Three's a charm

You haven't heard much about basketball yet this season . . . for a reason!

The season started off a bit rough. Lakeland's first game was against a very large, very tough and very rough inner-city team from Fort Wayne. The girls went home physically and mentally a bit wounded.

While the LCA Cougars continued to improve each game, there were still few victories on the scoreboard at the end each game. The point spreads were sometimes demoralizing and at times it seemed as though the girls were just playing ball, not basketball. The basket seemed to have been forgotten.

As parents (and grandparents) we all proudly and loudly cheered from the stands. We could see the team making great victories with each loss. We saw the transformation of mud-wrestling, herded cats into team-minded, competitive Cougars.

This photo should give you a sense of the chaotic energy on the court.

As the close of the season approached, the Cougars commanded a decisive, but hard-fought victory over Elkhart Christian that gave Lakeland momentum going into the end-of-the-season tournament.

This photo was from earlier in the season, but the Cougars definitely peaked at the perfect time.

Going into the ACSI (Association of Christian School International) tournament, Lakeland was seeded 5th out of 6 teams.

Our first game was against Granger. We played them earlier in season (and lost) but by the time the tournament rolled around, Granger had to play a much different Lakeland team. LCA confidently won their first game in the tournament 38 to 20!

The next game was against the #1 seeded Lakeview. We lost.
It was hard for the girls to maintain such a high level of energy, enthusiasm and concentration. Early in the game, we could see them quickly wear down mentally . This time youth was not in their favor.

But, "it's only a game." So they brushed it off, got a bite to eat and rested for a while because it was game time again in a few hours!

The consolation game for 3rd place in the tournament was against #2 ranked Keystone. We had played them twice earlier in the season. The first game was a "learning experience" and the second game was much more competitive, but we still lost. (Even though we're in a Christian school and even though we all know there are more important things than winning, it's still hard to lose.)

BUT . . . as the title of this extended entry says, "Three's a Charm."

The LCA Cougars played with their hearts and heads to beat Keystone 35 to 27 and claimed the 3rd place trophy in the tournament. A very confident Keystone team was humbled and didn't even recognize our team from earlier in the season.

It was a Grand Finale!!! Our LCA Cougars showed great perserverence. We were always proud of their respect and sportsman-like conduct on and off the court. As parents, we would like to take credit but an enourmous amount of credit, respect and love also goes to Coach Kainer. We could not ask for a kinder or more positive mentor for our team. It sounds trite, but words cannot adequately express our gratitude for all Coach Kainer has done to positively influence the hearts and souls of fifteen young ladies at LCA. They are not just better basketball players, they are better and exceptionally blessed young ladies because of Coach Kainer!

Here are some more thoughts from Grampa G:

A Postcard from a Tourney-ng Point

Hoosiers are infamous for 2 things: We know what time it is; and we know that life is not defined, but is certainly shaped and enhanced, by BASKETBALL!

That second fact requests, if not requires, that I confess to having attended exactly ZERO high school or professional basketball games in my increasingly shorter lifetime!

But grandchildren are a force that equals or exceeds gravity, inertia, or imagination.

So? often against my natural tendency to be a sports slug, Jane (another tale of inspiration) dragged me off to Lakeland Christian Academy Junior High basketball games. There was always something to enjoy there; it was not usually the quality of the games. It was often the caring commitment of Christian coaches and the shared values of the young families that ?made the game.?

Saturday was a turning point! The girls ?lit up,? defeating 2 higher-seeded teams on their way to 3rd place in a 6-team tourney. We?ll concede that as a ?small victory,? unless you were there!

These girls put their hearts on the line.

I hope you?ll forgive the fact that my camera was over-focused on Sarah! After all, she was the top scorer in each of the 3 tournament games and got all both of our votes for the non-existent MVP Award!

Some say it?s only a game!

Grandpa G!