Hoop Dreams

Last weekend, we went to our nephew’s basketball game in Snohomish. As we walked in to the musty, old gymnasium, there was a palpable buzz in the air as several, heated games were in motion. One of my favorite things is spending a cold, Saturday morning watching my nieces or nephews play in these sports league programs; whether it is basketball, soccer, or baseball, I love cheering them on from the sidelines.

City leagues in the area have become feeder systems for local school programs. If you don’t play in the leagues as a kid, it’s tough to compete for a spot on a team when you get into junior high and high school. One of the kids voiced that concern; as their team was falling behind in the second half, he exclaimed: “Now how am I going to make it onto varsity?” (Keep in mind, this kid is in 3rd grade.) As you can see, people are serious about sports in Snohomish.

Fortunately, Terrin, who is one of the tallest kids on the team, just seems to enjoy the thrill of running up and down the hardwood and even throws in some good defensive moves from time to time. While he may not be the most hardcore player, he goes into “super basketball” mode whenever someone cheers or shouts his name from the sidelines. And I doubt he has even considered whether or not he will be a starter for the Snohomish Panthers.