Yooo Pilot Fans,

 

Week 1 down of practice, 18 days, 17 practices until our first game! Oh my gosh, pre-season is going to be here in no time!

 

So, I am reminding y’all now to mark it down in your calendars – Nov. 1, 2010, 7:00 p.m. J Your Portland Pilots will be taking on cross-I-5 rivals, the Concordia Cavilers for the first game of the 2010-2011 season!

 

I would like to consider Concordia as a friendly rivalry though. I am not sure what Coach would approve of my description as an opponent as “friendly rivalry,” but I believe it is an appropriate term to apply when explaining our team’s relationship with the Cavaliers.

 

This past summer many of the girls went home, but a few stayed in Portland (including myself, obviously). The Cavilers found themselves in a similar situation. Of course, all of us who were around during the summer wanted to ball, so we arranged weekly open-gyms with the girls who were still here from Concordia. Girls from Mt. Hood Community College joined our weekly get-together as well, and in no time we had a great mix of Pilots, Cavaliers, and Saint’s ballin at Howard Hall.

 

We all had a good time playing together this summer. Plus, it was nice to play with and guard players other than Pilots. It was especially fun for me though because I got to play with my former AAU teammate, Dani Clauson (Concordia). (By the way, it is always fun playing against former teammates –I always look forward to those games!)

 

Anyway, like I said, we have 17 more practices until we face the Cavilers. Practices have been going pretty good (believe it or not, it is actually getting easier to wake up at the crack of dawn) but there is still a lot of stuff we need to work on before Nov. 1st, which we will do over Fall Break.

 

While most university students are going home next week for Fall Break we will be sticking around UP practicing two times a day learning plays, refining defense, nailing the fundamentals, and mastering alllll the little things - “Jump to the ball!” “Close-out!” “Box-out!” “Up the line!” “Deny!” “Bend your knees!” “Get low… that’s not low… you gotta get your butts down!”…… (I think you get my point J).

 

By the way Mom, some hungry Pilots will more than likely be stopping by for some grub over the break! There are already requests for mashed potatoes and your delicious chocolate chip cookies! (Remember to make some chocolate chip cookies without the chocolate chips for Keish.)   

 

Well, that’s all for now! I need to study for midterms. A break is much needed!  

 

Adios,

G