Although Coach Mick Anderson would later say “I was never in the mode that we were going to lose the game,” the thought must have certainly occurred to some of the Waho fans. After all, it was in that same venue, the Bob Devaney Sports Center, in the Class B State Tournament, that Wahoo had last faced defeat. And that had been a rare occurrence -- once in 115 games. The 1992 - 1993 season had been all about earning redemption for that single loss. The moment that Sidney tied the game in the second half, if there were any remaining demons lingering on the fringe of the Wahoo team’s collective psyche, this would be the opportune time for them to be unleashed. The Wahoo response was swift, decisive, and befitting of the 1993 team.

On the next possession, Mike Hancock connected for a three pointer. Wahoo wouldn’t trail again. In a 16 - 7 run , Travis Toline would score twice on the inside and add a freethrow; Greg Hain would score on a drive through the lane; and Joel Weyand and Justin Anderson would would each hit a three. In three minutes, the Wahoo team had changed a tie game into a nine point lead. All five starters had contributed.

Wahoo defeated Sidney 65 - 49 and advanced to the semifinals. But many who had come to the Sports Center that night walked away a little disappointed that they had not seen the juggernaut Wahoo team they had been hearing about all season. For some (many of the Class A communities, no doubt) the lackluster performance by the Wahoo squad validated their doubts about the Warriors’ ability to compete at a Class A level. Very few recognized what they had witnessed. The response to Sidney’s challenge of the Warriors epitomized what the 1993 team was about. It was a response to adversity; it was a team effort that featured balanced scoring at a high level; it was explosive offense with both an inside and an outside threat. The only ingredient the fans didn’t see much of that night was the quick and aggressive defense that usually clamped a full court press on opponents that resulted in points racking up like it was a pinball game. The winning spurt against Sidney came mostly from a half court defense and a half court offense. In a way, that was also typical of the 1993 team -- it could beat its opponents in a variety of ways.

For those that walked out of the Devaney Sports Center that Thursday afternoon thinking Wahoo wasn’t all it was cracked up to be, those thoughts would be dispelled over the next two nights. Wahoo had been on a mission since they left that court in March of 1992. The returning players believed they could reclaim the Class B title and looked at it as absolution for themselves and their former teammates; absolution from the stain of that one defeat that had come at the end of the record breaking win streak. When it was over, senior guard Joel Weyand would refer to that loss as a “bump in the road.” In hind sight, it did look like a small bump. But it could have been much more. The loss at the end of the 1992 season could have been a devastating blow that knocked Wahoo from its peak and started a downward slide for the program. Some believed that would be the case. The team that had marched to four consecutive titles behind the leadership of Jason Glock had extended that winning way for nearly another year. Much of that success was probably due to the old adage that “success breeds success.” Some believed that Wahoo would lose that “swagger” and become, maybe a good team, but probably not a great team.

In the spring of 1992, the underclassmen of the 1992 Warrior team began focusing on achieving another state championship. Some were trying out for all star teams and all were making plans for summer league and summer camp. They took some time to look back at their 1991 - 1992 season and found some gratification in the success they had. But there was no doubt about the bitter taste left from the loss to Ogallala. In making a highlight video of the past season, a staged scene was added to the end: Juniors Joel Weyand and Justin Anderson were shooting baskets in the gym. The camera zoomed in on Weyand -- “We’ll be back.” Justin Anderson responded, “You can count on it.” Those thinking the Wahoo swagger was gone were sadly mistaken. The Warriors were already taking the first steps on “Redemption Road.”