Tanner's Basketball Season Wrap Up

What a pull at the heartstrings basketball has been in our home this year.  Now that the twins are in 7th grade, they have to try out to be on a team, no more everyone gets to be on a team and everyone gets equal playing time anymore.  Basketball is Tanner's passion.  It is the sport that he loves above all others so making the team meant so much to him this year.  Zac and I were a little worried for a couple of reasons... 1) Being that Tanner hasn't ever been invited to play on the "travel" teams that are so prevalent these days.  We were worried that the boys that played on the travel team would take all the spots on the basketball team, leaving room for no outsiders. 2) Tanner is still SO skinny, but not for lack of trying.  This kid has the metabolism of a blast furnace.  He just can't gain a pound, so really in his age group he is still a bit on the small side.  and 3) They had about 25 boys tryout and we knew they were going to cut over half of them.  Tanner's heart was set on making that team.  All of his friends play and he wanted it bad.  The night before they posted the team list, Zac and I tried to prep Tanner for the inevitable cut.  We didn't want it to be a hard blow for him.  But that kid has faith something fierce and never seemed worried for a minute.  And I'll be darned if I wasn't crying the next day when I found out he made the team.

He wasn't a "starter" by any means, but he got more playing time then I could have imagined and he gave it his all.  It was so fun to watch this boy with a heart of gold play his guts out this year.

They did a lottery system to see who would pick their jersey first.  Tanner got second pick and so of course took Michael Jordan's 23 number, a coveted number among the boys.

He even got some shots up!

And IN!

What a champ.  It is an interesting phase in our life with our big kids as we are now transitioning from trying every sport and activity to letting most of it go and focusing on the things that we love the most... which appears that we are going to be living and breathing basketball as that is where the kids seem to be gravitating.  But of course, with basketball being my favorite to play and watch, I couldn't be more thrilled!

Tanner's team finished the season with a 2nd place win at districts.  The high school team plays for the state title tonight!  And then even though the season is over, we will be back to twice a week practices next week from now until forever.