A lot has been made of the brawl that broke out during the high school basketball playoffs in Arkansas. It has completely overshadowed an incredible moment of sportsmanship that took place between Osceola and Rivercrest.
There is a mutual respect between these two longtime rivals that deserves just as much attention as the unfortunate incident between Barton and England.
Emotions always run high during the state high school basketball tournament. Those emotions can be channeled in one of two ways and it is always refreshing to see when it plays out through kindness.
Osceola defeated Rivercrest.
Osceola High School enrolls approximately 350 students in Grades 9-12. Rivercrest enrolls approximately 550. They are separated by less than 10 miles.
These kids grew up together. Whether it be as teammates in youth sports, or just hanging out on the playground, there is a preexisting relationship between them.
All of that goes out the door for 32 minutes twice a year. The Seminoles and Colts are heated rivals and their records do not matter when they get together on the hardwood.
Osceola defeated Rivercrest by 10 points in the first of two regular season meetings on Jan. 9. Rivercrest defeated Osceola by just one point in the second game of the regular season series.
Their third matchup of the year came during the semifinal round of the Class 3A playoffs. The Seminoles ultimately defeated the Colts by a final score of 57-53 to advance to the state championship game.
Sportsmanship still exists in high school basketball!
The biggest story of the Arkansas high school basketball tournament was the Class 2A brawl between Barton and England. It triggered a criminal investigation. Multiple players were suspended.
I am here to provide a more positive spin on the postseason!
Rivercrest players were extremely emotional after the loss to Osceola. Many of them could not hold back tears as their season came to an end at the hands of their biggest rival. The Seminoles encouraged them to keep their heads held high. They quickly dipped out out on the team celebration to show admiration toward their opponents for a hard-fought battle and to console them.
I am just as guilty as everyone else in this industry when it comes to what I choose to highlight. The brawl between Barton and England was one of the biggest stories in high school basketball this season.
However, it is the moment of sportsmanship between Osceola and Rivercrest that truly deserves our attention. Wins and losses are a dime a dozen. Character is forever.