For any sports team, the ultimate goal is to win your last game of the season. If you do, in many cases, it means that you have won a championship. That is the case for the Fairland Dragons, as their final item on the teams, coaches and players checklist was a state basketball championship.

While the team came up a little short in the state semi-final against Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph 73-50 Friday, each young man on the roster along with the coaches, parents and the entire Proctorville and Rome community should hold their heads high.

While the skills on the basketball court were the focus, the lessons learned about responsibility, dedication, teamwork and trust are things that will continue on with each member of the team as they move forward in life.

We are proud of what the team accomplished with their first trip to the state basketball tournament since 1961, and the second straight trip for the school district with the Fairland Lady Dragons playing in the state final four last season. We stand up and applaud them on a wonderful season.

In the end, it is not just about the result on the court, but the journey this group and their community had throughout the season is something that will be remembered for life.