One of the interesting things about high school and amateur sports is how teams mirror our community.
The players play with pride for their family and neighbors, who in turn cheer them on across the region.
The Minnesota state high school tournaments are big on every level and go beyond the walls of the high school to bring a sense of pride to the area of the competing teams.
As the Cass Lake-Bena boys basketball team prepares for its second straight state tournament (fourth in seven years), there is a buzz around the talented Panthers, and, maybe even a little pressure given how well they have performed this season.
The Panthers open the state tournament Thursday at 1 p.m. against Bertha-Hewitt at Mariucci Arena on the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis.
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The players were having fun at Tuesday's practice, cracking a smile at what could have been a bad situation when a fly ball from softball practice snuck through the gym dividers and barely missed Joel Salscheider's head.
While there was an initial sigh and a few big eyes as the yellow softball dropped hard onto the floor under the basket, a quick laugh came out before practice resumed and the Panthers focused on the task at hand.
The players have pride in themselves for reaching the state tournament and all have a different vision for what a state championship would mean for Cass Lake-Bena High School and the two communities.
Their comments about reaching the state tournament and that community vision were honest, poignant and drew even more smiles between a short break at practice.
The comments from all 12 varsity players and the three coaches might surprise you.
Seniors
Ryan Lemon
"State means a lot for me because I'm coming back from an injury and it's nice to have friends and the community behind us. We're good role models for the kids out there and hopefully we help them choose basketball instead of going any other way."
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On the possibility of winning the state tournament:
"It would be a big thing for our school because we're not the greatest at every sport. I think we would help keep the school spirit alive and hopefully we can win more and more down the road."
Joe Wilson
"The state tournament means our hard work, determination and teamwork has paid off."
On the possibility winning the state tournament:
"It would mean a lot. It would be one of the best things to happen to this town. I think it will motivate people to do better."
Nate Salscheider
"Since it's my last year, state means everything to me, really."
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On the possibility of winning the state tournament:
"It would mean a lot and it would encourage the kids coming up to stay in school and play the game."
Travis Huesers
"State means everything to me and it helps that the community and my family appreciates me. It's basically everything."
On the possibility of winning the state tournament:
"All of the little kids in town here look up to us, so it would not only mean a lot to them, it would mean a lot to our families."
Joel Salscheider
"State means a lot more this year because it's the last chance I have to win and I think we have a good chance to do it with all of the people we have back."
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On the possibility of winning the state tournament:
"It would be a great honor to Cass Lake because basketball might be the only th ing that will put us on the map and I think we can be proud of that."
Karl Salscheider, assistant coach
"State is a culmination of a lot of effort and dedication. We're glad to be here and we are going down there with the intent to win."
On the possibility of winning the state tournament:
"This has been a wonderful ride for me the last four years and it's exciting to see what's going on. It would be huge, huge and even more dramatic to come back with the state title. The community loves Panther basketball and loves their kids."
Juniors
Nate Howard
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"I've been working hard to get to state since I was an eighth-grader and I watched our team take third place in 2005."
On the possibility of winning the state tournament:
"I think it would bring everyone together because there are a lot of negative things going around. It would bring everything together and that's the way I see it."
Joe Fowler
To Fowler, the state tournament means one word.
"Everything," he said. "All of our hard work has paid off."
On the possibility of winning the state tournament:
"I think the community would be proud. I would be honored and happy to represent Cass Lake."
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Jeromy O'Brien
"State gives us a chance to prove ourself against Class 1A teams. It will also be fun to watch the other teams down there. The whole thing is going to be fun."
On the possibility of winning the state tournament:
"It would be good. It would be great."
Carl Jacobs, assistant coach
"This is my third year coaching and the second time I get to go down. Some coaches coach their entire career and never get the chance to go down to state."
On the possibility of winning the state tournament:
"It would mean a whole lot because it's a matter of pride for the community and the school. Last year when we came back it was very emotional because people expressed their feeling and pride in this team. Win or lose, we are putting Cass Lake on the map. It's also big source of pride with the Native American culture here and it would be good for our kids in the youth program. The eighth graders haven't lost in three years and hopefully they want to continue on that success. It builds in itself."
Sophomores
Martin Wind
"State means a lot because you play hard for it all year. I'm honored to go and we're not going to back down."
On the possibility of winning the state tournament:
"It would mean a lot to a lot of different people. It's all people talk around here -- basketball, basketball, basketball."
Tyler Trosen
"State is the highlight of the season and what we've worked for all season. I'm looking forward to it to see what we can do."
On the possibility of winning the state tournament:
"Everyone is into basketball here and to win it would be great because we could get more fans at the games and we could build up more interest."
Nolan Goss
"I'm happy to just have an opportunity to go because this is my first year playing on the varsity team. I feel lucky to go."
On the possibility of winning the state tournament:
"I think it would help bring everyone all together and closer to each other. I think it would encourage everyone to try harder at what they do."
Thomas Huesers
"State means a lot because it gives us the chance to prove that we're a good basketball team."
On the possibility of winning the state tournament:
"It would mean respect for Cass Lake-Bena."
Dan Ninham, head coach
"This is the third time we're going back in four years and the fourth time in seven years. It's a nice feeling -- a contagious feeling. Even though state is only a few days away, we're looking at next year like we can go to state. And it's no easy task because the competition in our section is outstanding.
On the possibility of winning the state tournament:
"When you drive around this community you see people playing on outside courts or at hoops on their garage. Other places you just see baskets and no bodies. Here, all the kids want to play basketball and they all do it for a reason. This is the reason."
