Katy Tiger Sophomore Basketball

Connor's sophomore season of basketball kicked off in late fall with a heavy practice schedule ahead of their scrimmages and games. They were a large group, but this team of boys came together so quickly and were already enjoying their time together on and off the court. We realized before the season even began that Connor was making amazing friendships on the team and enjoying every single moment of his time with his teammates.

With such a large group, each kid was trying to find their place and establish their role on the team. There was a full bench, and Connor had to take advantage of every opportunity to build his skills and demonstrate his value to the team. He started the season as a second string "big man" and occasionally had the opportunity to be in the starting lineup.

As the season progressed, we were all a bit surprised that this sophomore team had very little success together on the court. They were a truly bonded group, but for some reason their chemistry didn't seem to transfer to their play on the court. They only won a couple of games the entire season (ouch). And yet, in spite of their losing record, Connor took advantage of every chance to hang out with his teammates and never wanted to miss a single moment of practices or team outings. That seemed to say a lot!

Here are some action photos of Connor throughout the season.

This Katy High School basketball program is incredibly special. From the very beginning of Connor's high school experience, it was evident that the Katy basketball coaches sincerely care about the athletes and their development and success both on and off the court. Jeff likes to say they are true builders of men, focusing on morality, strength of character, maturity, and so many other upstanding qualities to prepare these athletes for their launch into the real world. As the season neared its end, it was bittersweet for Connor. He was ready to shift gears to spring baseball, but he wondered what his future would hold for his role with the beloved Katy Tiger Hoops program. Only time would tell!

Lady Timberwolves 7th Grade Basketball

By mid-December, Kaitlynn's first season of junior high basketball was well underway. Her team played in weekly games and occasional tournaments, and she was having a blast with her team. There were several game nights where her fellow 7th grade cheerleaders attended to cheer on the sidelines, and on those nights, Kaitlynn would cheer for the other athletes while wearing her basketball uniform. The funny thing is that she was really enjoying basketball FAR more than cheering!

As a player on the A team, Kaitlynn was second string and didn't get as much play time as she hoped. That didn't seem to bother her at all, because she loved her teammates and enjoyed every moment of time together both on and off the court. While she was one of the more inexperienced players, she still made some great contributions to the team throughout the season, despite several scheduling conflicts with her all-star cheer practices and competitions.

The 7th grade Lady Timberwolves A Team had an outstanding season, defeating most of their opponents by over 30-40 points per game. In the end, they advanced to the championship game only to fall short in a close game against their rival school, Adams Junior High. The girls were understandably disappointed, but they had so much to be proud of and to look forward to in the seasons to come. What a fun and memorable first season for our Lady Timberwolves! So proud of Kaitlynn!

Holiday Fun

The hustle and bustle of the busy Christmas season was in full swing in the Courtright household. Here is a collection of photos and updates from some of our holiday fun.

In mid-December, I took a quick trip to the Dallas area to join my colleagues in a celebratory Christmas lunch and gift exchange at a local restaurant called Roots. It was a packed house and I had a great time seeing many of the ladies I work with in person for the first time in months. Our owner and founder, Dana, also took the time to recognize many of us who had participated in the Hyperdrive vaccine project with our client, McKesson. It was the highlight of the year for our firm, and it felt really nice to be recognized for our achievements as a firm in such a monumental and high-profile effort across the country.

One of my favorite activities during the holidays is spending time with my girl. She has reached the age where she really enjoys shopping for others, and I've been happy for her participation in our Christmas gift-giving. She has become the perfect holiday shopping buddy and I couldn't resist snapping a pic during one such outing.

Kaitlynn's junior high cheer squad held an ugly sweater Christmas party at a local craft and paint shop where each girl was able to choose and create a unique craft project to take home. Jeff and I were at one of Connor's games during the event, and Kaitlynn ended up getting a ride with a teammate. Needless to say, I was horrified to see that Kaitlynn had chosen to wear her sweaty PE clothes to this holiday party where every other attendee had dressed up with Christmas clothes, hair, and makeup. Really, Kaitlynn?? That girl, ha!

And just because it was Christmas break didn't mean that Kaitlynn's hard work on Phantom would take a break. She continued her team practices and even attended additional elite stunt group practices to make sure they didn't fall behind during the holiday period.

Nothing says Christmas around our house like when Jeff gets out the Christmas tree and decorations to help get us all in the mood. Thank goodness for him, because everyone knows it would never get done if it were up to me. Bah humbug! Ha!

While our house isn't nearly as decorated as some, we still get to enjoy plenty of Christmas joy in our neighborhood. Thank goodness for amazing neighbors who host the kids in Christmas cookie decorating and other fun activities. 

One of Connor's fun activities during the holidays was exchanging Christmas gifts with his girlfriend, Marie. He gave her a comfy hooded sweatshirt (apparently it's all the rage with the teens these days to exchange hoodies with your date!) and a stuffed animal that she had been wanting. As for her gift for Connor, she gave him a hand-painted indoor over-the-door basketball backboard with the logo of one of his favorite snacks, Cheez-Its. It was an incredible gift of her artistic talents that we are still raving over!

Phantom Christmas Party

During the weekend of the Encore Championship, Kaitlynn's Phantom cheer team managed to squeeze in a super fun and festive Christmas party hosted by the team mom. There was an incredible buffet of pizza and snacks, endless desserts and treats, balloons galore, a silly sock gift exchange, and even fireside s'mores amidst an absolute downpour! The girls had an absolute BLAST and enjoyed every moment of their time together. Here is a collection of photos from the amazing Phantom Christmas party. What fun!