What a Ride We Are On!

The last two weeks have been a bit of a blur.  We had sectional basketball on Tuesday, March 7 in Rolla, MO, then quarterfinals Saturday March 11 in Bolivar, MO, and State (semi-finals) March 16 in Springfield, MO, then 3rd place game on March 17.  During that time, Owen also had his regional tournament for wrestling on March 11 at Raymore High school, south of KC.  Lots of driving during the past couple weeks, and we made it to everything!

Note to Gracie the morning I had to leave early to get to Owen's regional meet and she needed to get on the bus in Ashland at 11am.  Luckily she has had some pretty fantastic upperclassmen who are willing to give her rides to places.

Sectional game vs Fatima

@Rolla - MO S&T

March 7, 2023

This was a crazy game that came down to the very last shot, taken by Chloe, who nailed it!  We ended up winning 33-31 in the last 3 seconds.  What a game to get to quarterfinals.

Nova came to support and wore Gracie's jersey!

This is actually from districts, but Chase also came to the Sectional game in Rolla.

Another pic from the Sectional game

After the win.  Chloe made the winning 3-point shot in the last seconds.

Unbelievable finish to that game.

I can't even explain how intense this game was.  My heart rate must have been above 100 for over an hour, just watching.  We lost to Fatima by almost 20 points when we played them two weeks earlier, but we didn't have Emilee at that time because she was injured.  We had her back and were prepared this time.  It made a huge difference!  That win had to have felt amazing for our girls!

Regional wrestling @Ray-Pec High School

March 11, 2023

Nick and Owen left the night before to weigh in at Ray-Pec High School for regional wrestling.  Owen weighed in at 122.7 pounds, so no concern for making 125#.  I stayed with Gracie on Friday night and left early Saturday morning for the KC area to watch Owen.  We were concerned that his meet would last later than 1:30, so we had two cars in case I needed to leave to get down to Gracie's basketball game that started at 4pm.  Owen ended up getting done, so we were all able to watch the quarterfinal game in Bolivar.  My parents also met us down there.  Owen wrestled 3 matches that Saturday and won all of them.  The last two were definitely more challenging.  His second match, the kid rode him out the entire 3rd period, thus the "resting" heart rate of 95 bpm in the picture below.  So stressful.  The last two weeks have been nonstop stressful, excited, and overwhelming.

Owen winning his first match with a pin.

2nd match of the day 7-0 decision

But like I said, he chose bottom during the last period and nearly gave me a heart attack.

My elevated heart rate!  It was probably exactly like this for over an hour during Gracie's sectional basketball game the Tuesday night prior to this.

Owen is all smiles after winning.

All three of us.

Owen after his last match

Another pin in his last match, but this one was actually much closer.

We left for Bolivar right after this.

Sectional game vs Ava 

@Bolivar - Southern Baptist University

March 11, 2023

Another 2 hour drive south to Bolivar, MO and we made it in plenty of time.  Nick showed up about 20 minutes behind me because he stayed to coach a couple more matches.  This game was a little messy.  We went up 18-2 in the first quarter, but I'm pretty sure if we had not had a fantastic 1st quarter, it would have been a lot closer game.  We only score 2 points in the 2nd quarter, but still winning going into halftime.  20-9 I think, then 26-12 after 3 qtrs.  Not high scoring at all after the 1st quarter.

Gracie got into this game again.  She has been playing pretty well and getting minutes.

Timeout

After winning the game.

It didn't have quite the exclamation point as the previous game, but the girls got it done, and made it to state semi-finals the following week in Springfield.  The last possible dates to play in the high school basketball season.  Unreal.  This possibility was not even on my radar at the beginning of the season, but the girls definitely had their goal set to get it done.

Eagles Team and their coaches

Owen and Gracie - both became state qualifiers on the same day!

Love these two.

The next four days were a lot of planning and little less intense for practices.  They watched a lot of film and had a lot of together time.  Team dinners, and getting ready for the final two days of competition.  So happy for all of them!

The girls at dinner at Olive Garden before quarterfinals, I think.

Another team dinner at G&D's

Coach Wren looks a little crazy.

Game Day

State Semi-Finals vs. Vashon

@Springfield - Missouri State University

March 16, 2023

The Team started with a pep rally at their school prior to their send off on the charter bus.  Nick and I went and then helped decorate the bus before they got on to ride down to Springfield.

Emilee took the opportunity to speak and thank everyone for helping to get them to that day.

We got to write on the bus and gave them all goodie bags in their seats on the bus.

Nick doing his job.

All the numbers and names.

Getting ready to depart

Loading the bus with a fire/police escort leading them out of town.

They walked down Broadway so we could see all of them.

The weather wasn't great, but I don't think they cared at that point.

A little rain never hurts anyone, right?  Not to mention wind and cold .

Game time!

This is a special group of girls.

They have been so good to Gracie.

Gracie was one of the first off the bench again.  We struggled against a really good Vashon team, but I think we did as well as we were expected to do against them.

Gracie holding her own in the post.

She's not very tall, but she plays like it.

Still playing

I think this is one of my favorite pictures.

Gracie has so much positive energy and I think that's what I love most about her.

Looking at the big screen.

We lost the semi-final game against Vashon by 15 points.  I think it ended up being 55-40.  We held our own through the first half and just couldn't keep up with them.  Their guards were so good and made almost every shot.  We played well; they were just better.

The team stayed at a hotel together that night and Nick, Owen, and I stayed about 10 minutes away.  It was pretty uneventful.  Owen ate some ice cream and Nick and I had a couple beverages in our room.

Next up...  3rd place game vs. Central (Park Hills).  I don't even know where that is.  One more game; this one was played at the facility next door to GSB arena, where we had played the previous night.  Last game of the season, and I was really hoping for a win, but we just were not on.  We ended up losing by 18, I think, but all of our girls got in during the last minute or so and can say that they played at the state championships.  What a fun experience for all of them, and something they might never have another opportunity for.

We remembered Flat Stanley on the second day.

River sent him to us and he made the trip to state!

National Anthem before the last game.

Gracie waiting to get into the last game.

Playing hard

Playing her role

Gracie was able to score in each of these games.  It has been fun to watch her get better.

After the game; not the outcome they wanted, but we are all so proud of them.

Coach Wren believed in Gracie and made her a better player this year.  She has continued to learn, grow, and improve, becoming the player they needed for this team.  She knows how to play her role, and although she may never be taller than "5'6"" she has the mentality of a player who can do anything that is asked of her, whether that be posting up, hustling on defense, grabbing a loose ball, or playing a wing.  She has a huge heart and wants to contribute.

I'm not sure if they were more sad about not winning or the season ending.  They have had a lot of fun this year and the seniors definitely have some pretty big shoes to fill.

Emilee, Paige, Ma'Jayla, Kyra, and Ashlynn have all done so much for Gracie, especially helping her get to and from practices when we have to work.  They have set the bar pretty high.

Gracie's friend Kate, went to as many games as she could.

Nova was also there, but I didn't see her.

Chase also came to watch, but I didn't get a picture.

Gracie with the 4th place trophy

Southern Boone Lady Eagles 2022-2023

This is a season that they will never forget.

Next on our agenda is MO USA state wrestling.  Looking forward to watching Owen compete this weekend!  He will have plenty of supporters in Kansas City and we're planning to bring Flat Stanley with us there, too!