Big sister, little sister

By Wayne E. Rivet
Staff Writer

A sports team is much like a family.

Players spend nearly five months with their teammates, on and off the court. Officially, the season begins in late November with tryouts and preseason practices. However, the real season starts in June when players take part in summer league action. There, veterans and rookies meet for the first time. Over weeks and months, the girls bond as teammates. They learn to sacrifice, to accept the shortcomings of others, and to be willing to put forth their best effort, all for the common goal — to succeed and to win a state title.

Like families, players argue, get mad, and ignore those who fail to side with them on a particular matter. Like sisters, they eventually make up, resolve their differences, and remember what is most important — they all share the same dream.

When Lake Region Coach Paul True looked down his girls' varsity bench this season, his team truly had a family feel to it. In his nearly 20 years of high school coaching, True has had sisters on the same varsity squad before, but never has he had three sets of siblings. This year's Lake Region varsity roster had three pairs of sisters — Meghan and Abby Craffey, Abby and Sydney Hancock, Megan and Rachel Wandishin.

"I know one of the girls alluded to this, it truly brings more to the forefront the meaning of family when you talk about this team. This group, on and off the court, gets along extremely well. The sisterly love has something to do with that," Coach True said.

Each set of sisters is very different. They brought unique qualities to the Lakers.

"Syd and Abby will battle it out tooth and nail until there is just one standing. Abby Craffey is scared to death to play because she doesn't want her sister, Meghan, to be mad at her. Rachel and Megan Wandishin would just assume hug each other on the court because they genuinely and openly show their emotions and care for each other," Coach True said.

Their personalities can vary greatly, yet also be quite similar.

"I'm louder than Abby. More hyper, rowdy and energetic. She tells me all the time that I'm a pain when we go out in public because I get in the weirdest moods and I laugh uncontrollably. I get into the happy moods a lot," Sydney Hancock said.

On several occasions, Coach True had his back turned at practice, and heard a comment made by one sister. When he turned around, he was surprised to find "the other sister" was the one talking.

"They'll make comments I've heard the older one say. It certainly brings a different flavor to the team. What I enjoy the most is the genuine feelings, the hugging, the smiling, the giggling. Does that happen on most teams? Yes. But, you get the sense it's a little bit more with our kids because it's family members," the coach said. "What will be interesting will be next year how those dynamics look — to see the growth of the younger kids and knowing now it's their team."

For the most part, big sister does look out for little sister. Meghan, Abby and Megan all talked about wanting to see their little sisters succeed at basketball and life. Little sisters echoed those sentiments.

But, what about those days when "sisters will be sisters" or when one woke up on the wrong side of the bed and took out their frustrations on the other? Often times, sisters don't need words to let the other know just how they feel. A familiar "mean," "disgusted" or "I hate you" look is all it takes to send a certain message. Inevitably, sisters fight over "dumb things" like wearing the other's clothes without asking or arguing about who is right or wrong regarding even simple matters. And, there is always that little jab, "Now, who is the senior and who is the underclassmen?" that can trigger tempers or resentment. Those battles can spill over from the breakfast table, to the ride to school to basketball practice. As Linda Sunshine once said, "If you don't understand how a woman could both love her sister dearly and want to wring her neck at the same time, then you were probably an only child."

"Sometimes, when Meghan is around her friends, she doesn't treat me as well as she might. Sometimes, it carries over to the court, if she's mad at me," Abby Craffey said. "She'll throw the ball harder at me. I want to say something back, but I know if I do, she'll get madder. I just take it."

Sibling rivalry runs deep, so it came as no surprise that the girls brought their competitive attitudes, emotions and strong wills to the hardwoods each day.

"It's been pretty interesting. I haven't run into the older sister pushing the younger sister too hard too much," Coach True said. "I've let the younger ones know that it's okay, it's their team too, and they are terrific players too. They need not lie back in the weeds. They're as important to the team as their sisters."

Playing with confidence is pivotal to succeeding in sports. Living in the shadow of a big sister can be difficult to overcome.

"All three of them have sisters that have made a huge impact on our program. I definitely think they carry that around with them. I've told them, no need to do that and they're their own person, their own individual and each brings terrific skill sets to our group," Coach True said.

Deep down, however, there lies a special bond amongst sisters. There is friendship and unconditional love. As Carli Rae Turner was once quoted, "The best thing about having a sister was that I always had a friend."

