It seems that there is some confusion and misunderstanding about what encompasses inclusion for the 19-sport All-Decade teams, which we have been publishing every Monday and will continue to do so through May 10.

What seemed obvious to me may not be that clear to others. The decade started on Jan. 1, 2000 and ended on Dec. 31, 2009. Period. What happened during those weeks and months is taken into account and what occurred prior to or thereafter is not considered.

PEORIA -- We're courtside, and we're 30 minutes away from tipoff for the Class 1A state championship boys' basketball game, featuring a Salt Fork Storm team with 26 consecutive victories and a Sessier-Valier team which endured a stretch starting in early January when it lost seven of 10 games.
Sessier brings a 26-9 record into the finals. Salt Fork is 32-1, a school record for wins for the Catlin and Jamaica all-sports cooperative.

PEORIA -- Nine minutes until tip-off of Salt Fork's first boys' basketball state semifinal game.

Carver Arena is about half full. The Salt Fork cheering contingent is loud -- as usual -- and could be the proverbial sixth man.

The Storm left the floor for their final words of wisdom from coach Aaron Hird before tipoff. Warmups looked good. No obvious signs of tension.