So after one very windy night, Mom wakes up and notices there is a big tin thing on the deck??  Turns out it was the top of the fireplace and Dad and the boys got up and had to fix it a few days later before any squirrels fell down the fireplace… or it rained in the den.  Dad got up on the very top and glued everything back in place while the boys stayed on the first level and held the ladder.  One of the boys didn’t have any trouble getting up and down and the other one wasn’t quite as sure of himself on the ladder.  🙂

So the Varsity tournament was in a small town a few minutes from the South Carolina border – about 3 hours from home and in the middle of nowhere… Lumberton, NC.   Sam enjoyed the trip down and then Mom and Sam had to take a few photos of some cows on the way home.

Sam getting some much needed R&R… from what we don’t know.

The cows seem a little perplexed….

Mom and Sam taking photos on the side of the road.

  The last we left you on the blog, it was another snow day for the boys…. not really that much snow but a good day to get out and take some photos.  That seems like last year, but really was not even a couple of months ago.  Since then a lot has happened but we’ve been a little busy so the next few posts will be getting everyone caught up.
  This first post is the Junior Varsity and Varsity Basketball Tournaments.  We’re sure you are probably tired of seeing basketball photos but these will be the last for Alex and the last for Sam for at least another year.  The JV team didn’t really stand a chance losing the first and only game (single elimination tournament) by a wide margin.  Sam did get a little bit of playing time and continues to show improvement – rebounding and fighting for loose balls (at KU they call these floor burns and actually track how many each player has during the season).
  The Varsity team played 3 games as it was a double elimination tournament.  The first game was the worst and most frustrating – losing by a wide margin in a challenging environment.  We were playing the home town team and the referees were definitely a little bias in the foul calling.  In fact the calls were so bad that our coach was actually kicked out of the game after his second technical foul.  Of course at the time we were trading the lead with the home town favorites and they seemed quite concerned – not expecting such a tough game.  During the second half our best player got tangled up with another player and twisted his angle – of course no foul was called and this was pretty much the last time the score was close.  The home team and the refs took over the game after the injury.  The calling was so bad that Dad got up and left half way through the second half because he was afraid he was going to start dropping some un-christian like language.  Several other fathers left after that but they never returned.  The second game was very good – and we ended up winning but it was down to the buzzer.  This time the other team’s coach got a technical as the refereeing didn’t improve… our coach had learned his lesson.   In fact it was so bad at the second game that the opposing coach called a timeout and went over and called our coach and both teams to the sidelines and told them all the refs were terrible and we just needed to ignore them and try not to foul or say anything.  The third and last game came the following day and the boys were tired and uninspired – most didn’t really want to be their playing for fifth place and it showed.  We were very sorry to see Alex go out on a losing note, but Alex improved greatly over the last year and was by far the best defensive player on the team.  We were very proud of him and Sam and look forward to Sam playing a few more years.

Going for the loose ball during the playoff game to make the tournament

Taking a 15′ jumper

Alex rebounding

His favorite spot…

Alex’s fan club

Team Captains before the game

Swish!!

Alex running the offense.

Alex with a steal and driving to the basket… unfortunately he decides to stop and pass in stead of taking the shot.

Sam blocking out on a rebound

Sam setting up in the high post

Sam rebounding

Alex dribbling in for a short jumper

Alex fighting for a rebound

A little over an inch of snow and some freezing rain on top.  Sam got out in the middle of the storm to take a few photos….

Yes, more basketball photos, but not the usual basketball photos this time.  In addition to the usual photos of Alex playing great defense or guarding the other team’s best player (even if he is a foot taller), this time we have more photos of Alex dribbling and shooting! You might have to turn away if these are too graphic for you.  Alex has been averaging about 3-4 shots now a game and has been handling the ball a lot more, including dribbling, driving and setting up some nice plays.  Although he is probably only averaging a couple of points per game, his shot selection has been very good and he hasn’t been passing up the open shots like in the past.  Alex is also getting quite a few assists with some nice passing into the lane. Now he is not a Seth Curry by any far stretch of the imagination, but he has improved greatly over the last couple of months and the coach has relied upon him more on more – not just to stop the best player but to help lead the team.
  Sam meanwhile has been getting a few minutes each game and although not getting a lot of playing time, has managed to take advantage of the time he has – grabbing rebounds and hustling for loose balls.  Sam played up against some players on Tuesday that were probably sophomores and about a foot taller.  These guys had quite a bit more experience and also played on the Varsity team against Alex.  Sam was not shy and managed to push the guys around a little on the inside – you could tell they weren’t used to that and they weren’t able to score when Sam was in the game.  We are very proud of these two guys.

Sam handling the ball at the top of the key…

Sam fighting for a loose ball

Alex pulling up for a short range jumper

Alex setting up the offense at the top of the key

Alex guarding their best player

Alex taking a shot from the corner – almost in 3 point range

Alex pulling up for a 10′ jumper on the baseline

Alex knocking the ball out of bounce on an inbound pass

Another baseline jumper

This goes in to pull the team within 1 point

Sam’s new summer wetsuit arrived yesterday and amid all the Homecoming preparations and basketball games he didn’t get a chance to try it on until today.  It’s a perfect fit and we love the colors.

Here is Alex and Virginia being presented….

Taking photos

Homecoming at Trinity is a cross between what most people know as Homecoming and Prom.  The Homecoming festivities follow a night of basketball.  In this case, the Varsity Girls played first, then the Varsity boys and finally the JV boys.  This is just the reverse of a normal night, but it gives all the players a chance to get ready for Homecoming.  Homecoming follows about an hour after the games end as the gym has to be converted and the official photos are taken.  The parents are all sitting in the front in chairs on the floor and everyone else is in the bleachers.  This year’s theme was Jewels of the Nile and the gym was decorated with pyramids and camels, of course the Homecoming participants were the jewels in this case.  There was of course an opening prayer and then each couple walked down the main  aisle and stepped up onto the platform.  The girls were given away by their father and then each student’s favorite bible quote and regular quote were read.  At the end of the evening, the King and Queen were announced.  Alex and Virginia did not win but were by far the best looking couple.  🙂   Of course since it is Free Will Baptist, there was no dancing, just cake and punch afterwards.

In the back hall waiting for the official photos to be taken

Again in the back hall before the festivities.

Virginia’s Dad presenting Virginia and shaking Alex’s hand.

On the platform, as they are reading their quotes

Alex, Virginia, Jessie (Virginia’s brother) and his date.

All of the Homecoming participants

After the ceremony.

All four of us at home after the evening.