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Ok, her team did it, and most of it was done by just three of the girls, but they won. Undefeated season, won their playoff game, and won the championship game. They were up by 10 in the first five minutes before the other team even scored. The closest the other team got was within 8 in the second. The final score was 46-35 (I think).
The league had individual trophies for both teams. Sam was so proud and so happy. I know this because for about 5 minutes she couldn't stop saying so, in between jumping up and down and yelling.
Sam only played in the second and fourth, but she was on the floor at the end of the game and got to experience That Moment (for which I am very grateful). She had 2 rebounds (and subsequently 2 turnovers) and forced a jump-ball. She only got one shot, but it was a miss. Most of the rest of the time she was out there she was playing good defense, which always has the net effect that the ball doesn't end-up going her way most of the time.
The other three 5th/6th grade girls teams all have 1 or 2 stud players with a variety of watchers, passers, and screeners. But Sam's team was a real team. Their second string (for which Sam was usually the power forward or center) was as good as most of the other team's first strings.
Late in the 3rd and the beginning part of the 4th quarters, her coach had them slow down, play stall-ball and pass it around a few times before trying the shot. Once their best player fouled out (she got four in the first half, partly because she was being that aggressive, and partly because the other team caught on) the stall-ball backfired a little as the other team began to steal the ball and scored a few. They went back to their fast-break game and scored enough to prevent any last-minute drama.
My weeks aren't going to be the same after this. No twice-a-week practices, and my Saturday mornings free. But the best part is, I don't think my daughter is going to be the same again either.
And I couldn't be happier.
The league had individual trophies for both teams. Sam was so proud and so happy. I know this because for about 5 minutes she couldn't stop saying so, in between jumping up and down and yelling.
Sam only played in the second and fourth, but she was on the floor at the end of the game and got to experience That Moment (for which I am very grateful). She had 2 rebounds (and subsequently 2 turnovers) and forced a jump-ball. She only got one shot, but it was a miss. Most of the rest of the time she was out there she was playing good defense, which always has the net effect that the ball doesn't end-up going her way most of the time.
The other three 5th/6th grade girls teams all have 1 or 2 stud players with a variety of watchers, passers, and screeners. But Sam's team was a real team. Their second string (for which Sam was usually the power forward or center) was as good as most of the other team's first strings.
Late in the 3rd and the beginning part of the 4th quarters, her coach had them slow down, play stall-ball and pass it around a few times before trying the shot. Once their best player fouled out (she got four in the first half, partly because she was being that aggressive, and partly because the other team caught on) the stall-ball backfired a little as the other team began to steal the ball and scored a few. They went back to their fast-break game and scored enough to prevent any last-minute drama.
My weeks aren't going to be the same after this. No twice-a-week practices, and my Saturday mornings free. But the best part is, I don't think my daughter is going to be the same again either.
And I couldn't be happier.
