Sara Sandstrom-Kobi, Nederland. The girls playing Nederland Interscholastic (IS) basketball have finished up their season. IS sports are for seventh and eighth grade students. They learn the basic
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Sara Sandstrom-Kobi, Nederland. The girls playing Nederland Interscholastic (IS) basketball have finished up their season. IS sports are for seventh and eighth grade students. They learn the basic skills of the sport, the importance of teamwork and a love for the game. This year’s IS girls’ basketball team is impressive with their positive attitude and commitment. They are fast and have good passing and shooting skills. They are not afraid to go after the ball and push to keep the game at a quick pace.
Coach John Leventhal is dedicated to teaching middle school basketball in Nederland. His love for the game and the athletes is obvious when you see the interactions between coach and players.
There is a mutaul respect when Coach Leventhal shows the girls how to improve a skill. He encourages without demeaning. At the same time the players listen and trust his coaching advice.
Coach says that the girls this year work hard, play with great enthusiasm and they support each other. They even practice at the community center on the weekends just because they want to. They have perseverance and always give their best effort. A couple of the girls on the team are completely new to basketball and coach is impressed with how quickly they are picking up the game.
He says, “They are learning about how to manage their time when they have to be at practice every day.” Coach continued by saying that they have to get their homework done and take care of family obligations while sticking to the commitment they have made with this basketball team.
There are ten girls on the team this year. They are: Opal Kinnikin, Laila Waldron, Bella Lamb, Autumn Pattridge, Payton Kutscher, Savannah Hill, Evelyn Gustafson, Trinity LeBlanc, Jordan Galindo and Mary Jean Jarril.
The IS basketball team traveled to other middle schools in Boulder Valley School District for games throughout the season as well as played several home games.
The players and the coach had a great time playing basketball. Another successful IS basketball season in Nederland. Way to go Middle School Panthers!
(Originally published in the February 13, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)
