More basketball

Today was Danny's last basketball game. It has been fun to watch him finally grasp onto the concept and strategies of the game. He is finally understanding that he doesn't have to have the ball to be a play-maker (which for a Southwick boy is a HUGE thing!). He is learning how to be a team player and how to assist his teammates by setting up screens and passing the ball. Well today was a day when I was extremely proud to be his mom! During the last half of his game, Danny (of his own choice), along with others on his team, made the choice to continually pass the ball to two of his teammates that aren't necessarily the best players on the team. Instead of worrying about whether or not he had the ball and could make a basket, he kept passing the ball to Seth and Jayden and encouraged them to make the shots. I LOVED IT!! I felt myself get choked up a little as I watched this unfold. This is what differentiates a good sports player from a great one. I realize that may just be my opinion, but I know that was not a decision that Danny made lightly. He is a Southwick, which basically means he is uber competitive! He likes to have the ball. He likes to make the plays. He does not like to lose. Yet, despite all that, he realized that it was better to ensure all his teammates had the opportunity to have the ball and make the plays rather than only him, especially those players that usually didn't have the ball. After the game, Jeff and I took him to Sip 'n Spot in Payson for a treat. I let him get whatever he wanted, which, for those who know me, is very uncharacteristic of me. (I generally try to limit the soda and sweets as much as possible.) Danny had a great ending to his basketball season!

That night, the basketball theme of the day continued. Jeff and I were enjoying some downtime with the boys (Amber was at a debate tournament) when he received a text asking if he wanted some free tickets to the Utah Jazz game that night. Occasionally, the plumbing supply stores will offer these perks as a way to ensure continued business. It was a last minute thing, but since we didn't have anything else going on, we decided to go. I had never been to a professional basketball game before so I was excited. Plus, it meant an evening out with my favorite teammate, Jeff. We had fun at the game. These games are a lot more fast-paced than football or baseball (which are the games I've been to before). It was really fun to watch. I was glad we were able to have the experience. It was a nice way to wrap up our week.