DADvocate

My youngest daughter's 5th grade basketball team completed another near perfect season this weekend. They lost only one game against other 5th graders. They avenged their only defeat, which came early in the season, by beating that team in a later tournament. (They played in one 6th grade tournament where they only had one victory.)

Over the last month, her team made a quantum leap in their level of play. They played with a true understanding of the game. Something unusual for 5th graders, boys and girls. You could see it in how they spaced themselves on the floor relative to other players, how they passed, played smothering defense, rebounded, etc.

The players on the team, including my daughter, developed the hearts and minds of athletes, also. They play hard all the time. They dive after loose balls. They battle for rebounds. When they take a hit they keep playing. And, they have a true team spirit. They never hesitate to pass the ball to an open teammate.

Lastly, they love the game. You can see it in their faces, hear it in their voices and you can feel their enthusiasm. This is truly one of the most unique groups of kids I've ever had the honor to know.

Congratulations, girls!

My daughter's specialties are defense, shotblocking, and rebounding, same as her Dad in his day. She is the middle girl in the picture. (They are setting up of an inbounds play.) She began the season at 5' 2.5" tall and ended it at 5' 5" tall. For a 10 year old girl, that it TALL! Since she is the youngest girl on her team, hopefully, she will continue to have dominate height. There was only one 5th grade game in which the other team had a taller player.

I try not to look too far down the road, but if these girls continue to develop and progress the way they have been. They'll be the best team for a long way around. Plus, they are a smart group of kids. Five of them, including my daughter, are on the schools academic team which won the District Governor's Cup competition a couple of weeks ago.