'Let's go win this thing!'

BELLEVUE — All season long, Bellevue-area community members have shown up and showed out for their beloved Lady Red squad. Here's just the latest instance in a long list of examples. At least 300 people, from students to parents and other locals, wished the girls basketball team well during a police-escorted sendoff Thursday afternoon at Bellevue High School. Players, coaches and other team personnel headed down to Dayton a night prior before the biggest game of their lives. In the program's first-ever state title game, Bellevue faces Kettering Alter at 4:15 p.m. today at the University of Dayton Arena with the sport's top prize on the line. Thursday's sendoff served as one final pregame celebration to let team members know everyone in Bellevue, and many people beyond its borders, are rooting for them. Before boarding the buses, players walked through the parking lot as scores of fans lined either side of them. They screamed and shouted in delight, as many people, especially young children, held up decorative signs with creative designs. Even the district's entire baseball team delayed practice so the boys could properly cheer on their girl classmates. Cody Cramer, the district's athletic director, thanked every single fan for their support and then addressed each player in front of this mass crowd. "Ladies: Week after week, you have proudly represented Bellevue High School. Week after week, you have battled and persevered. And you've earned this opportunity to play for a state championship," Cramer said over a microphone. Come tipoff, "You will put all of your training and hard work on display for the whole state of Ohio," he added. "The whole town of Bellevue will be in Dayton, waiting for you to cut down those nets." He finished by shouting, "Now let's go win this thing," which followed with a thunderous ovation.