"From positive encouragement to voicing instructions on the floor, maybe directed a little more sternly at their sister than at another player, they definitely look out for each other," Coach True said, "What I thoroughly enjoy is the different personalities. The older ones I've spent the last six years with and the younger ones I've spent the last two, three or four, but in a different capacity. That's been really fun to be a part of."

In the locker room after the final home game, it was very emotional, very quiet.

"There were a lot of tears shed. A lot of feelings people don't get the opportunity to see or be around. To me, that's the best part of athletics. This group, a big senior group, fantastic student-athletes, great kids. It was very, very emotional to see them play in the gym one last time," Coach True said.

So, what was it like to play on the same team as your sister? The News interviewed the "older" sisters first and then spent time with the "little" sisters. Neither sister knew what the other said, until now.

The Craffeys

"A sister is both your mirror and your opposite," — Elizabeth Fishel.

Meghan is the "loud" one.

"I'll be walking down the hall and I can hear her laugh from the other end. Oh, that's my sister. Everything she says is loud, but happy. It's funny," Abby said. "She makes people laugh without trying to. It's just the way she is. If I am having a bad day, she knows how to make me laugh."

Abby is the quiet one.

"Abby is really quiet, but strong as a person. She takes nothing from no one. If someone came up to her and dissed her friend, she would stick up for her friend," Meghan said. "If something happens, she would be right behind me. No matter what, she will always be there for me. And, I'll be there for her."

Meghan says Abby "looks a lot like me."

In many ways, Abby wants to be like Meghan.

On the court, both Meghan and Abby shoot the ball extremely well, especially from behind the 3-point arc. They also possess a deep passion for the game.

"Our shooting is alike. When Abby wants to shoot, she's a great shooter. I can't believe I am saying this, but she is a better defender than I am. She's quicker, I'll admit it," Meghan said. "We both have the intensity to want to win. We both won't give up until we win. We just show it in different ways."

Abby admits, she wants to be more like her sister.

"Sometimes, I'll hear things I don't like and get a little mad about it," Abby said. "Meghan always picks herself back up and doesn't let it get to her. She's really strong. I want to be like that. We used to compare ourselves a lot. It pushed us to be better. There's competition, but it's friendly."

Q. What do you like most about playing on the same team as your sister?

Meghan: I have had the privilege to play with my sister for two years on the varsity. Just watching her grow has made my sister and I bond more. My sister has told me that she looks up to me as her role model. I've told her at times to step it up, because next year, I won't be here to push her. I'm building her up to be a leader next year because that's what she's got to be.

Abby: The last couple of years have been special, especially the support she has given me. If I make a mistake, she picks me back up. That's the best part of having a sister on the team. She's always there for me.

Q. What do you like the least?

Meghan: We're use to getting into sister brawls, so when we're out on the floor and if she hits a shot in my face or I hit a shot in her face, there's tension. I can be more physical with her compared to my other teammates, which causes both of us to get better. We know at the end of the day, we're sisters and we love each other. I feel I can push her harder than I can with other players. She won't care.

Abby: When we're on the court, my sister yells at me first, always making me feel it was my fault. I take it because if I say something back, she'll get more mad. If one of them (older sisters) gets mad at one of us, it seems to carry over to all of us. We then gang up on the other.

Q. Favorite memory?

Meghan: A timeout had been called and all of a sudden we get into a huddle and I realize it's me and my sister, Abby (Hancock) and her sister, and Rachel. We just looked around and said, 'Wow. How many teams get to play on the floor in a competitive game with their sisters?' It was amazing. It pumped me up a little bit because it was a once in a lifetime chance.

Abby: When I scored in my first varsity game last year, my sister ran up to me with a big smile, hugged me and slapped my hand. It was so cool.

Q. A moment you'd rather forget?

Meghan: We took a team trip to Subway one day. When I got back, Abby asked, "Meg, where's my pizza?" Oh, no. I realized I hadn't ordered her a pizza. She was the only one I forgot. She didn't talk to me all day. She told my mom on me.

It's a rite of sisterhood. "It was nice growing up with someone like you — someone to lean on, someone to count onÉ someone to tell on!" — Author Unknown.

Abby: Sometimes, she's yelled at me for no reason just because she was mad at me previously, and carried it over to practice. No big regrets.

Q. What have you done to help your sister feel more comfortable playing on the varsity team?

Meghan: I had a talk with her earlier this season because she was stressing out, worried she wasn't going to play well. She said, 'What if I can't live up to the player you've become and shoot as well as you?' I sat down and told her, she's her own player. She's a great player. She can shoot the ball. That's what we need. When we leave, she's going to be a key player for this team. I've tried to build up her confidence. It's been hard for me and Coach True because Abby is such a quiet player. She's not vocal, like me.

