With screams, with tears of joy, and with emotional embraces.
And then with a deluge of balloons and confetti!
This, of course, is what everyone was playing for.
Yes, you've seen other versions of this happy moment all over the web; this one is ours.
Apparently, the trophy is really heavy. (AT: "Don't drop it, Sequoia!")
Thanks to all their work with Coach Kyle, the players had no problem hoisting that heavy piece of hardware over their heads.
Then it was time for the All-Tournament honors. Moments before the official announcement, a certain Maryland player's coach and teammates made their MVP choice clear!
Seconds later, it was official . . . Alyssa, indeed, was named Tournament MVP!
. . . earning her a nice little trophy, presented by ACC Commissioner John Swofford.
After the official presentations, the BCs overheard one of the players ask a teammate, "What do we do now?" The Seniors didn't need to ask . . . they knew exactly what came next: cutting down the nets!
Anjale!
Kimmie!
Netta!
Then it was junior T-Hawk's turn. T: "I shoot guns. I don't know how to operate these things."
But T's a fast learner!
After everyone else had their turn with the scissors . . . last, but certainly not least!
Being experienced with winning, seniors Kimmie and Lynetta also knew to grab the two Championship backboards. After that, what was left was unscripted celebration . . .
Fortunately for Coach B, Brene didn't get her hands on the Gatorade. She had to settle for showering her coach with fistfuls of confetti.
Lots of posing for post-victory photos . . . including one with this sign the BCs made on the morning of Championship Sunday 2009. We displayed it that day in Greensboro amidst the Red Sea of Maryland fans . . . and the Terps won the Tournament! So we figured it had to be lucky! It's been folded up in the trunk of our car ever since. We dug it out this Sunday, so it could make its second Sunday appearance at the Coliseum. Definitely lucky . . . two for two! It would now appear to be a genuine artifact of Terps history.
All of the players took time to seek out their family and friends in the stands; here, the MVP's proud and very happy family.
And the players took time to give interviews . . . Brene explaining what it feels like to win her first ACC Championship.
Every kid loves playing with balloons . . .
Even big kids love playing with balloons!
And then, when the celebration was nearly at an end, senior Anjale Barrett sat quietly by herself on the scorer's table, taking it all in for the very last time. For seniors Anj, Kimmie and Netta, this had to be a bittersweet moment. They won't be returning -- as players -- ever again to Greensboro.
Photo Credits: DC BasketCases
posted by BasketCases @ 9:58 AM
13 comments
13 Comments:
Thanks so much for all the pictures! ESPN cut away immediately after the game so tv viewers didn't get a sense of the celebration. This helps.
Many thanks, BCs, for your continually thoughtful coverage of the Terps. You're always a pleasure to read.
Does Alyssa also get an award for playing the most minutes with scraped-up-and-bandaged knees?
Awesome pictures. Thanks for sharing.
Yes - you guys have done very well - can't thanks you enough for all your work and love for Maryland basketball. I know men always get so much coverage and attention no matter what they do - I am glad the Women at least get some attention. Again thanks for all you do - ACC Champs.
Amazing pictures. What a fun bunch of kids.
These pictures are fantastic and do help ease the disappointment of not getting to see any post game celebration. Thanks for posting them. GO TERPS!
Yes, thank you for posting the pics. Like others mentioned, it was dissapointing not to see the celebration on TV.
I agree with the other posters; it was very special to be able to "share" in the post-game celebrations since ESPN2 (and espn3.com)did such a lousy job of staying with the game ... to get to another championship match, it's true ... but clearly many of us only had eyes for this one. Thank you for all your posts, always! They are a pleasure to read and I always look forward to them.
Awe, look at Kim Rodgers. Clearly by her reaction, it meant a whole lot. Happy for her!
Love the pictures. I really like the one Anjale sitting on the table. That one sums it all up. One of these years I'm going to be able to work out my schedule and go. One question, Katie Rutan was not on the bench, but I did see her (I think) in the stands with Alyssa's family. Is there a rule about inactive not being allowed to sit on the bench. Also, I don't think I saw her in of the pictures. But I haven't met her and may be mistaken. But again, thanks for the wonderful pictures.
Dear Ginny:
Katie Rutan watched Maryland’s games from the stands, from which we can only conclude that some perplexing NCAA rule prohibited her from being on the bench. Similarly, she was not on the court for the post-Championship celebration. When it was Laurin Mincy’s turn to cut down a piece of the net, she did so, held it up, and yelled “Katie!” (and then cut down a second piece for herself).
--BC
Thank you for your response. We figured it was something like that. And Laurin, what a great thing to do. What a team, and what a family they truly seem to have become. Can't wait for the NCAAs
Thanks Basketcases for again covering our Terps in a very loving and professional manner!! Watching ESPN was torture, but glad I got see something!! Thanks for the post game coverage-great pictures and captions - as usual!!
Congrats Terp family!!You made us proud!!
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