I just finished round one of this year's state tournaments. This was my second season of shooting for the Kentucky High School Athletic Association. Last year included several firsts for me, such as photographing wrestling, swimming and diving, and even bowling. This year was my first time covering archery.

And of course the highlight of it all was Ken-Jah Bosley hitting the game-winning shot for Madison Central over Ballard, with 5.4 seconds to play in the championship game of the Boys Sweet 16. Sports photographers live for game winning shots like deer hunters long for trophy deer. I know, because I do both. I got off three frames on the now-famous shot, but the Ballard defenders blocked me out in all three. It was a classic example of being in the wrong spot at the wrong time. Oh well...that's life.

I sat with Herald-Leader photographer Mark Cornelison during part of the Sweet 16. And we pondered the question of why we never hear the phrase anymore, "Let's take state." We never figured out why, but decided if we ever get back to state again, we're going to yell out, "Let's take state!!!"

Wrestling is by-far the most intense sport that I cover. The winning coach always takes the plunge!!! Joe and Denny can teach us all a lesson on perspective. I went to Georgetown my freshman year of college to play baseball. While baseball for me was short-lived, it was still a great experience before I found my permanent home in Richmond, at EKU. While there, I had Happy Osborne as a PE teacher. I was really happy (no pun intended) to see the coach with so much personality and a national championship to boot, coaching on the high school level at the Sweet 16. I really loved this photo of him with his walker on the floor at Rupp, because of a fluke leg injury, working hard on Saturday night to get Montgomery County to the championship game on Sunday. They eventually lost to Ballard 59-55. After the game, I packed up my equipment and was heading home. As the Montgomery County bus rolled away in the background, there sat Happy on his little chair in the dim yellow light of the parking lot behind Rupp, waiting for his ride. I said, "Coach. I doubt you remember me, but I had you as a PE teacher at Georgetown in the Spring of 89." He said, "You got an A, didn't you?" I said, "Yep. I made my 6-minute mile on time." He said, "Well good." I said, "That was a good game tonight coach. Better luck next year."

That was not goal tending!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The shot that got away from me. But I nailed his dumb-founded reaction a few seconds later.