Here’s a few casual observations from the first day of the “2009 MSHSAA Basketball Championships or “2009 MSHSAA Show-Me Showdown” or as I prefer, the Missouri Class 4 and 5 state semifinals.

Not as much flair, but more meat and potatoes, like any tournament with teams like Dexter and Webb City should have.

Anyway enough of my rambling, here’s a few little tidbits of what I’ve seen so far:

No one may have had a better seat for Kearney’s 58-40 victory than Tommy Saunders. The former Kearney standout stood at the entrance from the tunnel and cheered on his Bulldogs.

Then as the game ended he bolted to meet them heading to their locker room.

A pretty cool sight, considering he was on the last Kearney team that played in the state championships.

Saunders clearly had a better seat than the print media at the game. After years of sitting courtside, the newspaper folks were relegated to a corner of Mizzou Arena so the two radio stations broadcasting the game could have the entire row courtside. /end rant

The Dexter girls team hit two buzzer beating shots from near halfcourt on Thursday.

It wasn’t enough though. The previously undefeated Bearcats lost to Webb City.

So after going 6-4 to end the regular season, how does it feel now for Kearney coach Gary Belcher as his team approaches the state finals on Saturday?

Here’s what he had to say:

“Just don’t hit the pause button. This thing is going like a blur and has been on fast forward all the way through. Our season is going to end one way or another on Saturday and I’ll probably crash after that as long it’s with these guys. We’re just hoping we crash in a positive way. We are flying on adrenaline and positive feelings right now.”