(Harlan) Coming up tomorrow (Friday) on KSOM we will replay the Harlan boys basketball win over Vinton-Shellsburg in the first round of the 2013 boys state basketball tournament.
That 2012-13 Harlan team represented coach Mitch Osborn’s 17th state tournament qualifier. Osborn has since added one more for an Iowa record for state appearances. Nate Cave comments on what it was like to play for one of the state’s all-time greats.
“It was amazing. He’s one of the best coaches in the state and in a lot of eyes around Harlan he is the best coach in the state. He does a lot more than just coach players, he’s one of the best role models you could get and he definitely knows how to lead a team to success.”
Under coach Osborn, Harlan teams had been 7-0 in first round game at state going into that matchup. As the #8 seed that streak was in jeopardy, but they pushed it to 8-0 in quarterfinals since 1998.
“It’s nice to know that we kept the ball rolling and kept the tradition alive. That’s something in Harlan that everyone looks forward to in any sport, just continuing on the tradition of excellence that we have.”
Cave averaged 11 points and 5.5 rebounds per game for a team that finished as the state runner-up with a 20-7 record.
Our re-air of the Cyclone win against Vinton-Shellsburg starts at 6:00 p.m. Friday.
