18/02/2026
Last night, the team headed north for Rd1 Twilight comp at Westlakes, embarking on a journey of growth and excellence. The goal was clear: to put their rigorous training into action, and oh, did they shine!
With one umpire, I had to step in, and trust me, it was a challenge like no other. Being quiet on the sideline. Goodness.
One of our players had a opportunity she could not miss, we were headed into the game 1 down. The opposing team, comprised of 13/14-year-olds, tall and with 10 players.
Initially, our girls felt the pressure, starting the game a bit jittery and trailing by 5 points at the end of the first quarter, but then something magical happened. They dug deep, unleashing their skills and outplaying the opposition with finesse and poise. Their heads held high, they executed every move with precision, spreading out across the court, dominating the circle, and crushing centre passes. As the final minutes ticked down, the score was neck and neck at 14-all, when a perfectly choreographed play from the textbook led to a winning goal just 1/2 second before the final buzzer sounded - 15-14.
The girls were oblivious to their victory, walking off the court with beaming smiles, basking in the glory of an amazing performance.
Not a single one asked about the score; they were too caught up in the joy of playing their hearts out.
The news of their win left them speechless for a moment, before erupting into cheers, laughter, and triumphant smiles.
This group of young ladies is a true embodiment of what it means to win with grace, humility, and heart - where skill, teamwork, friendship, and memories trumped the scoreboard.
In their minds, they were champions, regardless of the outcome. Congratulations, girls - you won with flying colors, and I'll see you Saturday morning!