Fishlips
03-23-2009, 08:58 PM
I don't know how many of you are big fans of college basketball, or basketball, or follow March Madness...but there was a little corner of March Madness that I got totally wrapped up in.
My sister is a freshman center at George Fox U. (just outside of Portland, Or). Her team competed in the NCAA Division III National Championship. They came into the tournament the obvious underdog. No west coast team had ever won the tournament, there were 10 freshmen on the team, 4 juniors, 1 senior, and no returning starters. Although they were 30-0 going into this tourney, they were ranked 3rd (in the nation). Oh and to make it worse GFU had knocked Hope U. (ranked 2nd) the week before, Hope U. hosted the tournament. One of the other teams (Wash U.) competing has won the title more than any other college in DIII since it started...
They played the first day against TCNJ and easily won. The day of the final game they played Wash U. It was such a nail biter, Wash U took an early lead, but GFU came back, at half time GFU lead by 14. Helped by a 3 point shot by a GFU player, that never makes 3 pointers, at the buzzer!
The second half was a battle! GFU held the lead with tooth and nail, they had such a strong hold, I swear they had bloody fingers! With about 2 mins to go, Wash U pulls within 1 point! 1 little point separated GFU and Wash U. GFU kept their heads, everyone fouled back and forth. With one half of one second left Wash U fouled the GFU center, she made both free throws! Sealing the 7 point lead, GFU WON!! 60-53, GFU became the 2009 NCAA Division III National Champions, with a perfect 32-0 record!
I bought the tickets on tuesday to fly out thrusday, I skipped work on saturday (called in sick), and traded shifts to make it happen...I paid a couple hundred extra for last minute tickets. I flew home last night, actually getting home around 1:30am, having to be at work at 8 am. And I wouldn't trade one second of it. They were the two greatest games of basketball ever played, and my sister got to be a part of it! I am still tearing up thinking about it.
I just needed to brag about her for a minute. She's...the whole team...is amazing!
My sister is a freshman center at George Fox U. (just outside of Portland, Or). Her team competed in the NCAA Division III National Championship. They came into the tournament the obvious underdog. No west coast team had ever won the tournament, there were 10 freshmen on the team, 4 juniors, 1 senior, and no returning starters. Although they were 30-0 going into this tourney, they were ranked 3rd (in the nation). Oh and to make it worse GFU had knocked Hope U. (ranked 2nd) the week before, Hope U. hosted the tournament. One of the other teams (Wash U.) competing has won the title more than any other college in DIII since it started...
They played the first day against TCNJ and easily won. The day of the final game they played Wash U. It was such a nail biter, Wash U took an early lead, but GFU came back, at half time GFU lead by 14. Helped by a 3 point shot by a GFU player, that never makes 3 pointers, at the buzzer!
The second half was a battle! GFU held the lead with tooth and nail, they had such a strong hold, I swear they had bloody fingers! With about 2 mins to go, Wash U pulls within 1 point! 1 little point separated GFU and Wash U. GFU kept their heads, everyone fouled back and forth. With one half of one second left Wash U fouled the GFU center, she made both free throws! Sealing the 7 point lead, GFU WON!! 60-53, GFU became the 2009 NCAA Division III National Champions, with a perfect 32-0 record!
I bought the tickets on tuesday to fly out thrusday, I skipped work on saturday (called in sick), and traded shifts to make it happen...I paid a couple hundred extra for last minute tickets. I flew home last night, actually getting home around 1:30am, having to be at work at 8 am. And I wouldn't trade one second of it. They were the two greatest games of basketball ever played, and my sister got to be a part of it! I am still tearing up thinking about it.
I just needed to brag about her for a minute. She's...the whole team...is amazing!