Can't Judge A Book

From Wichita (thanks, Roy): It was no surprise to anybody on my street that Amanda Orloske sank eight three-point shots and scored 28 points for Heights' basketball team in the Class 6A quarterfinals on Thursday.

That girl practices hard.

But there is a twist to the Orloske family's basketball story that deserves telling here. It does not center on the amazing Amanda. This story revolves around somebody shorter, who does not practice nearly as hard.

Chris and Kelly Orloske and their daughters Amanda and Marissa are my across-the-street neighbors in Bel Aire.

Every day, including in the off-season, Amanda, a junior at Heights, shoots 250-or-so shots in her driveway, mostly from three-point territory.

Then she steps out on our street, which has a slope, and runs uphill about 250 yards. She walks back, runs uphill again, and then again.

She does this in spring, summer, fall and winter.

My wife Sheryl and I have watched this for years from our kitchen table window, ever since Amanda was a kid. Amanda's dad, a firefighter, had taught her a few shots and urged her to run, but never stood out there and made her do anything.

Four years ago, Amanda was hitting maybe six out of every 10 shots from various three-point angles. In the last year or so it's more like eight or nine of 10.

But now here's the twist.