Q. Biggest fears joining the varsity with your sister on the team?

Abby: They can be intimidating at times when you go into the game and it's just the seniors on the floor. There's a lot of pressure on you. They try to support you, but just because they're so close, you don't want to make a mistake. If you do make one, you're nervous and waiting for them to say something.

Q. Does your sister push you too hard or not hard enough?

Meghan: Sometimes, I push her too hard and she gets mad at me. She'll take something the wrong way. She doesn't see it as a senior trying to help out a sophomore, but a sister being mean to her sister. I try to explain it, but we're both so stubborn she doesn't understand it. It's hard. We're still trying to overcome it.

Abby: They push us really hard to do better. Sometimes, they may feel it's too hard because they shout at you, but are just trying to make us better and be able to step up next year and be the leaders.

Q. What have you learned most from your sister?

Meghan: I've learned how much of a role model I am to Abby and the other sisters. I see their sisters as my sisters. They see the way I act; I need to watch it sometimes. We have such an influence on them that it's kind of funny. It took a while for me to realize how much my sister wants to be like me as a person and player on the floor. It's amazing.

Abby: Being confident about yourself. When I'm open, I need to shoot the ball. She tells me when I play a good defensive game, even when I didn't. Off the court, her personality. She makes everyone laugh. I'm opposite, kind of quiet.

Q. I am better than my sister atÉ

Meghan: Telling the punch line of a joke.

Abby: Defense. I'm not trying to be mean, but she probably needs to work a little more on it. She's getting better. I think it comes more natural to me.

Q. If you could change one thing about your sister, what would it be?

Meghan: Her taste in clothes so she won't take my clothes.

Abby: We're closer now. I wish it had happened sooner.

Q. What do you see in your sister that reminds you of yourself?

Meghan: I literally see myself when I look at her, not just because we look alike, but both of us really care about other people, people in our lives and people who have changed our lives.

Abby: Her passion. It's carried on to me. I've seen her go through a lot of things and I want to be like her. Having a sister play the same sports that you do makes you play with more passion.

Q. If you had one wish for your sister, what would it be?

Meghan: I hope she realizes how great a person she is. She is so strong and really funny when she talks. She's just such a great person.

Abby: Everything she wants to happen in life comes true.

Q. What advice would you give to your sister about playing in the future?

Meghan: To have more confidence. Not to take her two years left for granted. They go by so fast. You don't realize how awesome high school basketball is until it's gone.

Abby: Listen to what people have to say and don't take it so personal. Talk about it, don't keep everything inside.

Q. How will you feel the last time you'll be on the floor together?

Meghan: This year, I've realized how valuable my time has been with her. I've taken time before for granted, and I shouldn't have. It's going to be really hard.

Abby: I'll be sad, but on the bright side, she's going on to play basketball in college. She'll be having fun. We'll play pick-up games. She'll still be giving me instruction.

The Hancocks

"Sisters is probably the most competitive relationship within the family, but once the sisters are grown, it becomes the strongest relationship," — Margaret Mead.

Abby and Sydney Hancock admit they are intense and very competitive when they hit the basketball floor.

Coach True used sibling rivalry, from time to time, to create a spark at practice.

"This will be my first open admission that I've created situations for intensity sake to pair them up together. It doesn't take long for things to get a little heated. I love it," Coach True said. "Abby and Sydney are huge competitors, but at the same time when all is said and done, they can sit back and chuckle about it."

When Abby watches Sydney play, she sees a lot of herself.

"I definitely see the drive to be the best you can possibly be. I have never settled for just average. I am never satisfied, and want to get to the next level. I see that in Sydney. She has high goals for herself and high expectations. She'll do what ever it takes to meet those," Abby said. "I think as she gets older, we'll be alike. We're both quick. We take pride in our defense. We both see the floor pretty well. Differences? Right now, I think it's confidence. It makes sense, she's a freshman and I am a senior. It's actually the same for us because I had confidence issues when I was a freshman. We're pretty similar."

What does Sydney see in Abby that reminds her of herself?

"Abby loves whatever she does. Whatever I do, I do it with passion. We love what we do," Sydney said. "She got frustrated with me when I was little. I did whatever she did. Her hair would be in a ponytail and she'd have a striped shirt on, and I would go back upstairs and change, and put my hair in a ponytail. As I've gotten older, I've found myself and do what I want to do."

