FOR LOVE OF THE GAME; TOP 40 MEMORIES OF LAST SCHOOL YEAR

Memories are why we watch sports. It's why we play them.

It's why we tune into Tiger Woods even though he is leading by 12 strokes.

We want to watch so we can say we saw it when it happened.

Having said that, here are my 40 strongest high school sports memories of the previous school year:

Ricky Keller's steal at midcourt and pass to Ronald Watson as Scott City pulled off its unbelievable win at the buzzer over Portageville in the Class 2A sectionals.

St. Vincent pitcher Tyler Wengert crouching in front of the pitcher's mound awaiting an inevitable mob after he had just thrown a two-hitter against North Shelby in the Class 1A state championship game.

Mario Whitney rushing for more than 200 yards in leading the Jackson Indians to a district championship against Poplar Bluff.

Garrett Broshuis lighting it up and leading Advance past heavily favored Charleston in the semifinals of the University High Christmas Tournament.

Derek Kutz's one-hit gem in St. Vincent's five-inning win in the Class 1A semifinal game.

Matt Kennard's overtime soccer goal which led the Cape Central Tigers past rival Jackson, the top seed, in the district championship game, 3-2.

Cape Central cross country runner Lane Thomasson, after not even making the varsity team her junior year, becoming the district champion her senior year and leading the Lady Tigers to their first district title.

Josh Eftink's long, long, long home run against Sikeston over the scoreboard in left, two days after Notre Dame fell to Sikeston. Did I mention it was a long home run?

With everyone wondering how good this kid from Georgia really was, Whitney scoring a touchdown the first time he touches the ball in a varsity football game against Sikeston.

Cape Central's Ross Conner's dominance in the Area's Best all-star game.

Tommy Stidham's clutch pitching in Chaffee's eight-team tournament.

Jackson's Tory Meyr making a touchdown catch vs. Cape Central when everybody in attendance at Houck Stadium knew the ball was going his way.

Meyr's unbelievable and gritty receiving performance against eventual state-champion Mehlville in a state playoff loss in which his team was overmatched.

Justin Welker's "bruise barrage" in which he was hit by a pitch, took two grounders off the chest and another to his mouth and then joked about it later.

Justin Robinson's 300-yard performance vs. Cape Central, a Sikeston rushing record.

Scott Central's Jreece Johnson's 49-point performance vs. Kelly to establish a new U-High Tournament record.

Cape Central's Demetrius Totton's dunk vs. Belleville-Althoff.

Whitney defeating the defending state champ in the 100 at the 4A sectional meet.

Jackson wrestler Cyle Huck holding off two-time defending state champ Clint Wolk of Ste. Genevieve in the championship match of the Tiger Classic.

After his catcher, Scott Reinagel, was practically tackled on a play at the plate by a Cape Central player, Notre Dame pitcher Josh Eftink throwing a high-and-tight fastball to the next batter.

Dexter's Brett Hale ripping off 25 second-half points in a win over Scott City a game that featured two of the state's top-ranked teams.

Poplar Bluff's high-octane offense, led by quarterback Seth Revelle, matching Jackson punch-for-punch in the district championship game.

Scott City edging Advance in the U-High championship game.

Notre Dame's boys soccer team members dying their hair blonde.

Notre Dame's baseball team members writing the initials E.S. on their hats in the loving memory of a teammate's father.

Woodland's upset win over Notre Dame in the 2A basketball district semifinals.

Kelly's Justin Simpher's pitching dominance despite his muscular dystrophy.

Reinagel throwing out runner after runner from his catcher position.

Zac Fidler stealing home to score a Cape Central run vs. Mt. Vernon, Ill.

Notre Dame's come-from-behind baseball win over Jackson in which the Bulldogs scored five in the seventh inning to tie the game and four in the 10th to win it.

Chaffee center fielder Jeremy Lynn's diving catch against New Madrid in the Chaffee Tournament.

The Jackson Lady Indians' upset basketball win over then state-ranked Cape Central.

The Cape Central Tigers' upset basketball win over Jackson in which the Tigers played unbelievable defense shutting out Jackson in the first quarter. The game was tied 9-9 at halftime -- the halftime score when the schools' football teams played was 10-9. Central ended up winning 41-25.

KGIR's Erik Sean's squeaky call of the dramatic finish of Scott City's sectional win over Portageville.

Me, some 30 minutes before the JV game, trying to find a seat for the Dexter-Scott City regular-season matchup.

Poplar Bluff's P.J. Brown's amazing pole vault of 16-1 at the 4A sectional meet.

The moron at the U-High tournament who had to be removed from the Show Me Center after heckling Scott City coach Derek McCord.

Sikeston's crowd, in the basketball district championship game, taunting Meyr by singing "I wish I had a Tory Meyr wiener" then Meyr coolly sinking a pair of free throws.

Cape Central athletic director Terry Kitchen's wide assortment of orange and black apparel.

And last, but not least, Notre Dame reserve first baseman Tony Riley facetiously bragging about his "pipes" after Notre Dame won its quarterfinal game over Clearwater -- and him wanting me to quote him in the newspaper.

Thanks, everybody, for the memories in 1999 and 2000.

Pipes or no pipes.

Bob Miller is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian