Seeing your heroes on TV is one thing, but hanging out and playing games for a few hours with them became a surreal experience for three Sequim basketball fans.
Destinie Bernard and sisters Lily and Pearl Peterson, members of the Sequim Boys & Girls Club, traveled to Melrose Market in Seattle on June 5 for a VIP experience with the Seattle Storm professional women’s basketball team.
Dave Miller, unit director for the Sequim club, said through his connections he was able to bring a few exceptional club members.
“They earned it because of the work they do with the club,” he said.
“They’re always out to help and the two oldest help run the Torch Club (a leadership club within the club). Those are the things we look for and we tell the kids these are the kinds of opportunities offered when you go above and beyond.”
The girls meet-and-greeted every player of the team including Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart.
“They were a little star struck at first and then began conversing with them,” Miller said. “It got so personal for two hours.”
The girls took pictures with each player, had their memorabilia signed and played games through the evening.
Over his years taking club members to games, Miller, a season ticket holder, said he’s continually “impressed with the Storm as a team being so kid-friendly and family-friendly.”
Pearl Peterson met with Storm guard Jewel Loyd joking with her for Kobe Bryant’s phone number, Miller said, but as a compromise Loyd gave Pearl her number and the pair texted back-and-forth.
Miller said the club plans to go to a Storm game this summer where they’ll get a chance to go onto the court and cut a basketball net down to keep.
For more information on the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula, including Sequim’s Carroll C. Kendall Unit, call 360-683-8095.
For more information on Seattle Storm games, visit http://storm.wnba.com.
Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.
Breanna Stewart of the Seattle Storm stands with Lily Peterson, Destinie Bernard and Pearl Peterson, members of the Sequim Boys & Girls Club, on June 5. The girls snapped shots with every Storm player and played games with them during a special event in Seattle. Photo courtesy of Dave Miller
