Last week, Ron, Zac, Aunt Sherry and I headed to Las Vegas for a week of basketball. For those of you who are just joining us, Zac has been playing within a college prep basketball program and the “Center Court” basketball tourney was the last tourney of this year’s program. It was at least three days of basketball and four or five if you made it to the semi-finals and championships.
So Tuesday we headed out to get our Vegas on. We stayed at the Trump Towers this time because the basketball organization negotiated a GREAT deal. The rooms were originally built as condos, but when they didn’t sell, they turned it into more of a hotel atmosphere. This meant that we had a kitchenette, big bathroom, etc. LOVED that part.
Wednesday we showed up at one of the local high schools and played a freshman team from Washington. They were pretty big boys and we thought … well at least we played them first. The next day we showed up for our game and we played some more BIG boys from Wisconsin. Now … not to sound crazy … but I was expecting some farmers kids … maybe skinny cow milkers - haha. Boy was I WRONG. They had one guy who was easily 6′10″ and weighed about 225 lbs. Even our biggest guy couldn’t get around him. Ok so we lost two … but then … we had two games with kids our own size … from AZ and NV … we beat those teams and we were 2/2 after our first game in the semi-finals. One game stood between us and the championship game … but … our boys seemed flat … and tired … and we lost. So we didn’t get to the actual championship game this time, but we DID get to the semi-finals and for our first time at a National Basketball Tournament … that’s not half bad.
There were some GREAT times during the week. Like the night that Ron and I escaped and celebrated our anniversary by having dinner at NOBU and then seeing KA. We also watched a ton of basketball. There were seven teams in our basketball program that were competing at different levels. We looked at the schedules and took in whatever games we could. We were impressed by the number of NCAA Recruiters out at each of our older kids games. At one of the 17U teams, there was standing room only in the Coach/Recruiter area. Out of the seven teams we had … two made it to the championship games and won them. That and the number of recruiters attending our games says something about the program if you ask me.
We left Vegas on Saturday and stopped for dinner on the way back. Over dinner, we asked Zac what he was feeling after the week there and he said that it made him want to push himself even harder. He wants to make it onto a better team next season. He said he has six months to prep and get stronger, faster and bigger before the next try out. Oh … and he has to keep his grades up because this program is BIG on academics AND sports.
I love it when you take your kids (or someone you love) to something and they walk away inspired. It’s AWESOME to see the fire in their eyes again and to see them reminded of just how much they love it.
What have you done lately to inspire someone? Or what has inspired you and brought that fire back to your heart lately?
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2 Comments
Kristy, I think you hit the nail on the head. Seeing your child inspired takes your breath away.
A year ago I started a coat drive, with my church, for the victims of the Sylmar fire. We collected twice what we asked for. Felt good. But then this member of my church, who had stopped coming, had recently returned. He came over after services to speak to me. ( I didn’t know him very well.) He told me that he had left the church as we hadn’t been doing the things he thought we should, and that the coat drive brought him back. That was a good day for me, our church, and him.
EXACTLY Eve. I LOVE that feeling :D.