Basketball made personal

Sometimes my family gets a little irritated when I mention them, but I think this will be okay. One of my brothers has two daughters (he has three sons too, but we're not interested in them at the moment).  My brother has always loved sports and has maintained that in order for his children to learn to do things the right way, he was going to be involved.  He coached his daughters and their friends on various basketball teams from the time they were in elementary school.  They loved it and so did he.

Now, they are attending a small, private college.  This college prides itself on its academics.  They 'just happen' to have basketball teams.  They make no allowances for the athletes, give no special treatment.  This week they are playing in the NAIA National Tournament in Tennessee, and they just won their first game against a team that beat them in the first round last year.

When I checked the college's website for information about the game, this was their picture.  It's the oldest niece, a senior graduating with a bachelors degree and an RN.  This tough but very feminine young woman is a heck of a player.  The younger sister is also talented and will likely shine even more in the next year.  This year it was especially nice because their dad was asked to help as a volunteer coaching assistant.  Naturally, he accepted (he was to all the games anyway), and I when I get to a game, I can see his influence.

 Now they get to play last year's defending champion, but don't count them out just yet.

Congratulations ladies, you've had a terrific year.