The winter of 2013 was Tuck’s first experience with basketball. He played at the Boys and Girls Club. All of his teammates were new friends; none of his classmates from ELA played this year.
The first practice was like herding chickens. I admire Coach Hesler for taking on this seemingly insurmountable task of taking these fledgling players and creating players out of them.
But with each practice they all gained confidence and new skills and soon they were suited up and took on the part of a team.
The first games looked like the kids were in a firing line as they all lined up on defense with their hands in the air, all in a line directly under the basket. But after just a couple of games they figured out how to guard (but not steal).
And soon Tuck went from rolling the ball and catching up with it near the free throw line to actually dribbling it down the court. (I apologize for the poor photos but the iPhone in poor light and quick movements were not cooperative).
Can you see the dribbling skills? Daddy worked with him in the basement after we got our basketballs aired up properly.
Just look at these defensive skills. His Mamma taught him those.
He wasn’t happy about being benched but he was relatively good about taking his turn. The kids usually got to play 3 quarters which were 10 uninterrupted minutes.
I wish I could include a video but I haven’t mastered that yet. It really is amazing to see their improvements.
Coach Hesler, Dean, Carson, Aiden, Joe, Sam, Marie, Tuck and Lane.
Way to go Tuck. We are impressed with your improvements and we all look forward to many more successful seasons.
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