Basketball

Kylee played one session of basketball in November/December.  And then she didn’t want to play the second session because she really wanted to play indoor soccer.  Dylan played two sessions.

Kylee’s league at 4th grade is no longer co-ed, which is nice.  And it’s also much more like real basketball.  They were allowed to steal.  They had fouls called and took foul shots.  It was actually much more fun to watch.  The only downfall of Kylee’s team is that there were 10 girls on the team.  So she really only got to play half the game, and sometimes I don’t think she even got that much.  That’s the only reason I was bummed.  Ryan thinks we should split the team into two so there’s not so many.  I think it was really nice of the neighborhood girls to invite Kylee to play since she declined their invite last year.  She could probably be quite good at basketball if she tried (just like anything she does) but her heart isn’t quite in it.  She loves soccer.  I think we were both happy when the session ended.  The last game was a bit rough.  We were getting beat and her coach was putting in “the best” players, or the girls who were doing the best at that game.  Kylee wasn’t included in that and she was offended.  She’s like, “he’s basically saying that I’m not doing good.”  Again, I know she could be great, but she doesn’t play enough to be super comfortable on the court.  She’s not as aggressive and in-your-face as some of the girls.  But like I said, we were okay that it was the last game.  Here are some pictures from that game.  I had to laugh at the other team trying to block her out at the free throw shots.  At one point they were locking hands in front of her.  The ref eventually came and told them they had to stay in their square.  They were not a nice team.

Her coaches were really sweet and invited her to the end-of-season party they had, even though she hadn’t been playing for the last couple months.  They took the girls down to Pocatello to watch the ISU women’s bball team but Kylee had a lot going on already and we decided she shouldn’t go down to a late night on a Wednesday, especially since she had gymnastics and was supposed to have volleyball as well.  But they had her over for pizza and to play around before they left.

Dylan’s coach did a great job with the boys this season.  Dylan enjoys playing with his friends.  He’s doing well, more focused, guarding well and trying hard for rebounds.  Near the end of the season the coach started saying they should get Dylan the ball so he could make some baskets because he hadn’t made very many.  Dylan said it was embarrassing.  I think there was at least one other kid too, not just Dylan.  But still.

Somehow Dylan always ends up guarding the pushy kids and it ends up in a wrestling match.  Normally Dylan is a bit stand-offish when he’s supposed to be guarding on defense and his man does not have the ball.  He doesn’t want to get all up in the guys face.  He looks a little embarrassed.  Especially when he’s guarding a girl, lol.  But he isn’t afraid to hold his own when someone else is being pushy.  It can get ugly.  One game this kid was being really rough, not just with Dylan.  When Dylan was guarding him, he was playing cheap and must’ve knocked Dylan down or something.  As Dylan was getting up, everyone was heading to the other end of the court because our team had the ball.  Dylan came running up behind the kid and just shouldered him down to the ground.  It was ugly.  But the kid got up and didn’t make a fuss about it and the ref didn’t see it so he got away with it.  Of course we got his attention and told him to cut it out immediately.

His team has been learning plays with screens and such so it’s fun to watch.  The boys are really cute.  I hope Jared coaches again next year.

This picture was sent to me by a friend from the other team, I never brought my camera to this first session with the ugly jerseys.  But I thought it was a funny picture.  Dylan is often on the ground...