The repeat: How they did it and what it means

We asked the Lovell players and coaches three questions about this year’s repeat state championship:

1) In your own words, what does this state championship mean to you and your school or community?

2) Going back-to-back is tough to do. What made it happen this year? What propelled the Bulldogs to a championship repeat?

3) What was your favorite moment this season?

Here are their responses:

Junior Kaeson Anderson

The state championship means a ton to me and the community. After winning last year everyone that talked to me talked about how cool it would be to win a second. Our fans are the best in the entire state, and it makes me so glad I’m able to play for the Lovell Bulldogs.

After winning last year it was an expectation to win again this year. While that expectation was tough, it also gave us the motivation to do it again for each other and the community. We worked really hard all season, and everyone fell into roles that allowed us to be great. 

My favorite moment from the season was just hanging out on the bus and in the hotels. The whole team was really close this year, and it made the trips super fun.

Senior Jaxen Clark

To me, the state championship means that my school and community is special. We have now won two state championships in a row, and it proves to the rest of the state that we are still good, even though we have a small number of students at our school.

I think the state championship last year helped propel us, and coach Shane Durtsche helped propel us, too.

Definitely the moment we won the state championship.

Senior Owen Edwards

This state championship means a lot to me because it was always a dream of ours since we were kids in travel ball. And that dream came true twice now. For the school, we are all Bulldogs, so when one group experiences success then it gives the school pride.

What really helped us go back-to-back was how hard we worked in the summer. We went to team camps and got in the gym. Another big reason was our defense.

My favorite moment of this season was any time hanging out with my teammates one last time.

Sophomore Grant Hill

I think that this championship means a great deal to all of the players and the community as a whole. Everyone is so involved and supportive, and it enables everyone to feel like they are a part of this successful season.

The effort put in during the offseason and during the season helped prepare all of the players. Good team chemistry and competitiveness in practice and during games really allowed for this team to do well.

My favorite moment was when Sam’s infamous pec dance happened, and then he got rag-dolled by Clark, along with the continuation of the joke.

Junior Sam Mayes

I think a state championship really shows the quality of our coaches and teachers who push us to be the best. It really made all of the hard work we did throughout the season worth it.

Going back-to-back is really a testament to our hard work as a team. Our coaching staff is really the best, and they make sure we get better every day in practice. Lifting each other as teammates and working together all year made a special team.

My favorite memory is the sound of the crowd when the final buzzer sounded and we became back-to-back state champions.”

Senior Brody Muller

It means everything. Coming from a small town where everyone shows up, it felt like the whole community was part of it. Seeing that support made it special and something we will always remember.

Our defense set the tone, and everybody on the court could create and score. That balance made us really hard to stop, and that is what pushed us to repeat.

My favorite moments were all of the hotel trips, especially the state tournament. And playing Xbox games and wrestling late at night when we probably should have been sleeping. And going on Instagram live while working out with teammates in the hotel gym.

Senior Matthew Newman

It means everything. It shows all our hard work paid off and brought our school and community together. Ending my senior year like this is something I’ll never forget.

We stayed hungry and worked even harder than last year. Our team chemistry and trust in each other pushed us through every tough game.

I would say my favorite moment was winning the championship game and celebrating with my teammates. All of our hard work finally paid off in that moment.

Junior Rocco Rael

To me, the state championship means a lot. It’s always good seeing all the practices and hard work come together at the end of the year because ultimately that’s what we’re striving for every year.

I think all the practices when we’re pushing each other and working together as a team is special, and the brotherhood we built along the way definitely helped us go back-to-back.

My favorite part of the season is when we played three on three. It was always back and forth on who would win, and the games were always competitive, which made it fun.

Joaquin Scheeler

This state championship means a lot to me. Being able to play with this amazing team and my teammates was an awesome experience.

Seeing us go back-to-back was something I believed we could do all season long, especially with the guys we had and the talent and bond we all had. With that, we were able to get the job done and bring another championship home.

My favorite moments from this season were definitely winning State and all the good times with teammates.

Senior Owen Walker

It means a lot. It shows that a small community like ours can not only compete but dominate schools much bigger than us.

Our defense is what won us this championship, as well as having mental toughness when things got tough. And just being able to push through adversity.

Definitely, sealing the regional championship with back-to-back dunks (was my favorite moment). Regionals was an amazing environment, and I’m so glad we could win it on our home floor with my boys. And obviously winning State again.

Senior Cash Wassmer

This championship means a lot. It’s not just for us players, it’s for the whole town. In a community like ours, everyone shows up and supports us, so being able to bring a state title back is special. It represents all the hard work we’ve put in all year and even years before this. For me personally, it’s something I’ll remember forever.

