BIRMINGHAM- The Woodland High School Lady Bobcats basketball team may have been hero's on the court Tuesday morning, but they were also hero's off the hardwood. Leah Strain and the rest of the Strain-heavy Lady Cats beat Providence Christian High School in the Semi-Finals round of the 2A AHSAA Playoffs Tuesday morning 71-54, sending them to the State Championship game for the second time in three years. Leah Strain was the shining star of the game, scoring 34 points, grabbing 9 rebounds, and 4 assists. The stats of the game, however, weren't too important that afternoon. The Lady Bobcats made a trip to the Children's Hospital in Birmingham to visit with a very special Bobcat.
Corey Mitchell of Woodland, AL is an 11 year-old boy who has been diagnosed with cancer. After the game at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Center Arena, the team made the quick 10 minute ride to Alabama Children's. They made their way up to room 818, where the young Mitchell (undergoing chemotherapy) was waiting after watching the game. When we truly step back and look at life and the obstacles it can throw at us, we realize that we all need some form of inspiration. Sports are a powerful method of inspiration. The Lady Bobcats visiting Corey Mitchell inspires not only him, or the team; but it inspires outsiders looking in, as well. A team who could very well have taken the time to bask in their own glory, and ride the waves of attention they are getting with pride, decided to go make a child's day.
Losing sight of what is truly important is an easy thing to do. I commend Coach Larry Strain and the Lady Bobcats for the demeanor they uphold, and the class they show. Hard work and faith got them where they are, and they give the glory to no one but God. That seems to have turned into the teams "motto" for the year, "Glorify God".
-Marty McFly
@WHSrcp on Twitter
Corey Mitchell of Woodland, AL is an 11 year-old boy who has been diagnosed with cancer. After the game at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Center Arena, the team made the quick 10 minute ride to Alabama Children's. They made their way up to room 818, where the young Mitchell (undergoing chemotherapy) was waiting after watching the game. When we truly step back and look at life and the obstacles it can throw at us, we realize that we all need some form of inspiration. Sports are a powerful method of inspiration. The Lady Bobcats visiting Corey Mitchell inspires not only him, or the team; but it inspires outsiders looking in, as well. A team who could very well have taken the time to bask in their own glory, and ride the waves of attention they are getting with pride, decided to go make a child's day.
Losing sight of what is truly important is an easy thing to do. I commend Coach Larry Strain and the Lady Bobcats for the demeanor they uphold, and the class they show. Hard work and faith got them where they are, and they give the glory to no one but God. That seems to have turned into the teams "motto" for the year, "Glorify God".
-Marty McFly
@WHSrcp on Twitter
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| Head Coach Larry Strain with Corey |
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| The team, and cheerleaders with Corey |
