Tip Off

If you count the cross country banquet last Wednesday as a season finale, Royals fans didn't quite get a week off between the end of one sports season and the start of another. But I was excited for another basketball season to tip off!

The girls' season has about a week's jump on the boys', not counting our Cranberry Classic Tournament at Assumption this weekend.

We made sure to get to the girls JV game tonight because we have some freshman girls to cheer on. One was on the cross country team and the other is the daughter of some friends of ours, who we've known since she was shorter than Carter and he could actually babysit her. Now Allie is a half-head taller than him at least! Glad we got to witness her high school debut, especially since she scored 12 of Assumption's first 12 points. Yes! Should be fun to watch this year!

It was great to see our varsity team back action, too. The challenge for fans is that when the last time you see a team play is during the state championship game, you expect them to pick up right where they left off. Unfortunately, Neillsville had other ideas. Just like last year, they handed the Lady Royals their first loss, by a measly 3 points. On a positive note, there weren't many losses that followed that one last year and, hopefully, the same will hold true this season.

Of course, the action on the sidelines is just as important. Missed hearing the Pep Band, naturally, but especially all my "social" time with the mom squad. There is a new rule in girls hoops this year that is putting a damper on that, though. High school girls now play 2 18-minute halves instead of 4 8-minute quarters. So there is no time to chit-chat between quarters – only during time outs. It's going to take some getting used to. Guess we'll have to ponder socializing off the court.

Well now that I think about it, that should be resuming, too. Hurray for hoops!