She got the idea from her older friend Caity.

She got the idea from her older friend Caity.  She wanted to play basketball.

She was only four but Caity,seven, was doing it so Sarah knew that would be her sport too.

Her mom and dad thought it was a great idea so for her fifth birthday she got a pink basketball and a goal.

She tossed the ball around occasionally but her brother and his friends showed more interest in the hoop than she did - until this fall when basketball season rolled around and Caity signed up again.  She decided she was definitely going to play ball.

So her mom held her breath, wrote the check to the athletic booster club and filled out the forms.

It was official.  She was going to be a basketball player.

Her mom was excited until she realized that the kindergarten and first grade teams were made up of girls and boys.

But Sarah didn't care.  At practice she dribbled, ran laps, and shot baskets.  She kept up the boys and wore pink while doing it.

And then the day of the first game came. Sarah said she was nervous.  Her mom told her it was o.k. to be nervous.  After all, she had never done this before.

It was time for the jump ball.  Her mom gulped because she didn't remember seeing them practice this before.

The ball headed straight for Sarah.  The ball hit Sarah in the head.  Sarah rubbed the sore spot, her mom clutched her chest and held her breath and then Sarah took off down the court.

Just as in practice, she dribbled the ball down the court every time her team was on offense.

She stood with her arms up and never moved out of her assigned spot every time her team was on defense.  Her mom and dad chuckled..  There would be a few things they would need to review after the game.

She scored one free throw shot at the beginning of the game.

Her team won. She was happy.  Yep.  Looks like this girl is going to be a basketball player.