Bill's season ended last night. It didn't end the way we wanted. Just like the day after xmas is a little sad, when the gifts are opened, most of the great food is gone... the day after the end of basketball season is much the same way.
In the middle of his own crazy season, Bill wanted to take the time to coach a team for Luke and Dylan. This year we did something different. We played in Montclair's youth league rather than Rancho Cucamonga. It was a decision that I wish we had made many years ago. I have found the families and facilities in Montclair to be so much better! It has helped me understand why Bill has grown to really appreciate and enjoy working in Montclair. Every parent has been so grateful for the time Bill takes to teach the kids the basic skills of basketball.
My kids loved getting to know Kevin, one of Bill's varsity players, as he helped coach Luke's team.
Luke's team has not won a single game but I love how all the parents are so supportive and encouraging. All the boys have improved over the past two months and it is so great to see them get excited for each other when they play well.
Dylan has loved basketball since he could hold a ball, his first word was ball, and I have a basketball hoop in my living room. Enough said.
Dylan and Luke have had so many people come and support them this season: Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Bob, Grammy, Emi, Uncle Chris, Aunt Lori, Matt, Sarah, Evee, Clay and Abby. Grandma and Grammy especially get into the game. Grandma loves shouting out, "That's my grandson!" when one of them makes a shot!
We usually have a couple of hours between Luke and Dylan's games so we sometimes head to Legends for breakfast. On this particular morning, Grammy splurged and bought all of them their own hot chocolate. That may sound like no big deal, but to my kids who usually only get water when we eat out, it was a big deal. They drank so much hot chocolate that morning, that they weren't hungry for their breakfast!
Luke has had such a great attitude this basketball season. He is the smallest kid on his team even though he is one of the oldest. He doesn't let his vision problems or his size keep him down, and he loves to pass the ball.
This season I started a "Cav Crazy" page on facebook to keep the students and fans aware of Montclair's game times, scores, etc. I wasn't sure how popular or successful it would be, but we have made it to 163 fans today! I would like to think it actually made a difference in how many people showed up to the games. One of the other teachers at Montclair had these big heads made that the fans held up at the games. Bill was surprised to see his own face up there.
As a result of doing the Cav Crazy page, I didn't blog about his season very much. We had so many people that came out to support the team at one time or more: Grandma, Grandpa, Bob, Chris, Lori, Grammy, Emi, Clay, Abby, Floyd, Stuart, Matt, Sarah, Evee, Denise, Delena, Shain, Molly, Joy, Craig, Anthony, and Wyatt....I know I am forgetting someone!
It seems like Dylan has always paid attention to the games, but this year Gracie, Luke, and Emi became Cav Crazies too! That left Caleb with all of the toys to himself. As long as Caleb had plenty of food and cars, he was happy!
Our usual spot in the stands... Many years ago I started sitting on the guest side so that I could sit behind the bench and hear what Bill was saying to the team. It also keeps me from hearing any criticism from the fans. Bill doesn't let any of that stuff bother him, but I still struggle with people not appreciating him and his hard work. This year I had one player's mom hug me all the time and tell me how thankful she was for everything Bill was doing for her son. Moments like those keep me going when his hours seems so long.
The girls were able to use their loud screams to get the other teams to miss their free throw shots! One Saturday morning, I thought Gracie was sick because her voice sounded so bad, and then she reminded me it was from screaming so much at the game the night before!
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