For the sweat and swoosh of it

I sat between my husband and an equally excited High School Basketball devotee last Saturday during the boys State Championship games. At the request of my hubby as his Christmas present, my SIL, BIL, and our niece came down to watch our 4under3 alllll day. (Now, if that wasn't going above and beyond their duty as an aunt and uncle, I don't know what would do it.)

As mr. marvelous carried on a sports talk conversation with the guy sitting next to me, I listened to the sound of squeaking sneakers echo throughout the arena. I watched loyal fans, drenched in school spirit, walk in with their school colors painted across their chest, their ratted hair sprayed with blue and white, and their hand decorated letters spelling out their alma mater.

My husband and I have a thing for high school basketball. We were both athletes in high school, basketball being both our favorites. The amount of determination and perserverance that this group of athletes display is entertaining. There's no million dollar contract tagged to these players. They give every ounce of gusto because of their passion for the game.

I sat soaking up the intensity in the atmosphere as Mr. M proudly bragged to our seat neighbors of how our hometown's '97 girls basketball team experienced State sweetness. What a great year that was. You see, that was my senior year and our team rocked. We took our Knights, that hadn't been there in exactly 20 years, to the Big Dance. Our town buzzed for a week straight. Here's our team at a pep fest during school. There weren't many of us but we were fierce. (I'm the 3rd from the right.)

And we were so anxious, excited, and proud. I remember how united our team felt.

We didn't make it farther than the first game...but our journey was unforgetable. We loved every minute of it.

Here's to sweaty jerseys, floor burned elbows, and nothin'-but-net shots.

(That's me #15, celebrating our Section 2A championship with my best, best friends from high school #43 & #45.)