Bill, Debbie and I had the best seats in the house last night when Coach Will Love's Bulldogs girls took on a tough Lake City in their season opener.
We sat three rows up right behind the team, which was nice.
What made our seats the "best" was that we brought them with us.
They're brand new from Big 5 Sporting Goods AND soft AND they have backs!
So, once seated on the cushions which provided a buffer between us and the draconian benches, we just settled in, relaxed and enjoyed the show.
Our location allowed us to see our "Willie" aka Coach Love interact with the team, almost upclose and personal.
We could also watch the action across the way in the cheering section and among the SHS cheerleaders.
And, the view---that Bridge, which has lured SO many people to come and spend their lives in Sandpoint---twas eye-catching.
Well, it wasn't exactly The Long Bridge in person, but it was an artist's perspective and just a small portion of the amazing murals on both sides of Les Rogers gym, depicting hometown iconic scenes.
Besides the comfort we were enjoying from our cushions, we could also sense of good ol' Bulldog home-court nostalgia to go along with the speedy action on the floor.
The support team for Bulldog girls basketball included a some of the old and a touch of the new.
I was wondering just how many years Bob Moore, Jr. has been running that clock. His grandson now sits alongside assisting him.
The game also provided an opportunity for Debbie, Bill and me to meet in person the newly minted sports editor for the Bonner County Daily Bee.
Sammy Berryman, who recently moved to Sandpoint from New Zealand, was there with her laptop ready to watch the action and record all the details.
This is the second year of assisting for Madi Schoening, a Bulldog basketball alum who played through college as a Montana Grizzly.
I don't know how many years the other assistant Joe has been on the bench, but he was there ready to go last night.
And, of course, Jason Duchow, dedicated sports photographer extraordinaire, kept his cameras busy throughout the game.
As noted in the story, Sandpoint's girls took a loss to a Coeur d'Alene school with a much larger student population and with three previous games under their belt, but even Ma and Pa Love can confidently attest to the fact that Coach Love's Bulldog girls look pretty polished and skilled for their first time on the court.
Willie has been consistent ever since summer league in his assessment of this year's team. They enjoy what they're doing and are willing to learn.
He expects good things to come from this year's scrappy and talented squad.
It was neat to see the excitement among the student cheering section and the precision of the cheerleading squad.
A great night of high school basketball in a fun and colorful venue, for sure!
GO, BULLDOGS! Good luck in Kellogg tonight.
Happy Friday.
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Assistant coach Madi Schoening |
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Assistant coach Joe Fata. |
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Bob Moore, Jr. and his grandson. |
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Jason Duchow |
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Sammy Berryman |
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