THE LAST WORD:Champions at heart

Vanguard University’s women’s basketball team may have seen its season end on a sour note this week, but no one can contest that this has been a special season for the Lions.

Led by 11-year veteran Coach Russ Davis and superstars like Kelly Schmidt and Jessica Richter, the No. 1-ranked Lions were able to string up 31 consecutive victories before being upset by Cumberland University in the semifinals of the NAIA Women’s Basketball Tournament in Jackson, Tenn.

The Lions are champions through and through — even if the final scoreboard doesn’t say so — both on the court and in life, thanks to Davis and the way he runs his program.

We applaud Davis, who lost his mother just a month ago, for such a remarkable season and for holding up their heads with pride and class, even in the face of their painful defeat.

In the end, Davis said it best.

“I’m not disheartened or disappointed one bit,” he told our reporter. “I’m very proud. We had one bad game the whole year, we just picked the wrong time. Those girls in that locker room accomplished some amazing things on and off the court. The only thing I’m disappointed with, is that I won’t have the chance to coach this team again.”