Q. What do you like most about playing on the same team as your sister?

Abby: It's a family tradition. Everybody saw my uncle and my dad playing, now it's my sister and I. We haven't been in the same school since Songo Locks (elementary). It's really special for me to be out on the floor at the same time with her. We haven't had a chance to play together, until this year. First, in soccer. Now, in basketball. It's crazy how competitive we are out on the floor. I will not let her steal the ball away from me; or push me around. She really has helped me a lot to raise my level of competitiveness. It's really been fun for me.

Sydney: Definitely, she teaches me a lot. I've watched her and see what she does, and it helps me. I've never been able to play on the same team as her, so this has been very special.

Q. What do you like the least?

Abby: Because we are so competitive, sometimes I get frustrated with her. I love her to death, but there are times that I'll yell at her and get on her case during practice. I feel badly after.

Sydney: The older sisters are supportive on the court, but things can heat up in a game and it's easier for them to snap at us than other players because we've been arguing our whole lives. We can get caught up in the moment, but after the game, we move on.

Q. Favorite memory?

Abby: It has to be the game Chelsea couldn't play and Sydney started for her. To hear #4 and #10 called out by the announcer was really cool. Being in the backcourt pressing and a picture was taken of us was really cool.

Sydney: The Greely game. Abby had a ton of points and she fouled out, so I had to take her place as the point guard. I remember coming out of the timeout and the game was almost over, she came to me and said, 'Syd, this is up to you. C'mon, you can do it. I know you can do it.' That gave me so much support and confidence. It felt good to know that she trusted me to be in there, doing what she would be doing. Even though we lost the game, she wasn't upset and told me I did my best. That was really special.

Q. A moment you'd rather forget

Abby: During a practice, it was a little tense that day. No one was talking. It was quiet on the floor. Sydney didn't do something and I just screamed at her.

Sydney: We've had some tough moments all season, but I have no regrets.

Q. What have you done to help your sister feel more comfortable playing on the varsity team?

Abby: Being a freshman, it was difficult. I reminded her that she was playing with me and my friends, and her friends that she's grown up with. Seeing it as one big family made it easier, especially since confidence is a big issue for her, right now. The more she's played, the more relaxed she's become. I just keep reminding her to go out and play like she can.

Q. Biggest fears joining the varsity with your sister on the team?

Sydney: I didn't want to make a mistake because they've achieved so much. In my first varsity game, I was nervous that I would do something they didn't want me to do and mess things up for them.

Q. Do you push your sister too hard or not hard enough?

Abby: Definitely too hard. No one calls fouls at practice, and she can tell you that.

Sydney: Most times, it's the perfect amount. At practice, she tells me to step it up. In games, if I've had a rough game, she tells me it's okay, 'you're doing great this year,' 'it's amazing what you've been able to do.' She really supports me, which has been good.

Q. What have you learned most from your sister?

Abby: She's reinforced the idea that we're role models that others look up to. That's what she sees in me. She's been so encouraging to me. It's nice to have her there, telling me I am doing great and she picks me up when I am feeling down. She's taught me to be more positive, and not get down on my teammates or myself.

Sydney: How I have to be tough. My sister takes a thousand beatings a game, and I am not much bigger than her. You have to hold your own out there, and be tough and play as hard as you can for 32 minutes. That's what she's done for four years. She gives it her all, and that's what I am trying to do. Her confidence. I know that will come for me in the years to come. She's always working. She'll be in the gym an hour before practice, lifting with coach, trying to get better and stronger.

Q. What are you most proud of?

Abby: I am really proud of my sister for being her own person. She is one of the most unique people I know. She's not afraid to express things she loves. She loves to sing and dance. I am really proud of her that she has had the confidence to play varsity soccer and now varsity basketball, as a freshman. I look up to her for all those reasons.

Sydney: I look up to her so much as a player. She is one of the best come through here. Amazing defense. Amazing offense. Her attitude is awesome. I'm really proud of the way she's played the past four years, and I really want to be like her. Her strength is also her weakness. I love how hard she works and when we get silly, it's so fun. I love how hard she works on the court, but I don't like when she gets hard on herself. She thinks she's had a bad game, but she played great. She gets upset, and it not fun to be around then.

Q. I am better than my sister atÉ

Abby: Getting the last word in when we have an argument. I always say the last thing.

Sydney: When it comes to meeting new people, I'm more outgoing. She tends to be quieter when it comes to new things. I'm crazy loud.

Q. If I could change one thing about my sister, it would beÉ

Abby: Her age, so I could spend more time in high school with her.

