One of the most difficult seasons in the history of Lawrence basketball has come to a close with Free State and Lawrence High’s girls and boys basketball teams all being eliminated from sub-state play last weekend.

For all four teams, the 2008-09 season had plenty of memorable moments and plenty of feel-good stories. But it also had its share of heartbreakers, too.

From the ACL injury to LHS senior Tania Jackson that sidelined her for the entire season and derailed the LHS girls hopes of defending their 2008 state title to the Free State High boys team’s 20-game losing streak to close the season and the banked-in three-pointer that sent the LHS boys home, the past few months will be tough to shake off for many reasons.

But while the athletes who made these memories happen are busy putting basketball behind them — for now — hopefully they’ll realize just how special the past two seasons were for both high schools.

In 2007, Free State High’s boys and girls ripped off a wonderful postseason run to the Class 6A state semifinals. Both poured it on late in the season and both left Emporia’s White Auditorium having won their final games, as each lost in the semis but went on to win the third-place game.

Those third-place banners hang high in the FSHS gymnasium and the memories of that run remain fresh.

Not to be outdone, the LHS teams took things a step farther the following season, with both advancing to the 2008 Class 6A state title games. The girls won their game and added another entry to the wall of champions in the LHS gym. The boys lost their title game but set the tone for what LHS basketball is all about these days.

Both wonderful seasons with magical endings. Both appreciated by hundreds of supporters.

Both made even more special by this year’s struggles.

Here’s the deal, taking both your boys and girls basketball teams to the state tournament in the same season– let alone having both of them come home with trophies — just doesn’t happen that often.

Getting to state is hard. That’s why the celebration that follows qualifying is so wild, so joyous, so memorable. It doesn’t matter if you’re the No. 1 seed (like the SM West girls this year) or the No. 2 seed (like the SM East boys), you celebrate like mad because getting there is not guaranteed.

The Lions and Firebirds have always known that. But now, after all four teams find themselves finished for the season, it seems a little clearer.

And that clarity makes what happened in 2007 and 2008 that much more special.