Talking Sports: The stuff dreams are made of

Another Lincoln hotel room the night before a championship bout.

There's an eastward view of the city from the third-floor window of this room. The sky is clear, the moon bright and the city lights more than strong enough to blot out the stellar constellations above. But at ground level in Lincoln this weekend the big arena lights at several venues will serve to illuminate the stars of Nebraska high school basketball.

My quarters are three floors above the front desk - near the elevator. It's not Leyton, I can tell that. But one of the 48 qualifying teams for the 2014 NSAA Boys State Basketball Championships has just arrived below my window. They're all smiling and wearing the same shirts. There's some laughing too. Probably a good sign. Seems like a good thing to be relaxed the night before.

The Television is on. Since I'm not paying much attention - it's OK that the TV is playing a flick I've seen a half dozen times already. It's a great one though so you'll have to excuse me from time-to-time if I stop occassionally - or often - and listen to the dialogue.

The Maltese Falcon with Humphrey Bogart, Peter Lorre, Sydney Greenstreet, Elisha Cook, Jr. and Ward Bond. I don't know who that dame is. Nice gams, though.

"Oh, you are a character. There's no telling what you'll say next."

On the way here I shared a Burger King lobby in Lexington with some of the Kimball Longhorns. An hour or so later their easily recognizable bus passed me as I lounged at a highway rest stop. I've only seen them play once - at Sidney. A top-10 Class B team was a little too rich for the Class C2 Longhorns that night. But they're panhandle. I hope they do well against Freeman.

"Keep askin' for it and you're going to get it, plenty."

On Thursday the No. 7 Leyton Warriors (18-5) will meet the No. 2 Falls City Sacred Heart Irish (23-4) at Lincoln Southeast High School, 10:45 a.m. CDT. A Class D2 opening round game. Leyton's Wednesday began with a pep rally in Dalton and then a trip to Gurley to receive well wishes from the little ones.

"I feel towards Wilmer here just exactly as if he were my own son."

Last season the Irish edged the Warriors 57-56 in the third-place game at state. I wasn't here to see it, but it sounds like it was a great one. After one point separated the pair at halftime, each team scored 16 points in the third quarter and 11 in the final one.

"These are facts. Historical facts."

Despite the No. 7 vs. No. 2 thing, I expect the Thursday game to be a great one too. Of course the answer is on the preceding page. Like last week's musings on the Sidney girls experience at state, these words are written the night before. Like then I recognize the results of Leyton's first-round game will be known by the time of this publication. No more than a page away we'll publish as much story and photographs as time and space will allow. So there's no point in making a public prediction.

"I won't play the sap for you."

Nevertheless ... The good news for Leyton is that all but 12 points from last season's game with Sacred Heart have returned. Dylan Brenner must have been on fire that day. He put up 27 points and shot 15-22 from the floor - that includes 4-6 from beyond the arc.

"By gad, sir, you are a character. That you are!"

Last season the Irish were 24-5 coming in and Leyton 22-2. This is the third straight time at the rodeo for these state veterans. Leyton should be used to all this by now. Still nervous of course. But that's good. A little edge sharpens the focus.

"You certainly are a most headstrong individual."

But it's high-school basketball. We know one of the teams well enough to recognize they will play 'til they drop. We expect the other one will too.

Forgive me NBA fans, but the pros can't give a better show than will be seen in Lincoln this long weekend. Forget the pros. Never mind paying for that expensive ticket.

"You and your stupid attempt to buy it. You ... You imbecile."

Mary Astor. That's it.

Good luck at state Leyton Warriors!

"The stuff that dreams are made of."