Hailey's Fierce on Court Play

Hailey is the only one of my three kids who decided to play basketball past the 3rd grade. Austen was so tired of being on the team that was so bad with kids who didn't try that he told me to stop signing him up! He still played for fun all those years after though and just told me last week that in PE his team won the championship with him contributing almost half the points. He said it felt good that even at 5'8" the other team was shouting to make sure he was marked. 

Peyton stopped at 3rd grade and while she liked it, I'm not sure she really cared all that much for basketball. Papa dubbed her the "wet blanket" as she would smother her player so she couldn't shoot. She wasn't terrible but wasn't a star either. And, just this past fall decided that she should give it another go so she was outside working on her shooting and dribbling. Like most things Peyton does, that lasted maybe a month before she said she wasn't going to try out for the middle school basketball team after all.

Hailey did ask me to sign her up again this year. Last season, she was okay. Not great. But she enjoyed it. I think she got one basket all season. This year,  she's taken the time to shoot baskets outside on our driveway when she gets a chance. On the court, she plays tough defense. You can see where soccer really comes into play in basketball. She knows exactly how to move around to get open and how to follow her "man." She gets her hands up and can steal the ball too. This past weekend, she contributed 4 points of their 16 (one of her teammates got 10 points - obviously the best girl on the team). The weekend before she got 2 points too. She needs to work on her rebounding and using her body to protect the ball. And, all these girls could utilize the bounce pass more but overall it's been a fun season with a mix of girls from her school and the one across the tracks (they'll all go to middle school together). 

She definitely has surprised me this year with her love of the game and her desire to give 100% on the court. I'm almost thinking I need to sign her up for basketball summer camp! Just trying to foster what they love! Sometimes it's hard figuring out what that is as a parent even when you are trying to narrow down activities as they get older. Still not sure what is going to stick for Hailey - soccer, softball, basketball or volleyball. I guess time will tell. 

Bringing the ball up court

Guarding her player