Sydney: When she was in middle school and I was in elementary school, we weren't as close. Since coming to high school, we've gotten a lot closer. I wish we were this close previously, but I'm glad this has happened.

Q. If you could make one wish for your sister, what would it be?

Abby: I hope that she continues to set high goals for herself, and never settles for just okay. For her to really work hard to become the player I know she can be, basketball wise. I also hope that she doesn't give up on other things that she's good at like acting and singing, because she has a lot of talent, which can be easily overlooked. She could easily stick just with basketball, but I'd hate for her to give up on things that she loves.

Sydney: I want her to be big in life and I know she can. I hope her four years in college go great. I hope she is successful at basketball at Trinity, and afterwards, she gets to where she wants to be in life. I know she can.

Q. What advice would you give to your sister about playing in the future?

Abby: Coach True has taught me to enjoy the journey, not the outcome. I think that is what I'd tell her. She's a lot like me in the sense that she wants to win and wants the outcome to be what she wants it to be. In life, that's not always true. Confidence wise, keep playing with the confidence I know she can have, once she reaches that, she's going to be a great player.

Sydney: Make sure you let people in when something is wrong. We're all here to back you up, you're not alone.

Q. How will you feel the last time you are on the floor together?

Abby: I tried to focus one game and one practice at a time. It's going to be really hard because I've had only one year with Sydney — the only time in my life to play with her. It's going to be really emotional. It's been a great year spending time with her, it won't happen again. It's really going to hit me.

Sydney: Once it's over, I'll appreciate it more. We don't play the same spring sport, so this is our last chance to be together. I want to make the most of it.

The Wandishins

"Sisters function as safety nets in a chaotic world simply by being there for each other," — Carol Saline.

The road has been a little rough for Megan and Rachel Wandishin. They've both battled through medical conditions (Megan has a bad shoulder which required surgery for the second time in two years to cut short her senior season, while Rachel dealt with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis as a child) and personal challenges, yet through it all, they've always leaned on each other for strength and support.

"We've been through a lot together and separately, overcoming obstacles in front of us doing whatever it takes to get what we want. We're not content until we get it done," Megan said.

Both girls are resilient, but also are a little different.

"Megan is always to happy. She picks everyone up when they're down, especially me," Rachel said. "We're a lot alike, but I'm loud and express myself a lot more. If she is upset or has a problem, she likes to keep it inside and handle it on her own. I'd rather let it all out."

Yet, when the two get into an argument, old sister most often prevails.

"She always knows what to say," Rachel said. "I'm never right. She always finishes off the conversation.

Q. What do you like most about playing on the same team as your sister?

Megan: Since I haven't been able to play, I live vicariously through Rachel. I love watching her because she is the kind of player I always wanted to be. She goes all out on every possession. It's fun to watch. She helps me and I help her to understand the game better.

Rachel: Having their support, knowing they are always there. It's something I always wanted to do, especially before she had to have surgery.

Q. What do you like the least?

Megan: We both have strong personalities and strong views about everything that we'll disagree if I tell her that something should have gone differently or things she could improve upon. We'll butt heads because she doesn't want to tell me I'm right, and I never want to tell her she is right. Of course, there is always the problem of sharing clothes. That's our biggest arguments.

Rachel: Off the court, there are little sister issues, whether it's one of us stealing their shirts to wear to school. The three of us team up together because the three of them team up. We go at it.

Q. Favorite memory?

Megan: When I was actually playing, in uniform, we were on the floor together. When we were at the scorer's table, Rachel reached over, squeezed my leg, and said, 'This is it, let's go.' We both went out together, and played 2 to 3 minutes together. It was the best feeling. I've been watching for so long that to finally be able to play, and play with her, was more than I could ever ask for. It was the best memory.

Rachel: We both scored our first varsity points in the same game. That was really cool.

Q. What moment would you rather forget?

Megan: We have travel suits that we're suppose to wear after the game. Rachel had come to the game before I had and my one job was to bring her sweat pants because she had left them in the laundry. I walked through the door and she looked at me. I had forgotten them. She was so mad at me all day. She wouldn't talk to me. Whenever anyone brought up clothes in general, she would look at me and say, 'Sweat pants, where are they?'

Rachel: None.

