My first year in Great Northwest Basketball League (GNBL) is a wrap. My grade had so many boys sign up, that we had to make two separate teams: Green and Gold. I was on the Gold team, which was fitting, because WE. BROUGHT. HOME. THE. GOLD!

My team consisted of Parker, Cullen T, Cullen G, Isaiah, Ryder, Titus, and myself, and we were coached by my dad and Parker’s dad! With practices twice a week, every week, from November through March, basketball consumed my life for five whole months, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

My coaches said there is more to basketball than the scoreboard. Instead, they emphasized good sportsmanship, mental stamina, teamwork, learning the game, and having fun. Coach Dad could often be heard reminding us, “No negative comments to your teammates, no negative comments to your opponents, and no negative comments to the refs… I’ll play only 3 players if I have to.” But none of us ever had to sit the bench for this reason… we understood well that basketball was bigger than winning; we were learning life skills.

But in case any of my readers are wondering, and surely not because I want to brag or anything, we did finish the season UNDEFEATED, with a 12-0 record. What about the non-conference games, you ask? Unbeatable there as well: 7-0! I even sunk a couple buzzer-beater 3-pointers, followed by a celebration dance, which may or may not have been rehearsed for those very moments. I mean, that’s what hoop dreams are made of! … For me, anyway. Genesee’s favorite part about basketball season was the concession stand, especially when she got to work the other side of concessions, during our home tournament.

It was fun to clean house this season, however, we did not mop the floor with all of our opponents. In particular, West Salem was our toughest competition (although I’m pretty sure some of them were 5th graders). Still, it’s those nail-biting moments (literally) that kept us on the edge of our seats and made victory taste even sweeter.

My friends on the Green team had a solid season too, with only a couple losses to their record, which means the Mel-Min Basketball Class of 2032 just might be a force to reckon with. I cannot wait to see where this sport takes us!