Basketball

the years, and in different sports as well.

As one parent said, “They got respect from the other teams, while playing hard and treating their opponents with respect.”

Back then, there were countless times that their parents would be approached by referees, coaches and other parents about how selfless their play was, along with how they how well they saw the court and how great their ball movement was on the floor.

Some of the opposing team’s parents added that they just loved to watch the girls play, especially against their own child’s team.

One of the Punxsy parents seconded that by adding, “Parents of other teams who were no longer in the tournament told us that they came just to watch our girls because they love watching them play.”

Some questions the parents/coaches got back then, included some Pittsburgh refs asking, “How do you get little girls to pass like that?,” and other coaches saying, “Your girls know the basics so well, if we shut down your plays, they still find a way to score.” Along with, “How did you get a team of all south paws?”

Even other refs would add, “Your girls are the cleanest-playing team; no elbows, no cheap shots and no attitudes.”

Even in high school, that continues, like after a 65-15 win over Bradford at home last season, where Punxsy ran all over them. The first thing said by the first Bradford player in line to shake hands was, with no visible signs of frustration or anger at losing, “You guys are really good.”

And after all that, the big question was answered of whether or not they would have accomplished what they have and would even be friends today, if it wasn’t for playing basketball on that team.

And again, with all in agreement, “There is no way, with Samantha and Powell adding seemly at the same time, “That this connected us.”

“It’s the drive and motivation, and I feel it stemmed from basketball and always winning, and it’s the same in high school and other sports,” said Burkett, as she also did tennis and golf. And she was echoed by Doverspike (pole vault) and Samantha (high jump) in track and field.

Dobbins (also plays softball) also added, “It set an expectation for sports so high.” And Danielle (also plays volleyball with Samantha) followed, “We all have high standards.”

Their work ethic was drilled into their heads so early, like always being to practice 15 minutes early, and if they weren’t able to do any offseason or summer league stuff, it didn’t feel right to them, as they felt they were behind for not working on their skills.

Their composure on the court was also set into stone so early, as Danielle said, “We learned to control our emotions and one saying was, ‘You can’t play basketball with tears in your eyes.’ And you learn to block out everyone in the stands.”

Dobbins seconded with all in agreement, “I feel that it got us ready for having a student section.”

One specific memory from back then had one team making a lot of noise while Samantha was making foul shots, so every time she made one, which is pretty much every shot, she would turn around and glare at them, which brought about another round of laughter from the eight of them.

“We don’t get rattled as easy, and we learned that pretty young,” said Danielle, with Powell adding about her time in basketball and softball, “We learned to win with class instead of cheering back.”

The girls also recalled that Coach Emily would them at times that the score was always 0-0 or that they were down even though they were winning to keep them playing at their pace and the momentum they are always capable of achieving.

Also, another parent added, “I think one of the memorable things about this group of girls that I believed set them apart from most other teams when they were younger, and even now, was their dedication, drive, knowledge of the game and never-quit attitudes. Even when they were in a close game or losing late in a game, they always believed that they could comeback and win, and most of the time they did.”

Along with all the countless hours of practice, numerous coaches and numerous games, the parents also got into everything that was happening.

From all the girls being car-pooled to practices to this current season, where one parent had a big hug waiting for their daughter after her big game.

“All of our parents would really help out in whatever way they could,” said Danielle, with Dobbins adding, “The parents are a part of all as well.”

Doverspike also added, “The parents are into it more than us sometimes.”

The parents would get in on all the fun and get really vocal in their cheering (in a good way), which had one the girls recalling how she was ducking down in the car on the way home one time.

So, it became a family thing, as pretty much all the girls expect two had a younger or older sister that played basketball as well.

Danielle and Samantha followed in their older sisters’ Coach Emily and Katelyn, while McMahan’s older sister Jadyn played in the same age group as Katelyn.

There was also Burkett’s younger sister Natalie, who got to play with them for a little bit and is currently a freshman on the Varsity team. Powell’s younger sister Alyse plays in junior high along with Doverspike’s younger sister Stevie.

Natalie and Stevie were guided into the sport by their older sisters, along with Alyse. “Since I’m of the oldest of my siblings (a younger brother too), and since I did it, they tried it and they fell in love with it.”

Burkett added, “Its cool to play with her again, as we haven’t played together in so long.”

And for Samantha, Powell and Wisnesky, they will get play with the younger version next year as seniors after playing with the older ones for so long.

“It will be special since it’s our siblings,” said Powell, with Samantha adding, “And it will be fun playing with the younger one after playing with the older one.”

And so, with all these years playing together, there are a lot of memories ranging from all of them wearing their hair in a Dutch braid at one tournament to Coach Emily getting them all swept up in drills at practice, especially McMahan.

One of the more memorable moments that had everyone roaring with laughter was when one of the girls put her pants on backwards one day at a tournament, and they made a song about it.

The musical memories continued, as one tournament had a DJ announcing everything, while McMahan and Danielle had made a song together at one Marion Center tournament.

In specific-game memories, Danielle, in an Ebensburg boys league game, went for a jump ball with a kid and flipped him over on his back. Then after standing over him, she put in the lay-up.

Another game had the five older girls playing in a 6th-grade Tournament, where Doverspike got poked in the eye and lost a contact and playing a quarter without it, as they didn’t have a sub for her. Coach Griebel asked her if she was okay, but Danielle responded with a quick, “She’s fine. She has to play!”, which brought a lot of laughter.

So, with all the memories, games, countless hours of practice, numerous coaches, athletic achievements, battling back and adjusting to injuries, rule changes to their sports late in their careers, sacrifices from both them and their parents and all the highs and lows, nobody has the right to tell them that they haven’t worked and sacrificed to get to where they are today.

And what forged them back then continues to this day, and will continue in the future in making them the strong women they are capable of becoming, and all one has to do is watch them play to see that.

Plus, no matter what happens this current season, the bond as teammates and friends they share has given them a unique and special experience that will keep them connected as the graduate and life changes (and if they don’t keep up with each other, the writer of this article has access to all the embarrassing elementary basketball photos).