ARA 13-year-old hoops team
Originally uploaded by kevdonahue

From left, it’s Pete, Brian, Joey, Drew, Patrick, Brandon, Patrick and Evan … they’ve been the ARA travel team at their age group for the past 3-4 years. They’re a great group of kids, and their coach, Joe Dinan, was everything you could ask a coach of young people to be: Fair, patient, a teacher with perspective.

Alas, their season ended last Sunday in Bath, Pa., in a postseason tournament. That’s where this photo comes from, and it’s likely the last time they’ll play together – they’re headed to different high schools and there isn’t travel ball after this year in our town league.

But it’s a lot of miles, a lot of time together, as players and parents, and alot of lessons learned, on the court and off. We’ll miss the team.