State tourney insider: Notes from the state tournament/ms
21.05.12
Fashion statement
Omaha Central coach Tom Lee had a surprise for his team, wearing a neon-yellow shirt during the Class A championship game against Lincoln Southeast.
The shirt matched the neon-yellow shoes worn by the Central players, a preseason idea of seniors Emily Gamble and Mercedes Bender, which Lee reluctantly went along with.
"I've been holding on to this (shirt) for a while, and I decided I'd spring it on them if we made the finals," Lee said, laughing. "Now I think it's time to retire both the shoes and the shirt."
Rice returns to championship game
Lincoln Southeast volleyball coach Annie Rice served as a volunteer assistant for girls basketball head coach Kara Graham this season. Saturday was Rice's third appearance in the state finals after playing for Lincoln East in the 2003 championship game won by Southeast and the Spartans' 2004 win against Bellevue East.
"I kind of feel like I did (in 2003), except Southeast won that night," Rice said after Saturday's final. "I'm glad Kara let me help out this season. They were a great group of kids who worked hard and were fun to be around."
Source: Lincoln Journal Star