament, we
took home the 8th place trophy.

To this day, I still follow the State B tournament wherever I am at. I was
able to attend last year when our guys took home the state title. It was
great to be back in the arena and atmosphere, there is nothing like it.

Colleen De Groot