Musings and mutterings as Ornauer hits the post-Far East decompression chamber for a few hours:

-- Where do St. Mary's International's shockers over Seoul American in Friday's semifinal and Yokota in Saturday's championship rate among the top upsets in Far East High School Basketball history? The question was posed to me Saturday, and was answered most eloquently by one of Yokota High's three venerable "Wise Men," John Thek: "Without checking the program, do you think before Friday that anybody knew the names of any of St. Mary's players?"

-- No question, Faith Academy's 42-0 campaign, capped by Saturday's championship triumph over Seoul American, rates as the Vanguards' greatest season in school history. Fantabulous way for former Lady V's great Julie Stauffer to return as the team's assistant coach. And a great way for Dan Beaver, the girls program's architect, to depart -- Class AA titles in 1997, '98, '99, 2000 and this year, and Class A championships in 1996, 2003, 2007 and 2008.

-- So, what did St. Mary's do to turn the tide against Seoul American, which beat the Titans three times by double-digit margins, and Yokota, which beat the Titans twice in the regular season? Three keys: 1) Patience on offense, 2) Taking care of the basketball and 3) Not letting Yokota's and Seoul's presses bug them. And playing St. Mary's ball instead of playing the other team's game: Pass the ball, set screens and picks, create openings and cash in on every opportunity.

-- What if Keron Brown's 40-foot Hail Mary three-point game-winning attempt at the buzzer had gone in? Me thinks that's the reason why most movies on DVD come with alternate endings. Oh, so close was that shot! Only two other times have a Far East tournament ended on a buzzer-beater.

-- Note that some of the major players in Saturday's championship games are underclassmen? Sophomore Liz Gleaves, who triggered Seoul American's fourth-quarter rally. Faith freshman Kelly Hardeman, named to the Girls Class AA All-Tournament team. Boys Class AA MVP Toni Taniguchi, a junior, and sophomore post Amritpal Warraich of St. Mary's. Sophomore Keron Brown of Yokota. Ya think these teams won't be seeing each other much in the future?

-- Speaking of Warraich, wear that jersey No. 55 with pride, Amrit! It belonged back in the day to one Lars Kelley, who along with Nick Varner and Doug Williams paced the Titans to Class AA titles in 2001 and 2002. Ask coach about Lars. And have him compare Lars to your play, including that monster 28-point performance -- OFF THE BENCH! -- in Friday's semifinal.

-- And you think that Daegu American's, E.J. King's and Matthew C. Perry's boys weren't the teams that nobody wanted to play at last week's Boys Class A Tournament? Thomas "Mr. Outside" Brooka and Drew "Mr. Inside" Snowden proved a formidable duo for the Warriors, Cobras freshman Ryan Wagner spent all week channeling the outside shooting of Fernando Rico and Dominique Johnson of last year's Class A runner-up team, and Chase Dariso and John Ayers (42 points in a game? Wow!) showed there's tons of life in the Samurai program.

-- The instant I learned of DODDS-Pacific's Far East Activities Council voting last spring to do away with the shot clock for last week's Far East Tournaments, the first words that entered my mind were how Osan American's girls and St. Mary's International's boys stood to benefit because of their patient styles of ball. Whether that move directly led down title road or if just coincidence, the Cougars and Titans did, in fact, tote the title hardware home.

-- To Team Troy at Zama, Team Eagle-Eye at Edgren and Team Samur-Eye at Perry, to my partner Gary Cashman, to Greg "Doc" Holladay at Yokota who rescued my butt on Saturday, to budding Zama photo superstars Krystle "Chuck Taylors" Weirick, Anastasia "Lady in Black 1.0" Rodgers and Annie "Lady in Black 2.0" Young and to all the teacher/mentors, Richard Rodgers, Sharon Goodman, Ed Fogell, Lorayne Johansen, Shannon Helvey and Mark Lange: Many, many thanks! It could not have happened without y'all!

-- War spring sports here at last. Unwar post-Far East blues. 1 day!