High School Ball

Some interesting things happening.

GraceAnne is working out in the hopes of meeting the criteria for selective classification. Selective classification enables middle school kids to try out for varsity and jr varsity teams. Blake did it last year for lacrosse. He was well prepared but when the time came, while he passed he still found it quite difficult.

There is no doubt in my mind that GraceAnne could play varsity basketball for Glen Cove High School right now. I've watched the team the last two years and while she might not be a starter she can certainly hold her own with most if not all of the girls currently on the team. However, selective classification itself is no joke! Flexed arm hang, shuttle run, mile and a half run, sit-ups, standing long jump all things that Grace will have to prepare for if she wants to meet the criteria. So far she is pretty close to being able to do what she needs to do. She needs to keep up the hard work so that when the time comes there will be no doubt.

If she continues to work at the pace she is on she will be a monster by September. Selective classification or not I'm very happy to see her working hard at getting in shape. Hopefully she can keep it up.

The thought is that she will play on the JV team this coming season. I don't see her having any problems doing that. I've not seen the JV team play but my understanding is that they weren't that successful last year and the girls basketball program at Glen Cove, while on the rise, is not great. Their two varsity stars, two incoming freshmen who started on varsity the past two years, have moved on to greener pastures at private schools. I would also guess that GraceAnne will play some games at the varsity level as well this season. Sounds like they've lost a number of their players from last year and might be short-handed.

The Glen Cove School District is currently in the process of hiring a JV coach. There are a lot of rumors as to who the candidates are. The top candidate, who seems to have the job if she wants it, is a former Div I player that seems like she would be a fantastic fit. She is a Glen Cove native and Christ The King Graduate. She knows what it's like to be a girl growing up in this community and what it takes to succeed and pursue your dreams. Hopefully she'll get the certifications she needs, take the job and be the coach she has the potential to be. 7th grade is a time where the really talented, really hardworking girls start to separate themselves from the rest. We'll have to see but it certainly seems like it will be an interesting year for GraceAnne basketball-wise.