The phrase “the show must go on” took on a whole new meaning Saturday night at the Cove basketball tournament.

The Union girls basketball team was playing Cove in the third of four games that were to take place on the day.

The game started right on time as scheduled, with Union grabbing an early 10-2 lead. Then with 2:39 left in the first quarter, one of the referees noticed some water on the floor. The referee looked up at the ceiling and noticed that the roof in the Cove gymnasium was leaking.

Congratulations to the Imbler Panthers volleyball team on its latest state title.

The senior-laden team made some steam in Forest Grove by turning the temperature up one degree.

This year the Panthers are sporting black team shirts with 212 printed on the front.

TOE TAPPING: EOU’s Kirk Miller reels in a touchdown pass against Carroll Saturday. The Observer/PAUL HARDER

Sure the Eastern Oregon University football team didn’t come home with a win, falling 37-17. But that shouldn’t be the focal point.

A lot of teams have traveled to face Carroll College and left with a loss.

So I’ll try not to make this the Lou Gehrig luckiest man on earth speech, but for the past year I have been truly blessed.

While working here at The Observer I have seen some amazing athletic feats and some of the most beautiful country this state has to offer.

Last week I was offered the sports information director position at Eastern Oregon University, my alma mater. It was an opportunity I could not pass up.

CHOMPING AT THE BIT: Isaac Chamberlain prepares to hit an offering from a Pendleton pitcher Wednesday. - Observer photos/PAUL HARDER

The La Grande 9- 10-year-old Little League baseball All-Star team is headed to the Parkrose Little League baseball complex after defeating Pendleton Wednesday in the District 3 Championships, 13-8.

“It feels pretty sweet right now,” La Grande manager Kraig Jacobs said. “I’ve said it before but tournament experience is everything. We were in this position a lot last year and the kids showed a lot of heart and perseverance today.”

I have been holding back for a while now, but it’s time I say something.

Budget cuts are engulfing the area faster than anyone could have predicted and it’s becoming a little scary.

Maybe it was when Utah State and Virginia Commonwealth had their shoe-in upsets taken away in the first round.

In my opinion Cinderella was never invited to this year’s big dance.

Please feel free to contact the police because the Eastern Oregon University men’s basketball team was robbed.

I’ll begin by saying these are my observations and opinions and not The Observer’s, but EOU had a berth into the national final four ripped away from them.

I’ve never been a guy who blames referees or whines about calls, but as the cliché goes, there’s a first for everything.

Recently my carrier was bought out. The new company overnighted my new phone two months before I could use it — I’m still wondering why.

So, I thought a group thank you letter was in order to all the Union and Wallowa County coaches, team and faculty that made for an amazing season.

I’m once again almost at a loss of words.

Almost.

I have been to two NAIA national tournaments, the NBA playoffs, different levels of the NCAA tournament and played in some small college and high school basketball tournaments, but the experience last week in Baker City was in a league of its own.