Best friends Patrick Bass and Hunter Hart set for their final game together at Cascia Hall
BY KELLY HINES World Sports Writer
Wednesday, December 07, 2011
12/07/11 at 7:06 AM
Patrick Bass and Hunter Hart remember the precise moment their friendship began - during a routine pre-kindergarten day at Monte Cassino School.
"Hunter came over and asked if we could share naptime together," Bass said. "And so we laid together for naptime and ever since we've been best friends."
A large part of their time together over the past 13 years has been on the gridiron, starting in kindergarten with flag football to Mighty Mites to junior high and now to high school.
As seniors at Cascia Hall, the pair will play in their final game together as the Commandos face Anadarko for the Class 3A championship Friday night at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater.
"It hasn't hit me fully yet," Bass said. "It probably won't until the day after. But it's catching up to us."
Some of their favorite memories outside football involve a young Hart inexplicably shouting "God save King George" to pedestrians and other cars from the backseat on drives home, and Bass staying behind with Hart when he had to give himself diabetes shots at school.
"We've always been with each other, so it's almost impossible to bring out a few special memories," Hart said. "With your best friend, it's safe to say every memory is special."
Their families have become close, with their moms Sandy Bass and Lori Hart sitting together at games and hoping for their boys to avoid injuries. The Basses also have participated in diabetes walks to support Hart.
The two standout football players represent a tight-knit senior class that has lost only twice since junior high. A victory Friday would give them a third state title in four years.
"We've been playing padded football since fourth grade," Bass said. "We just have a great chemistry between all of us."
Said Hart: "We represent what trusting each other can do. Obviously Patrick and I are best friends, but a lot of the guys are really good friends.
"I think our trust has kind of bred our success throughout the past years, and hopefully it will hold true Friday."
Although Bass and Hart are likely going to different colleges, they expect their friendship to remain intact.
"That's only four years," Hart said. "I know it's not the last I'll see my best friend."
Class 3A State Championship
Anadarko (14-0) vs. Cascia Hall (14-0)
7:30 p.m. Friday
Boone Pickens Stadium
TV: Cox-3
Original Print Headline: Best friends ready for their final game at Cascia Hall
Kelly Hines 918-581-8452
kelly.hines@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Cascia Hall's Patrick Bass (left) and Hunter Hart, pictured during first grade, have been friends since pre-kindergarten days at Monte Cassino School. Courtesy
Cascia Hall football players Patrick Bass and Hunter Hart have been playing football together since kindergarten. They will play their last game together against Anadarko in the 3A state championship on Friday at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater. JEFF LAUTENBERGER / Tulsa World
|
