Falcons Presentation Night

The Falcons held their presentation night tonight and it was a mighty production! There was lighting, stage and the kids were loving the disco environment. I had spent the day running around arranging the present for the coach - we didn't have a lot of money so we settled on alcohol- bicardi being his drink of choice. The big squirrel fashioned up a quick box out of fence palings he found on his way home and it came up pretty good. 

 It'll actually be a little sad that this team gets split up to different age groups as they really did form a lovely bond.

The big one

Once I was done sewing a refashioned snow white costume for a (male) friend we could begin our massive day. Off to the footy presentations and then all back in the car heading for Cranbourne for the Grand Final of the Rep basketball team. I was a bit frantic as I was taking over the team manager role for the week - so I had to make sure we paid for the team sheet and didn't do anything to get disqualified.

The coach managed to get there just before the game started and we were a bit rocked by information that we couldn't play zone - or variations of it - but the others could. Not really sure what was going on there, but if it was the other teams' intention to scare us, it certainly worked. 

The boys played well but not their best. Initially in the lead, the opposition were tactically strong and worked us over. We got to within one point in the last 2 minutes, but I reckon when the boys put up about 15 attempts and none would go in, they all knew it was over. They lost by 6 points and were obviously devastated.

 WE recovered for the medal ceremony and then off to celebrate/commiserate together.

 This was the best bit of the day. These boys were literally scraped together to form a team. There were never any expectations of them, and they overcame every obstacle thrown their way in order to get to the grand final. Really a great effort and a great group of people.

 These crazy cats even decided it was warm enough for a post game swim! (It really wasn't and the pool was not heated)

 WE got to sit back and enjoy the celebrations with a glass of sparkles while the boys played touch footy and mucked around together. 

Winners

Two winners in the house today. The first was a grand finalist win.

 The kids played hard and it was a tough but really fair game and they won!! The girls have played in 14 finals between them and this is their first ever win. The smiles on all their faces tell the story.

 One of the nicest bits of the entire game was at the end when both teams joined their hands in the circle for the refs and each team. It is not every day you see this kind of display of sportsmanship but it should certainly be encouraged.

We hung around the stadium most of the day and supported our mates in their finals. All the others lost - sad face. Then we were off to our club presentation.

Spencer won coaches award for this team. He told me he would win another trophy and low and behold he did!

We finished off the evening at a friends house for a bbq dinner. There were a group of people we don't really know, but it was really lovely to be in their company - out being part of the community. 

End of an era celebrations

Our last training for our playball basketball team. This group has been playing together for 18 months and in that time have really learnt and developed their skills and as a team. 

We hired the local scout hall as the team of 10 multiplies to 24 kids with siblings and add parents on top of that, no one wants that many people at their house at 5pm! It was great. We had pizza and wine and the kids could throw hoops. Fabulous.

Then we had presentations. The coaches had the help of some of the older boys had decided to award a couple of trophies.

 Benji got a coaches award for the best passer.

It was his first trophy ever. He was surprised but obviously thrilled. (and covered in pizza)

Spencer got a bigger trophy. Also his first. He got the MVP which is the most valuable player as voted by the parents each week. To get that award shows how much all his practice has payed off and how much he has improved.

 It'll be sad not to be doing this every friday night but I'm sure we'll quickly find a way to fill the evening.

A welcome distraction

 The boys do a lot of basketball which means I watch a lot of basketball. I have never played, but through many hours over the years, I am becoming a bit of an armchair expert. The twins are in 2 teams (thankfully together) and Xandy plays in three which makes five games on a weekend - not to mention training. When I write it I sound like one of those pushy stage mums but I can assure you that I'm really not. If they don't want to, they don't have to. To them they're having fun with their mates and now at seasons end we are actually at a bit of a loss and are already missing it.

When mum was sick, even at her sickest, she would always try and go to the games. We'd worked out all the wheelchair access and she would sit and watch. 40 minutes indoors is bearable, and as they've all improved it is actually fun and exciting to watch. I miss her on the sidelines, cheering the boys on, but managing to get them where they need to be is always a good distraction - and keeps the boys active and busy.

The twins have finished the season and their section has no finals, but they have all really improved. Spence is always out the back 'training' and Benji can aways manage a goal in the game.
Xandy has made 2 lots of finals - one for his under 10 team and also the grand final for rep which is extremely exciting, given the team was a mash up of those left over kids with no real coach and here they are at the grand final!

Basketball - competition round up.

Part of the deal with the rep basketball team is that you enter an Australia Day competition in Eltham. Our little team, which one parent names the Mighty Ducks (you may need to reference the Disney movie with Emilio Estevez) had never won a game so you can say that none of us had high hopes for them.
We played our first game on Friday night - and unsurprisingly got beaten. We looked a little rusty given the long time off, but it was fair. The second game was at 8:45 am which was a little bit of a shock to the holiday system but we got there and low and behold, the boys won. In fact they were always in the lead, however it was a close game. No one was more surprise by this first win but them!! We had the rest of the day off which was great.
Sunday morning saw us out again for an 8:45 game which the boys won again. This time by a greater margin as i imagine they had a little confindence. Our final game of the competition was at home and we played a rough little team who beat us easily. We were all happy with this, but then incredibly surprised to be playing again at 8:45 in the semi final. We were playing the rough team that beat us and we all figured that would be it. However it was not.
They were cockey and we had nothing to lose so when one of our boys was on fire and scored the first two goals, it was almost all over. Our boys played the game of their lives and the other team were literally in tears. We could do no wrong while they could do no right. Just goes to show how much has to do with skill and how much is mental. WE won 20 to 13 and were off to the grand final!!
It was hot with lots of spectators at the Eltham Leisure Centre. Mum was well enough to come and watch. It was a real spectacle. The boys got announced individually onto the court- full of ceremony. They were relaxed but we certainly weren't!
We didn't win the grandfinal. We got beaten by a mere 43 points - and they went easy on us in the second half! Our boys however never gave up and kept fighting until the end - they were just outplayed by a far superior team.
So they came runners up, went home with a trophy which is still exciting. They had their first win, got into the finals, and learnt a lot about team work, basketball and that they all need to do more training.
Certainly an experience for us all!!