One thing parent miscalculate about travel sports, far more than the unsuspecting kids, is the commitment to the team, especially for a successful program.
Maja's 6th grade team hung it up two weeks ago, although most are still practicing and, of course, the school rec league, but more on that later. Priority goes to Millie's 4th grade team.
With their second invitation to a "National" championship, the program chose to visit Spooky Nook for the East Coast Nationals. Thirty courts going non-stop, hundreds of teams from at least ten different states, and for a first this year... Friday games.
The girls' 4th grade division fielded seven teams, including the teams we eeked out our last championship against, a local team for us, plus a mysterious new team out of Virginia. It looked like pool play might be a challenge if the team didn't execute.
It was far from it. By game 3 or the 4 game pool play, 4th Grade Clutch and the mysterious Virginia team were already guaranteed a spot in the championship games. Those game were against teams that had spirit, but not enough to avoid 35-3, 38-2 and 32-3 losses. While some teams are invited, anyone willing to play the bloated entry fee gets four guaranteed games on the court.
After an afternoon of swimming, shopping and miniature golf, we were back at the Nook 8am Sunday to cheer on the 5th grade girls team and at 9am for a rematch against Team Thrill. With the 21-19 championship fresh in their minds, the girls went to work and dismantled the team, 37-7.
4-0, 142 points scored. 15 points against.
The only problem was the Fairfax All-Stars emerged from their pool:
4-0, 148 points scored. 21 points against.
It was agreed upon by parents on both teams that it simply would have been easier to meet up early on Friday, play this one game, then go home, or enjoy the weekend elsewhere. Most of the divisions in the tourney had spectacular, close games. For 4th grade the championship game was it.
Fairfax came out swinging with the same players they had used since Friday (counter to some alleged shenanigans), our girls not only caught up but held the lead at the half., but the Virginia team slowly pulled ahead in the second half. We were as close as five with two minutes left, but poor shooting and rebounding doomed them down the stretch, and they lost 41-30.
Each team gave up more points in the championship game than they allowed in the four pool games combined.
Millie had a solid tournament, a few nice buckets, great assists, and some more time pretending to be a big, and at many time succeeding.
Overall the team was 29-4 for the season, Undefeated in pool play and 4-4 in championship games. Not bad for a team assemble in March, after a single winter league where they were ripping each other's heads off. Find a key position player, some bench depth, and they're going to be a force to be reckoned with for years.
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