the backer family: November 2023

Friday, November 24, 2023

Mara vs. Paige

WHS alum Mara Braun and the MN Gophers hosted former MN Miss Basketball Paige Bueckers and the #2 UConn Huskies in a nearly sold out November classic. Close early, but UConn finished strong.

Outstanding night for women's hoops in MN!

Trojan Madness

The annual WGBA + WHS girls hoops kickoff was a success. Always impressive to see this community come together and support one another.

(A bit surreal to see E on the HS side of the event too!)

Nana Weekend

With S in Rochester and E tied to pre-committed activities in the Cities, Nana saved the day and stayed the weekend. Looks like the crew had a good time without us!

7A @ Rochester

The girls favorite hoops weekend of the year is always Rochester as the 3 day, 2 night slumber party trumps any on-court memory year in and year out.

Game times weren't super conducive to pool time and late night fun, but the team got in many team meals, an escape room, poster and gift bag surprises and plenty of laughs throughout.

On the court, the team went 3-1, losing in the championship to Stewartville. The signature win of the weekend was a big one over rival Lakeville South. The team got up early and kept on it. A great step in the right direction!

Middle School Hoops

Sawyer and Brie were "recruited" to join Central's school ball team halfway through the season. The competition is not the strongest, but it's a good group of girls and nobody takes themselves too seriously.

Healthy to mix in this kind of extracurricular every so often. Fun to see all the smiles.

7A @ OMGBAA

2-1 at Maple Grove's season-opener, losing to a tough Minnetonka squad in a game we were leading for 27 of the 28 minutes. Knocked off STMA and Centennial though.

State Champs | Wayzata Volleyball

The girls played hooky and took in Wayzata's semi-final win over Anoka at the Xcel...

MBT 3on3 Champs

E, Brie, Nik & Addison won MBT's 8th grade fall 3on3 tourney at Maple Grove.

Quite the fearsome foursome!

7A @ STMA | Pre-Season Jamboree

S's new squad went 2-0 to open the season, defeating STMA and OMGBA.

Three new girls this year, so it's going to take a while to click... but, not a bad start!

Cuddle buddy

Lazy Saturday with Buster Bear...

NCL | Ronald McDonald Gala

The girls and their NCL partners helped set-up a Ronald McDonald house fundraiser gala event...

Twinning

E's friends found it much more amusing than she did that I was able to match the outfits, and dance moves, for the homecoming football game...

(After two days, she did begin speaking with me again, FYI)

Breakdown Hoops

Evie's high school basketball career began this fall with Breakdown, a two month "pre-season" coached by community volunteers... like her dear ol' dad. E played on the JV squad and got tougher, worked harder and made some impressive strides. Fun to see the freshman through seniors on the court together, connecting and teaming.

Looking forward to the (official) season!

Bump, set, spike

As the school VB season rolled on, the girls started to figure things out. Fun to see longer rallies, and a few legit kills. Even more fun to see Sawyer trying and growing a new skill!

Fingers crossed she returns next year?!?

Halloween

2023's Halloween was the 2nd snowiest of all time since the famous Halloween blizzard of 1991".

It was also our best pumpkin carving in many, many years!

E & friends stayed in, dressing up like professional athletes and watching scary movies and eating too many sweets.

S & company bundled up and hit the neighborhood dressed as hip hop stars and Mario & Luigi.