More Found Treasures

These are pictures that I found of younger days that I had to scan so they aren't the best. The one picture of Greg with the girls was at a little tournament in Kelliher in which the girls took first place. This was the very first year that Shelby had played Saturday Ball so she is in 4th grade and most of the other girls are in 3rd grade here. The only starter that wasn't playing at that time was Adrianna.

The picture of the girls braiding their hair was the following year and their very first 5th grade Pacesetter tournament in Bemidji. I can't forget this one because they played Clearbrook-Gonvick in the first game and it went into double overtime. This would be one of the videos that I would love to show as it was the funnest game with Megan (4th grader at the time) stealing the ball, then getting to the three point line and hitting a 3! There was a team of older boys from Red Lake waiting for the court and starting bowing to her when she hit the 3....lots of screaming by the coaches and fans because it was such an exciting game (at least to us). They then played a Bagley team and lost that game by a point or two and I remember Lise putting up a half court shot that bounced in and came out so they were heartbroken and of course all were crying. I remember the little girls from Bagley looking at them and couldn't believe how hard they were crying so they came over and talked to them and said how great they played and gave them hugs, etc. One of those Bagley girls ended up playing AAU ball with our girls and the coach of that team ALWAYS talked with us at every tournament we saw her at for years. She said she would always watch to see how the Bigfork girls' team was doing every year. They ended up playing Bemidji for third and lost by a few points. That game produced long term relationships also and is one of the reasons they were highlighted on Lakeland News last year and this year.

One of players' father is Dennis Weimann and he is the big shot at Lakeland News. He was so impressed with the girls that day and had very nice things to say about them. We ended up meeting them at another pacesetter tournament later that year and for many years after. He was the guy that gave our girls' names to get them started in AAU ball. He has also been following the girls since that little tournament and is still watching to see if they end their journey at the State tournament this year. He always said that he was watching a state tournament team.

Another picture that I love is the silhouette of the girls on the floating dock. This was our very first weekend trip to Willmar so the girls could play in the Pacesetter Open Tournament in New London-Spicer. Some very fun games and lots of video from that also. They ended up taking second place and took home a big trophy that is now sitting at the Huskie Cafe in Bigfork.

The last picture is at the North Country Classic tournament in Grand Rapids, MN and was a huge tournament. I remember at this tournament they had to play Grand Rapids their first game (the better of the two Rapids teams) and lost by one point. Of course we were whining about the refs then also...haha...as they had high school boys reffing and we thought they weren't calling anything on Rapids when our girls were driving in so our girls never got to shoot any free throws. After the game, Shelby's grandfather went up to one of the high school refs and proceeded to tell him off and that he should be disgraced at how he called the game! He said that they stole that game from these little girls! Anyway, it is a memory that we won't forget and since he passed away this past Fall right before Shelby's senior season began, it brings back memories of these little incidents from all of these years. This is another team that the girls would end up playing in different tournaments for many years. Many of these Grand Rapids' girls are seniors this year and went to State last year and have another good shot to get there this year. I just love the picture because of the way Shelby is looking up at her Dad and listening to what she should be doing on the court. And of course he still has plenty of advice for her this year too.