05/13/2026
I’ve been meaning to write this since February 3, 2026 — the final basketball game of Rio’s career. I cried and cried that night, and then immediately slipped into denial that it was actually over. When you have a high school senior, the denial of time is very real. But now, with her only days away from her last final exam of high school, I think it’s finally time for me to accept it: it’s over.
And what a joy it was to watch.
Cheering her on from the stands, watching her dive for loose balls, fight for rebounds, drain 3-pointers, and lead her team with intensity and heart — it was one of the greatest privileges of my life. I’m going to miss being a spectator at her games more than I can put into words.
Unlike her brother, Rio was never basketball-obsessed. But she has always been deeply competitive. Basketball may not have started as her passion, but once Rio commits to something, she is all in. She doesn’t know how to halfway care. You can’t fake heart, and Rio has always had it tenfold.
She started playing in 4th grade on her elementary school team and continued every single year of her school career, except for the season lost to the pandemic. She didn’t begin with natural skill — she began with determination, grit, and heart. That’s what made her great. The skill came later through years of hard work, endless practices, and learning from different coaches.
Through four coaches in four years of high school basketball, Rio grew exponentially. After freshman year, she realized she would need to elevate her game to compete at the next level, so she spent her summers waking up early on Saturday mornings to train. It was never easy, but she never backed down.
Continued in comments below 👇 👇👇
