Alright so yesterday I rode down with the Amherst Christian
Academy Girls’ basketball team to their State Championship Tournament. This is a completely new experience for me. Before this year my only contact with
basketball was my 8th Grade modified team where I was adept at
stealing, but had no idea how to get that ball anywhere near a basket, and a
few watched games in which I had no idea if I should yell “Touch Down!!” or
not. This year I spent some time
crashing practice and learning some of the basics and then keeping track of the
scorebook. I still can’t always tell why
the refs are calling fouls, but I do know a few things about what basketball
should look like. More importantly than
that I’ve been able to see these girls grow, not only in their basketball
skills, but grow together as a team.
Last night they play the top ranked team in the Tournament
and while they didn’t win that game they also didn’t allow that team to
bulldoze over them. They pulled down
rebounds away from girls who had significant height advantages, they hit shots
I had never seen them hit in a game before, they passed to each other with
intent and they stayed in the game. It
was sweet to watch things that I know they have been working hard to do come
together. It wasn’t a perfect game and
they still have areas to grow in, but there were moments when they played
beyond anything I expected.
Tonight they play against a team that is not the highest
ranked in the tournament and there is hope that they may win. It was clear today as they practiced cheers
in the hotel parking lot that they are incredibly excited. Though I have not been screaming my head off
and sit now typing quietly in the lobby, sipping endless hotel coffee I’m
excited too. I’m hoping they play today
like they played last night. As a team. I’m hoping today they play remembering that
this game isn’t about one star it’s about working together. It’s about remembering all the things their
coach has asked of them in practice and applying it.
I have been so thankful to get to know these girls over the
past couple years through volleyball and now basketball. I have been thankful to see the relationships
they have built with each other, thankful to see their growth in the skills
they need to play this game, thankful for the awesome attitudes they have shown
throughout the season, thankful that they are more and more seeking God’s glory
in everything they do and thankful that win or lose they have learned to do it
as a team.
No comments:
Post a Comment