'Twas the day after Christmas

With apologies to Clement C. Moore, original writer of the famous holiday poem

'Twas the day after Christmas, and all through the region

Not a player was playing, the holiday the reason.

The uniforms were hung in their closets with care

Because if they weren't, then the moms would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds

While dreams of section championships danced in their heads.

And me in my jacket and favorite cap

Could not keep from thinking "I'd kill for a nap."

When down by the school there arose such a clatter

I ran from my desk to see what was the matter.

Down to the campus I soon made my way

Was a game now in action, did a game they now play?

The overhead lights as they glared off the rim

Gave the luster of game-time to the now empty gym.

When what to my far-sighted eyes should appear

But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.

And a little old sports editor, with a pen in his hand

Who tried his best to make each game story grand.

With the speed of gazelles, his coursers they came

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name.

"Now Corning! Now Maxwell! Now Orland and Princeton!

On Hamilton, on Colusa, on Mercy and Williams!"

To the top of the standings, to the top of the section

Now dash away all, that is your direction!

So up to the gym roof the coursers they flew

With a bag full of game balls, and the sports editor too.

He had a razor-stubbled face, and a belly quite grand

From too many trips to the concession stand.

He spoke not a word, but took pictures and stats

To recount all the key moments, thisses and thats.

He dashed for his sleigh, and in it his camera tossed

And said, "It's now dark out, I'll probably get lost."

But I heard him exclaim his trip and his reason

"Good games to all, and a good rest of the season!"

Craig Purcell is sports editor for Tri-County Newspapers. Contact him at 824-1036 or sports@tcnpress.com