The Little Team That Could

Ashlyn's basketball team played in an end of the season tournament yesterday and today. Yesterday we started off in a round-robin tournament. First we played the Lady Mavericks. We lost 16-6. Then we played the Lady Bearcats and we beat them, though I'm not sure of the score. For the third game we played the Lady Bearcats again, and again we won.

Today was the tough day; we had to start off playing the Lady Mavericks again.  Of course we were picked to lose, but our girls did GREAT and we beat them 10-5.  I have to say their coaches were the worst losers!  They set an awful example for their team with all the whining and complaining they did when they lost.  And they screamed at their girls so badly that the girls were crying while they were playing.  I think that's taking it a bit far.  For heaven's sake, they are only 9!  It was really obvious too, that their coaches were nazis, cause right as half-time was ending they were screaming at their players and jerking them around and girls were sobbing and our coach is over there going "Which basket are we shooting at?" and all our girls point to the basket and he goes "Yay!  RIGHT!" and gives them all high-fives.  Totally opposite coaching styles-and it proved that sometimes nice guys win. 

So for the championship game we had to play Wall.  In Wall they live, eat, and breathe sports.  Those people are the most obnoxious people on the face of the earth.  They win at everything apparently.  Well, NOT TODAY!  It was neck and neck for a while, with each team trading baskets.  Then we got down 10-6.  It looked bad, but the girls fought back.  Then it was 10-10.  Then they got to shoot foul shots and went up 11-10.  Then we scored a basket and went ahead 12-11.  There was less than a minute left and I have never yelled so much in my life.  They had a girl that was like five feet tall and Ashlyn was guarding her.  She outweighed Ashlyn by about 40 pounds and she was all over Ashlyn on the rebounds.  So I got to use my line "Get her off her back!"  Right at the end Ashlyn came over to throw the ball in and I told her "You DO NOT let that big girl get the ball, NO MATTER WHAT!"  She smiled and said "No way, she's NOT getting it!"  At the end there was like ten seconds left and we had the ball and all us parents were a nervous wreck that they were going to steal the ball and dribble down and score and then little Destiny threw up a freakin prayer and banked it in.  Ohhh Destiny, who can't make a wide open lay-up to save her life but consistently makes them from around half court...  So we were up 14-11 with five seconds left.  And every single person on our side jumped up and screamed at the same time and then it was over.  I have never, never seen a group of girls so excited.  Well, maybe I have, but not from the perspective of a parent whose kid is participating.  They were running and yelling and hugging and it was just chaos.  Shut those Wall people up, let me tell you.

Ashlyn did awesome.  She played that big girl so well, and she even started anticipating, which helped her get four steals right at the end and keep them from getting a chance to shoot and score.  She also held her own with the rebounding.  I think she's the best defensive player they have.  We just need to work on her offense.  I don't think it occurs to her to dribble...she just stands there and either shoots or passes.

And they are the champions!  There are just no words, people, no words.  I am so happy right now I am actually thinking I don't need the pills anymore.  Oh, the excitement to be had in 3rd grade basketball!  Who knew?  Who knew?  It's the stuff movies are made of.  Hoosiers?  Let me tell you, they got nothin' on us...NOTHIN'!