There's no place like home for the MHHS Tigers

I've gone to more Mountain Home High School boys basketball games in the past two weeks (three) than I did in four years of high school (one). I wrestled throughout high school and spent most game nights on the mat, either at a tournament or in the practice room.

Each game has been different, but equally fun.

Two weeks ago Mountain Home won a close game against Middleton with a three-pointer with as many seconds left on the clock. Last week the Tigers dominated Caldwell and lost a heart breaker earlier tonight in a rematch against Middleton.

Tonight's loss was the team's only home loss on the season and ended its bid to win a district title for the first time since 1980. (Some of the people teaching the boys on the team weren't even born the last time Mountain Home won a district basketball title.)

While winning games and competing for district titles is exciting, winning isn't even the best thing about the games. The game day atmosphere is.

I've been to a lot of different sporting events at all levels in a lot of different venues and the atmosphere in the Lloyd Schiller Gymnasium is top notch. The place is packed for most games. It's loud. The students are heavily involved and remain vocal throughout the game. The band hangs out in the space between the two sets of stands. Orange flushes out any other color in the stands. The venue is small, so every seat offers a great view of the action on the court and students decorate the gym prior to each game.

It's no wonder the team won every game at home during the regular season. The school, along with the community's support, has established the ultimate home court advantage.

There were two lines outside the building to get in when the game started. It's been fun seeing former coaches, teachers and classmates at the games.

Basketball games are my new favorite small-town activity, even more so than football games. Football games are outside, it's cold, you can't always see the field all that well and as much as I like football, I like being warm more.

With only the state tournament left to play this season, I'm already looking forward to catching more home games next season.