She's the Man!

Savannah is in the house!  She started playing basketball again and she is awesome!  She is so fluid and graceful and a complete pleasure to watch.  She was born with an incredible amount of natural talent but she also has a great work ethic.  She is a coach's dream because she is very quiet and obedient and does whatever she's told.  She is the captain of her team and she NEVER leaves the court.  This was a little tough at first because she hasn't played in two years and all that running can really wear you down but she is slowly but surely getting back into shape and the coach needs her in there so she just keeps plugging away.  Her brother, Jensen, started a family tradition of shaking all the players hands at the beginning of the game and wishing them "good luck".  This kind of sets the tone of good sportsmanship right from the beginning and Hunter has carried on the tradition.  Their teammates picked up on their example and started shaking hands too.  Van is VERY shy so she didn't really want to carry on the tradition but I am very proud of her because she is doing it even though her teammates haven't quite caught on yet.  She has also noticed a difference in the way the opposing team treats her because of this.  They show her respect and are extra nice to her.  I absolutely love watching her play and I hope she keeps doing it through high school.  Since she is one of the tallest on her team she sometimes has to play "down low" against the other big players and it's pretty funny to watch.  The other "big men" are very physical and rough.  Van is very gentle and sweet and has a hard time mixing it up with them but when she gets mad she draws on all of her experience of being tackled by Hunter and she gives as good as she gets.  I can tell she doesn't like it though and is trying to fight back tears so I hope her friend, who is much tougher than her, gets back from vacation soon and lets Van play outside where she's comfortable.  Our team is unbeatable when they are all there so it should be a great season.  Go Bulldogs!