Today was the last day of the last tournament for this season of AAU Basketball for Alex.

The entire team (minus the one who fell and fractured her wrist yesterday) played with such heart and vigor. They played the absolute best games today of the entire season. Sadly, they lost. They came so close to winning the last game that it was heartbreaking.

They finished the season having not won a single game. There were a few that were close. That doesn’t tell the whole story though. They were essentially a brand new team this year. Only a few girls knew each other from a previous team or from school. It took them all season, but they finally got that team bonding thing down. They played well. They were talking! They learned and grew so much as basketball players and young ladies. They ended the season leaps and bounds - miles - from where they started six months ago.

After the last game, the team, coaches, and families moved outside. There was a cake, team photos, and short speeches by the coaches. Each girl received a trophy with their name and number engraved on it. When those were all passed out, the girls presented the coaches with gifts from the team.

I am so proud of them all. I am extremely proud of Alex who grew so much during this time. This team, the girls, the coaches, the whole experience was such an incredibly good one for her. (Way better than that other team would have been!)

We’re sad to see it end.

But…the end is only temporary. A whole new season will actually start sooner this year! Perhaps as soon as Sepetember!