Upward Basketball 2015

**GUEST BLOGGER**

 ~ Eric Hendrickson ~ (my husband)

Sarah played Upward Basketball again this year and I helped coach.  This year there were only 2 teams (last year there were 4) for the 1st-3rd grade girls.  Our team was team, "Sky".  We were under (wo)manned because one of our girls had to quit the team prior to the start of the season due to a scheduling conflict.  I had a talk with Sarah and told her that she was going to have to take charge and be the, "Go to Player" on the team.  She more than followed my instructions.

Game One

Usually the first game is very tough to watch.  Both teams are typically nervous and uncertain on what they are to do, which usually leads to a lot of standing around and low scores.  Well, this "game one" did not fit the stereotype.  The ending score was 44-41, where we were on the losing end.  After the game, the ref told us that he had never seen a 1st-3rd grade girls team score more than 40 points in a game.  Sarah had 17 points.

Game Two

Another great game.  We won 34-31!  Sarah had 12 points.

In the picture above, Hannah, one of Sarah's best friends from school (unfortunately on the opposing team this year), takes a shot.

Coach Ro, is in the black shirt on the far end of the court.  I typically would kneel down by the basket on the other end of the court.  Sometimes Silas liked to help out.

Sarah getting a rebound.  She played very aggressive, getting many of the loose balls and rebounds.

After each game, we would talk about the game with the girls and their parents/families.  We would also hand out stars:  Gray - Offense, Red - Defense, Blue - Effort, Yellow - Sportsmanship, and White - Christ-likeness.  Sarah had many Gray stars and Coach Ro would often say she deserved one of each.  He even let her pick the one she thought she deserved most a few times.

Game Three

Another good game.  We lost 24-18.  Sarah had 8 points.

As you can see the other team had a lot of height. 

Our team, being undersized, liked to run and gun.  As soon as we got a rebound or a steal, we were racing up the court.  The other team, which was a team of trees, liked to pass it to the post players.

Game Four

This was a tough game.  We lost 30-17.  Sarah had 15 points.

I'm still working with Sarah to get the goose neck on her shot.

Popee and Nanee made it to most of the games this year.

Game Five

Another tough game.  We lost 34-20.  Sarah had 12 points.

Scrappy.

Game Six

This was an incredible game played by team Sky.  Once a team gets up by 30 points, they turn the scoreboard off.  We accomplished that 30 point lead before half.  The final score was around 50 to 20 with Sarah having 36 points (give or take a few).

You can see the wristbands.  The girls were supposed to guard the girl on the other team with the same color wristband.  Sarah learned, along with some coaching, to guard the post.

Game Seven

The other team avenged their tough loss from the prior week, winning 30-26.  The other team implemented a "pick and roll" offense that was effective.  Sarah had 16 points.

Down low presence.  Rejection!

Game Eight

The last game of the year fittingly ended in a hard fought tie, 16-16.  Sarah had 6 points.

Sarah ended up averaging 15.3 points a game this year.

Although our team record was 2 wins and 6 losses, the cumulative score for the year was 229 (other team) - 222 (Team Sky).  Sarah scored 122 of those points.

Team Sky - from left to right: Bella (Coach Ro's daughter), Cari, Sarah, Ava, Kamryn, and Bekah.  Coach Ro and Coach Eric in the back.

Awards

I was not able to make it to the awards ceremony because I was at a work meeting. Stacee, Popee, Nanee, Phoebe, and Silas went and cheered for the team.  Each Upward team and player were recognized and each player was given a basketball backboard, hoop, and ball to hang on a door somewhere in their home.

It was a fun year and we had some great girls on the team.  The most memorable moment for me was at our week 5 practice.  During the middle of the practice, we had devotional time and ended it in prayer.  Coach Ro asked if there was anything that we needed to pray about.  Most of the girls brought up concerns about the health of others in their family.  Each of those girls that had concerns said a prayer for their loved ones. 

SKY FOR JESUS!