Travel Team

Basketball, basketball, basketball. It's our family's primary sport. They started practice in November. Mark's JV & Varsity seasons ended in February. He does have a single tournament this weekend, for boys from his school but not an official school team event. Kira's busline season ended in mid-January, her Y season ended the end of January, but then her travel team started up and goes until April 1st. So, we've been revolving the family schedule around basketball for about 5 months.

This is the most extensive travel team that Kira has been on yet. They'll have participated in six tournaments and two scrimmages by the end of season. (Well, two of the 'tournaments' were more round-robin type things, but it was a chance for them to play against several other travel teams.) The "real" tournament that they have participated in was a smashing success, with her team sweeping the entire thing and winning the Championship with a tourney record of 7-0. (Kira's coach awarded her the "Tourney ball" for her "contribution in many different areas.") She's kicking some ass, and so are several of her teammates. It's really great to watch, especially knowing that many of these girls are going to play high school ball together.

It's been super fun for me to see how these girls have developed since first starting out in Y ball in 2nd grade. I also love that Kira is making friends with so many different girls from other towns, which will really help her adjustment to high school. And, I just flat-out love watching my kids play basketball.

I so wish that I had known about travel teams when Mark was coming up through grade and middle school. It's such a great opportunity, and he especially would have loved it, with basketball being such a passion for him. *sigh*

Still, it's an opportunity I have been able to give to Kira, and she's having a great time. Which, of course, is the most important part of it all. mk