7th Grade AAU Basketball has Begun...took 2nd Place At Tourney!

Alex making free throw

2nd Place Medal from Coach

Guarding "The Tree"

Alex going up strong

Alex on the shot - nice form!

Basketball season is in full swing, and so far everyone is still coming home from practices and games (Alex) with smiles.  That is a great way to start the season!

With one week of practice under her belt, Elyse woke up at 5:30 AM to get ready to leave at 6:15 this morning for some scrimmages in Mason City.  She was growley (as any teenager is at that time) so I hope she is taking some of the "energy" out on the basketball court.  She did not want us to go and watch, as many parents don't this first set of scrimmages.  She said they have some "kinks" to work out and she is just not sure where she will be playing as a sophomore.  So...anxiously waiting to hear updates about how they are doing.  (It truly is killing me not being there to watch but I will respect her wishes....this time!)

Alex had his first AAU tournament already last weekend down in my "old stomping ground" by Edgewood. (Alex is number 6 in pictures) The tournament was in Maquoeta Valley and their first game was at 8:40 so we had a chance to go down Friday night and spent the night at my parent's.  It was nice to go down and relax at "home".  Of course, Mom had a yummy meal made and played some card games with the kids (which they love) so it was a great night before a morning of basketball.

Alex's team did wonderful and came out in 2nd place!  They all did super.  We had one game that we lost in which the team had a guy who was 6'2" as a 7th grader!  He was like a tree to our boys so no one could stop him.  We just want to erase that game from the record and focus on the others that the boys won.  (The worse part was that one of my old basketball coaches, assistant coach my senior year and just out of college, was the coach of this team with the giant boy.  It was worse loosing to them simply because of the coach - whom I got along great with but just wanted to beat!).  And the fact that when I was talking to Coach Wright afterwards, he reminded me how long I have been out of high school...that left a stinger too! :)

Alex played great ball!  He did roll an ankle tripping on a shoe string (yes, he did) but came back and played strong after a little break. Alex has been consistently lifting weights and doing cardio after school in the high school weightroom and it is showing!   We love his dedication!

Alex Going in Strong!

 Grandma Janet and Elyse were along so it was nice that he had a little cheering section and did well!  Great job Crestwood 7th grade AAU!  Next weekend we head to Waverly for a tournament that is usually pretty tough and against some boys that Alex's team likes to talk "smack" with.  Could get interesting as they are all very competetive!  Excited!