Going back-to-back isn’t easy, but I think what made it happen was our mindset. We didn’t just rely on last year, we worked like we had something to prove again. Our team stayed disciplined, we trusted each other and we held each other accountable every day.

My favorite moment was honestly just the time I got to spend with the boys. I love messing around with them on the bus rides, hotels and other stuff like that.

Senior Kyle Wilson

This championship means everything to me. It’s not just about winning a title, it’s about representing our school and community the right way. Everyone behind the scenes, from our teachers to the fans in the stands, played a part in this. Bringing home a championship gives people something to be proud of, and it shows what we can accomplish when we come together and believe in each other.

Going back-to-back took a lot of discipline and focus. After winning last year, we knew teams were going to give us their best every single game. What made the difference was our work ethic and staying hungry. We didn’t act like we’d already accomplished everything. Our chemistry was huge, too. We trusted each other, held each other accountable and kept pushing, even when things got tough. That mindset is what propelled us to repeat.

My favorite moments were probably just the little moments with the team like practices, bus rides or joking around in the locker room. Those are the memories that stick with you the most. Winning is amazing, but those moments with your teammates are what make the season unforgettable.

Head coach Shane Durtsche

The state championship means that all of the sacrifice, dedication and hard work the kids put into this paid off. I couldn’t be happier or prouder of a group than I am of these guys. I am also very happy for the community. The way they come out and support us is still so unbelievable to me, and it has been great to bring another championship to them. For me, this is a dream come true. I could have never imagined this, and I am just thankful for the opportunity that I have had to be a part of this. I am beyond blessed to have been able to do what I love and be able to do it with the staff/guys that I have over the past four years.  It has been great to have my younger brother Steve with me, too. That has made it that much more special. It’s about the players, and I have been lucky to have some amazing players and better young men. The relationships I have been able to develop with them have made it so much better, and it truly is special to me. I can’t really put into words how much they mean to me, all of the guys I’ve been able to coach.

The players bought in and did what we asked them to do. They started right after the season got over last year. They put the time in during the summer and off-season. This group has been dedicated to the weight room from day one. It all starts in the off-season. They have allowed us to coach them hard and have responded in a positive way. They believed we could do this again. They saw the pressure as a privilege and truly embraced the challenge. Ultimately, they believed.

It’s always the little things. Someone did something funny in practice. (We laugh a lot in practice.) Those are the things that seem to stick with me. There are always big shots or moments from games -- an Owen Walker dunk to change the momentum or send the crowd into a fury. It’s the little things. Kyle Wilson dunking to end a practice. Cash throws a 100-mph fastball (pass) from five feet away to an unsuspecting teammate. Newman doing something to be a distraction in practice. All of these things are the little things that make the seasons special to me. I truly enjoy the process. Watching the kids celebrate together on the court and in the locker room, yeah, I’ll always keep that in my memory and in my heart. All of those things make it special to me. Lastly, having my wife and my family there along the way, throughout the journey. That’s really what it’s all about.

Assistant coach Steven Durtsche

This state championship is special because as a group we know it’s not easy to win one championship, let alone back-to-back. The championship means a lot to the community. When you look behind you sitting in the events center and see the number of Lovell fans in the stands, it speaks for itself. The amount of support our program has received from parents and even those who do not have a son or daughter playing is unmatched. There is a lot of pride that comes with being a Lovell Bulldog, and our community shows that time and time again when the stands are packed. There has been a lot of energy in the gym the last couple of years, and it’s been fun to show up to the games and watch our guys show out for the community. 

What made back-to-back possible this year is the group of guys that we had. They showed up to practice every day and competed. They pushed each other and expected the very best from each other. Practice could get a little chippy at times, and it brought the best out of them. Coach Durtsche told the boys often that there is a standard to play and be a Lovell Bulldog, and the boys understood and respected that standard. It takes a certain group of individuals to be able to accomplish something so special, and we had just had the right group of guys. They love each other and were unselfish on and off the court. That’s what makes this group special and able to win back-to-back championships.

I think my favorite moment from the season was when a new player would dunk the ball at practice, and Shane would blow his whistle and tell everyone to huddle up. He would put the player on the spot and say if so-and-so can dunk the ball again, practice is over. So all the boys would get hyped up and watch this player go for the dunk. Funny part of the story is not one of the guys was able to dunk it on the spot, and practice never ended early.

Assistant coach Jacob Lohof

What a year to get back into the basketball world. It’s always amazing to see the amount of Lovell fans that show up and support Bulldog basketball, especially at State.

I think the competitiveness of this team was why the repeat happened. The way the guys got after each other in practice made each and every one of them better players. What propelled them to the state title was always the defense. We had the guys who could score it, but when we locked in on defense nobody stood a chance. 

My favorite moment has to be Kyle Wilson’s “buzzer beater” at halftime of the state championship game. Classic.