Basketball fans have had a great ride

This year, the impressive run of area high school basketball teams, as well as college teams of interest to Southeast Missouri fans, has been thrilling to watch.

But that's the case every year.

Watching our local teams or the Mizzou men in the NCAA tournament was perhaps more meaningful this year because it allowed us to briefly divert our worried eyes from images of war.

Every team demanded our attention and deserves our congratulations for inspiring seasons.

Let's recap:

Even though the Notre Dame Regional High School girls basketball team didn't repeat as Class 4 state champions, they played with heart and determination in the championship game, in which they lost 56-52 in a thrilling finish. The girls have nothing to be ashamed about.

Jackson High School came in third at the Missouri High School Basketball Championships with a 50-44 victory over Lee's Summit in the Class 5 third-place contest. Special congratulations to coach Ron Cook, whose 22-year era came to an end with 446 wins.

Delta High School's girls team finished third, overcoming several obstacles that included losing a nail-biter prior to its last game as well as dealing with a one-day layoff between games. It was an emotional and satisfying conclusion to a successful season.

Southeast Missouri State University women reached the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championship game for the first time, losing 85-61 to Tennessee's Austin Peay State University in the championship. The winner automatically advanced to the NCAA women's tournament. Southeast finished with a 19-11 record under first-year coach B.J. Smith.

The University of Missouri's men survived a buzzer-beating shot by Southern Illinois University-Carbondale that barely missed to hold off the Salukis 72-71 in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Missouri, seeded No. 7 in the Midwest Region, then lost to No. 3 Marquette University 101-92 in overtime to miss a shot at the round of 16. MU finished 22-11.

St. Louis University finished the regular season strong but was flattened by the University of Minnesota in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament. St. Louis had an eight-game win streak late in the season, then finished with back-to-back losses under coach Brad Soderberg.

The University of Missouri's women are still alive in the women's NIT. They play Colorado State University in a quarterfinal game today.

Other regional teams reached the postseason: Southwest Missouri State University's women lost in the first round of the NCAA women's tournament. The University of Illinois' men and University of Louisville's men lost in the second round of the NCAA tournament. And the University of Kentucky is still alive in the NCAA men's tournament.

Congratulations to all the coaches and players who have given fans a great ride this basketball season.