Hoopin' it up in the Bahamas, Day V
5/18/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Hey Bobcat fans! This is Anne Phippard reporting for the fifth day in the Bahamas.
The fifth day started out with another delicious buffet breakfast at the hotel. Without a cloud in the sky, the destination sought out by all was the pool and beach.
The activity most of the team participated in was riding on the banana boat. Erin (Goodman) worked her magic and dwindled the cost to less than half the asking price. Twelve of us mounted the banana-shaped inner tube and bobbed up and down as the speed boat dragged us across the water. Water sprayed in everyone’s face and eyes, and screams from the team could be heard all along the beach. During the trip, we all decided to jump off, which turned out to not be the best idea. Colliding with the waves at such high speed knocked us pretty good and many found their swimsuits dislodged.
Elsewhere, Whitney (Connolly) and Scotta (Morton) ventured out on their own and went snorkeling. The most memorable moment of their trip was coming face to face with a barracuda.
Also, a volleyball rematch was in order as the guards needed to prove they were the better volleyballers on the team. Sure enough, I’m happy to report that the guards took care of the posts in two 4-on-4 games.
In the afternoon, we went to the straw market downtown. The straw market consisted of local vendors selling various things including purses, amazing hand carved figurines, jewelry, and t-shirts. Everyone was running into each other because the aisles were extremely narrow. The vendors tried every trick in the book to persuade each passing tourist, and as on vendor said, “I’m just wheelin’ and dealin’.”
Erica (Perry), who was reeled in at every other booth, had to be kept on a short leash. Otherwise, it would have taken us all day to make it through the market with her starting conversation with each one. Some of my teammates are quite the negotiators while others, like Jamie (Thornton), needed to be coached by more seasoned buyers. Erin and Callie (Goff) stood beside Jamie and told her the amount of money to counter each time the vendor came back with a new asking price.
My teammates were definitely attracted to many of the items being sold, because at the end of the day we probably bought a combined thirty purses. Everyone’s wallets were substantially lighter after leaving the market.
After the straw market, we returned to the hotel where there was a mad dash to Heather’s (MSU Athletic Trainer) room. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were the most popular mid-afternoon snack of choice to get refueled for the evening.
After some quality power naps, we took off for our third game. We have come to find that Bahamians run on their own clock and our referees were absent when it came time for tip off.
Coach Scanson, along with another fan, filled in until they strolled in five minutes into the game.
Our opponent was a club team with members ranging from ages 17 to 40. This game was the most competitive of all the games. Our biggest challenge was trying to contain their extremely quick and athletic players.
Coach Binford wasn’t thrilled with the number of fouls in the first half and implemented a rule, which landed anyone committing a foul in the second half with a nice seat on the bench.
We withstood a late run by their team and came away with a ten point win.
Tomorrow we are hoping to have our most polished game and come away with another win!
The fifth day started out with another delicious buffet breakfast at the hotel. Without a cloud in the sky, the destination sought out by all was the pool and beach.
The activity most of the team participated in was riding on the banana boat. Erin (Goodman) worked her magic and dwindled the cost to less than half the asking price. Twelve of us mounted the banana-shaped inner tube and bobbed up and down as the speed boat dragged us across the water. Water sprayed in everyone’s face and eyes, and screams from the team could be heard all along the beach. During the trip, we all decided to jump off, which turned out to not be the best idea. Colliding with the waves at such high speed knocked us pretty good and many found their swimsuits dislodged.
Elsewhere, Whitney (Connolly) and Scotta (Morton) ventured out on their own and went snorkeling. The most memorable moment of their trip was coming face to face with a barracuda.
Also, a volleyball rematch was in order as the guards needed to prove they were the better volleyballers on the team. Sure enough, I’m happy to report that the guards took care of the posts in two 4-on-4 games.
In the afternoon, we went to the straw market downtown. The straw market consisted of local vendors selling various things including purses, amazing hand carved figurines, jewelry, and t-shirts. Everyone was running into each other because the aisles were extremely narrow. The vendors tried every trick in the book to persuade each passing tourist, and as on vendor said, “I’m just wheelin’ and dealin’.”
Erica (Perry), who was reeled in at every other booth, had to be kept on a short leash. Otherwise, it would have taken us all day to make it through the market with her starting conversation with each one. Some of my teammates are quite the negotiators while others, like Jamie (Thornton), needed to be coached by more seasoned buyers. Erin and Callie (Goff) stood beside Jamie and told her the amount of money to counter each time the vendor came back with a new asking price.
My teammates were definitely attracted to many of the items being sold, because at the end of the day we probably bought a combined thirty purses. Everyone’s wallets were substantially lighter after leaving the market.
After the straw market, we returned to the hotel where there was a mad dash to Heather’s (MSU Athletic Trainer) room. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were the most popular mid-afternoon snack of choice to get refueled for the evening.
After some quality power naps, we took off for our third game. We have come to find that Bahamians run on their own clock and our referees were absent when it came time for tip off.
Coach Scanson, along with another fan, filled in until they strolled in five minutes into the game.
Our opponent was a club team with members ranging from ages 17 to 40. This game was the most competitive of all the games. Our biggest challenge was trying to contain their extremely quick and athletic players.
Coach Binford wasn’t thrilled with the number of fouls in the first half and implemented a rule, which landed anyone committing a foul in the second half with a nice seat on the bench.
We withstood a late run by their team and came away with a ten point win.
Tomorrow we are hoping to have our most polished game and come away with another win!
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
