Back in October, on our way home from Orange Beach, Keagan made the decision to try out for the 7th grade basketball team. He didn't make the 6th grade team last year and it about devastated him (and me) and it was a painful, yet important, learning moment for Keagan. And, truthfully, us as a family. So when Keagan wanted to try out again we were so incredibly proud of him for overcoming that pain and setting himself up for potential failure again. We didn't sugarcoat the potential of him not making the team, but we also didn't want to discourage him. Well, Keagan made the team!! To say we were elated is an understatement. There were only eight 7th grader who made the team and so we just knew that Keagan would get all kinds of playing time. And our "dreams" were filled of watching Keagan grow into loving this new sport, playing and improving, and working towards high school. He was thinking the same thing.
Boy, were we wrong!! Let's just say that the 6th grade team took over for the 7th grade team and left 60% of the 7th grade parents grumbling at how unfair the coach was, etc. I won't go into an entire season of emotional specifics, but it was a disappointing season. Especially since this poor team lost ALL BUT TWO games. By 20-30 points! At the hands of the same 5 players, mostly 6th graders playing "up" against 7th graders. The middle school has 3 basketball teams: 6th, 7th, and 8th. I'm not saying that kids shouldn't ever play up, but it got a bit ridiculous for the coach to not use his bench. And for him to not even use most of his 7th grade players!! He would sub in a string of five 7th graders with about a minute left in the game, including Keagan, for their slap in the face, and then scream at all the boys that they played like crap. It became comical. But overall it was a very hurtful experience, for Keagan and our family. And 4 other families. Mid-way through the season we told Keagan if he wanted any change, he NEEDED to go talk to the coach. The coach told him he was waiting for Keagan to come to him, and then played him a tad more in the next game, even bragged on him to the team! In that game, Keagan scored, defended, and contributed! I missed that game (of course - multiple children playing ball) but I got several text messages from different mamas when Keagan made a heck of a play. So that was the atta boy we needed to continue the season. Especially since that attention was short lived and Keagan went back (with his other buddies) to warming the bench the entire game and watching their team lose miserably. The coach looked like a fool.
Fast forward to the very last game. VERY.LAST.GAME. Today! In fact they had two games today and the first game was the exact same as they have been: 6th graders starting and tapping out, losing miserably, put in the rest of the 7th graders in the last minute. One of the parents (it wasn't me, but I was thinking about it) yelled "Great Job SEVENTH GRADE BOYS!" with a whole lot of emphasis on 7th grade. It was awesome. So the second game started, very similarly to every other game. At the end of the first quarter, the score was 0-15 them. Pretty typical. But then we saw our 7th grade boys get to go out in the second quarter! WHAT!? Those boys held them at 15 and scored 8...then same group for the 3rd quarter and the 4th quarter!! We did not win, but it was a very close game. Only lost by 5 points. Those boys that never got to play, came out cold and lost and then turned it on. They made us all so proud. And the coach looked like an even bigger fool because he should have been pouring into those boys who weren't "favorites" and maybe they could have had a better season.
Here's the thing. It's middle school, they all suck. Teach them, pour into them, let them make mistakes and coach them so they will learn. Also, check out who your tall boys are - they are just gonna get taller! Work those tall boys for what they could be in the future! Oh well, the season is over and my child showed much more grit and grace than I could ever possess, making me insanely proud of him. He only showed being upset one time before leaving the building, which is much more than I can say for myself. The kid finished the season, kept his chin up, and did exactly what he is supposed to. And, thankfully, his spirit wasn't crushed beyond repair. (despite minimal play time, there are a bunch of great pictures of him in the few minutes he did get to play! thankful for a photographer mom that captured these! my cell phone pictures just aren't that great)
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Finn: Last little league basketball season was a success for Finley! He was on a team of 4th and 5th graders and all new faces to play with for Finn. He had a great set of coaches and this little team won all but one of their regular season games, and then made it to the semi-finals in the tournament. Finn grew quite a bit in his basketball season and he was a blast to watch! He is quite the defender and ball handler and this season his shooting started to come on too. One thing about Finn that really made me proud is when the going got tough and there was trash-talking within the team and from the other team, Finn didn't engage and he stayed cool as a cucumber. He was disappointed that his team didn't win the championship (especially since they did last year - and the team that won this year is who Finn's team beat last year!) but he loved basketball and is hoping to play in middle school. I'm sure you can hear my thoughts on that...but I will support my kids in what they want to do.
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Maclyn/Ivy: This was the second year of Maclyn playing little league basketball and Ivy's first year. The girls were on the same team this year (a Kindergarten/1st grade split) which was super helpful for my schedule. Maclyn is a beast on the court. She was a top scorer on her team and really didn't let anyone push her around. Ivy was not a top scorer, although she tried so hard! She was the tiniest on the team and just could not shoot the ball high enough to even graze the net in the beginning. However, Ivy tried very, very hard. She also had a tough time dribbling and in the beginning of the season could barely dribble and walk and was so worried that she wouldn't be able to play well in a game. My goal for Ivy this season was for her to not cry during a game (because she cried the first two practices when she got hit in the face with the basketball and compared herself to the other kids and was noticeably not as skilled). She met that goal in the first game and never looked back! There were no more tears and by the end of the season Ivy was grazing the net with her shots (never got one in until she was helped by the ref) and running and dribbling the ball down the court. She made a pretty cute point guard! She may not have had much strength to score but she was a fierce rebounder and went after a loose ball like it was her job. My goal for Maclyn this season was to improve her knowledge of the game and she totally surpassed this. She understood where she needed to be when she was on either end of the court, was a good defender and a great shooter. She understood the assignment when she was supposed to block shots from the other team. One thing Mac needs to work on is passing the ball - she might be a bit of a ball hog.
If you ever need some joy in your life, I highly suggest watching kindergarten and 1st grade girls play basketball. They are super cute and funny and inconsistently aggressive. They hop around and put their hands high and most of the time don't have a clue what is going on.
With two of my girls at the South Marshall Middle basketball jamboree...Charlee and Annie are both on the girls middle school team.
I spy Keagan's name!
Here comes my boy in his basketball debut! Look for #22 on the court!
Nick and Keagan
FYI - any good pictures are from a mom with a good camera
My tiniest child missed her very first game because she had strep
check out the two different sports earrings - we had two basketball and 2 soccer games that day!
friends and teammates: Maclyn, Emery, Kayden
Ivy and Noah
little brothers literally hanging out during a middle school basketball game in Murray
The boys went to MCHS hoop fest and watched high school teams from all around the country (and Canada!) play, and got their basketballs signed. Sometimes Coach Cal (UK basketball coach) comes for recruiting purposes!
Two of the high school teams - huge kids!
Tuck and Finn - soccer and basketball teammates and buddies
mamas and girls! so much fun having them on the same team
Ivy getting a boost to make her first basket during her last game!
our sweet little K/1 team
little brothers watching big brothers during their basketball game.
team picture after a tough loss in the semi-finals game - but an amazing group of young men
