Luverne High School basketball fans have a tremendous opportunity at hand.With the 2004-05 Luverne High School boys basketball team drawing its first No. 1 seed for a postseason tournament in 21 years, there’s no better time to jump on the Cardinal bandwagon than right now.In what is a very balanced field, the LHS boys were named the No. 1 seed for the South Section 3AA Tournament, edging out Redwood Valley and Pipestone Area in the coaches’ voting on Feb. 16.Although Luverne’s record is not eye-popping at 15-8, the South Section coaches gave the Cards the ultimate nod of respect by tabbing them the top seed over No. 2 Pipestone and No. 3 RWV.Considering the game results between the top three teams, the balloting had to be close. Luverne beat Pipestone twice this season, but the Cards lost two tight battles with RWV. Had RWV not lost both games to Pipestone during the regular season, it probably would have earned the No. 1 seed.Whatever happened during the voting process is a moot point now. The Cardinals have earned the role as tournament favorites for the first time since 1984, which, by the way, was the last time they advanced to a state tournament. Now it’s up to you to help the Cards make it an extended postseason by showing up at the game.Unlike 1984, when all tournament games were played at a neutral site, the victors in the voting poll receive the scheduling spoils in the South Section 3AA.Luverne will host No. 8 Tracy-Milroy-Balaton at 7 p.m. Saturday in the quarterfinals. A win against the Panthers will give the Cardinals a home game in the semifinals against either No. 4 Renville County West or No. 5 Windom at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 3. Luverne also would be the site of the tournament’s second semifinal game at 7:30 p.m. March 3.In basketball, having a home-court advantage is a valuable possession. Anyone who attended last Thursday’s regular season finale against Russell-Tyler-Ruthton can attest to that.The Cards could have crumbled under the pressure of playing the state’s third-ranked Class 1A team a number of times. Instead, spurred on by the most vocal crowd I’ve heard in 18 years of covering LHS home games, Luverne rallied from a seven-point deficit in the final five minutes to pull out a 61-60 win.Based on past experience as a player and a sports writer, nothing brings a community together like a post-season run in basketball. The Cardinals need your help in making it happen by donning your red and white colors and offering enthusiastic support at the two home game opportunities.Let’s fill the gym and give the local boys a home-court advantage they can turn into a berth in the South Section 3AA title game in Marshall March 5.