Q. What have you done to help your sister feel more comfortable playing on the varsity team?

Megan: There was a problem during the season that the underclassmen were acting more like our sisters than our teammates. We were getting frustrated because they don't see us as seniors but as sisters or friends of sisters. We told them we had earned our spots and our time over the past four years, we want you to respect that. We all have done a good job making it such an open place. It's cool to look around and see half the other people on the bench are related. The biggest thing for Rachel is she is one of the smaller kids out on the court and gets thrown around a lot. She needs to keep her head up. When she was younger, she had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. She's been a fighter since then. When she was 3, she couldn't put a boot on herself. She has always had a special drive to overcome any odds in front of her. She gives me credit for helping to be a stronger player, but I don't know that I deserve it. She's the one.

Q. What was your biggest fear joining the varsity with your sister on the team?

Rachel: They've been together all the way up through and so use to playing together, and to go in and get into that mix made me a little nervous.

Q. Does your sister push you too hard or not hard enough?

Megan: Too hard

Rachel: With my sister on the bench now because of her shoulder, she pushes me. She wants me to be the best I can be. She knows what I need to work on because she's watching.

Q. What have you learned most from your sister?

Megan: Rachel has taught me to be a fighter. She's gone through so much. Every day, she works as hard as she can. Whether she gets into a game for a half a minute or half a game, she is always working to be a better player. I think working as hard as you can without any boundaries is what I've learned from her.

Rachel: Stick with it, push through no matter what is going on. With her shoulder, she had surgery once and came back. Now, she has to have it again, yet she's stuck with it. I admire her for that.

Q. What are you most proud of?

Megan: She's never given up despite what she's gone through. I look up to her all the time because she's out there on the floor doing something I can't. I wish I could be out there with her. When I was, she is always trying to make everyone better. I really respect that. She's becoming an amazing young woman and basketball player. I'm so proud of her.

Rachel: The answer I previously gave.

Q. I am better than my sister atÉ?

Megan: Getting my point across. I over analyze things I am going to say. She'll hit me with a little jab, and then I'll give her a response that she knows I knew what she was going to say. Winning arguments.

Rachel: I'm more organized. We're opposite. Her car is a mess. Mine wouldn't be like that.

Q. If you could change one thing about your sister, what would it be?

Megan: I don't think I'd change anything about her. I think every thing about her is great.

Rachel: She would let me borrow her clothes more.

Q. What do you see in your sister that reminds you of yourself?

Megan: Since our parents divorced, we spend every weekend together — whether it is driving to one of the house or hanging out with friends — it forced us to grow up and rely upon each other. Every Sunday, we have dinner with my grandparents. We both have learned to value the people that care for us. To really value the relationships we do have. On this team, your teammates really are your family. It's so unique. We've learned to trust and rely on each other.

Rachel: We're both very loyal. She and her friends have been very loyal to each other all the way through school, and I see that happening with me and my friends. Everything she's been through from her shoulder and my parents, she's been so strong. She's the happiest person all the time. Sometimes, I can get a little down on myself, and she'll tell me to cheer up, 'it's fine.'

Q. If you had one wish for your sister, what would it be?

Megan: I hope she doesn't take any minute for granted. We've had two years together, and the next two she's going to bloom into the person she is. Right now, I pull her under my wing even when I don't mean to. People see us as a package deal sometimes, but I know the individual she is, how caring and compassionate she is on her own. I can't wait to see her become that person. I hope she doesn't let anything stop her from getting what she wants. She hasn't so far, so I don't see that being a problem. Whatever obstacle is in front of her, she doesn't let it stand in her way. I hope she keeps reaching for the stars.

Rachel: Be successful. Does what she wants to do.

Q. What advice would you give to your sister about playing in the future?

Megan: We have this quote that we go by, '32 to play, a lifetime to remember.' I've learned you can't take any game for granted because in a split second it could be over and you're sidelined. She needs to live every single minute of those 32 minutes to the fullest, even if she plays a minute or half or full game. These are the best times you're going to remember, playing with sisters, just doesn't happen.

Rachel: Stay strong through everything. There will always be ups and downs, but keep working as she has been.

Q. How will you feel the last time you are on the floor together?

Megan: When it's finally over, it's going to be really hard. Playing and being in this gym, the atmosphere, you don't go other places and feel what we have here. It's such a fun place to play. There's such passion here between the fans and parents. It's a great place to play.

Rachel: I'm really grateful we had a chance to play together, even though it was for a short time.

Indeed, there have been some hard knocks, frustrations and arguments experienced by the sisters on and off the basketball court this winter. Yet in the end, the girls most remember the smiles, memories and tears of joy they shared with their sister. While they were born sisters, they grew up to be friends — Catherine Pulsifer.

Follow Student Sports