MOOSEHEART, IL - Mike Tovar still gets to put on his basketball jersey that says "Mooseheart Ramblers" on the front - and that makes him happy.

But the junior is the only Red Ramblers player still in uniform and that still makes him sad.

One week after Mooseheart's postseason journey ended with a loss to Byron, Tovar is one week from competing in the IHSA Class A Slam Dunk competition.

"It's a great experience, but I'd rather have the team go down there," Tovar said. "I'm happy about getting to go and compete, but it doesn't compare to having the whole team go with me to state."

The Ramblers finished the season on a high note. Not only did they win 17 games, they won their first playoff game in a generation and had a three-point lead on Byron before eventually falling to the top-seeded Tigers. "It's exciting for Mike," Mooseheart coach Jeff Perales said. "He's still got the uniform on. It's really rewarding that he's going to represent us downstate at the dunk contest."

Ironically, one of the aspects of Tovar's game that was least apparent in the key late-season contests was his ability to dunk.

"He always wanted to defend the other team's best player," Perales said. "Everyone is aware of his power the threat of what he can do offensively. But I think I'm more impressed with what he did defensively and with rebounding in the regional games."

Competition begins at 5 p.m. at the Carver Arena, Peoria Civic Center, the site of the boys state basketball finals. There are 64 dunkers, one from each regional. In the competition, each has 45 seconds to record at least two legal dunks, though any number of dunks may be completed in that time.

At the end of the qualifying rounds, the top four Class A dunkers move to the finals, which are March 10 at the conclusion of the second semifinal, approximately 2:30 p.m. At that point, the Class A champion will be crowned.

That champion advances to the "King of the Hill" showdown on March 17 after the consolation game and before the Class AA title game.

"I'm going to go out and show them something they've never seen before," Tovar said. "When I'm actually there, I think I'm going to jump higher than I ever have before. I know I only have about a minute, but I'm going to try to put on a show."

Tovar will have one teammate - Floyd Mays - with him on the floor during the competition. Although props are not allowed, Mays will help feed Tovar the basketball for some of his more acrobatic dunks.

"I think he's the main reason I got so many dunks this year," Tovar said. "He's great at throwing lobs."

The end of the season still hurts Tovar and the Ramblers. Mooseheart led Byron by three points with 3:00 left and fell 40-34 to the No. 11-ranked team in the state.

"I still can't believe we lost," Tovar said. "We had the game. To have a that good of a team that close, it's tough."

But the Ramblers did advance in the playoffs, which has fueled the team's enthusiasm as it moves into the offseason.

"Winning the first regional game was huge," Perales said. "To have someone from your school representing you in front of thousands of people and in front of other schools is great. The dunk contest is a lot of fun. We're fortunate to have a student here who can dunk."

Having Tovar still in competition extends the postseason and Perales said he's been enjoying the chance to turn on the gym lights and get things ready for Tovar's practice, though IHSA rules prohibit team practices once a team is eliminated from the playoffs.

"There's nothing like it when you're a basketball coach and you hear that noise on the wood floor," Perales said. "The season may be over, but the work is also just beginning. I also coach football so I know we've got to get the kids into the weight room. Hopefully that transcends over to us in basketball too."

Tovar does not play football, but he is a high jumper and long jumper in track, so his athletic season has yet to finish.

"Basketball's year-round for me," Tovar said. "Basketball's constantly on my mind."