The Game

Author's Note: I wrote this to tell you how I feel when I play basketball in close situations.

You look at the crowd and your breath gets taken away.

The refs blow the whistle and the game is about to begin.

You take a knee, bow, and pray quickly.

You’re real nervous but you know you can win.

The tip is won by your team.

The ball finds your hands.

You dribble up the court.

You try your hardest but you cannot put the ball in the hoop.

Halftime comes and your coach gives everyone a talk.

The refs blow their whistle and the second half has begun.

It’s a close game.

The other team starts to pull away.

Then your best player starts hitting everything.

Your team slowly starts to crawl back into the game.

Ten seconds left and your team has the ball.

Your best player is now out with a sprained ankle.

Again, the ball finds your hands.

You dribble up the court with the time winding down.

You’re down by two.

Do you take the three and win or take the two and go into overtime?

Your decision is made.

There are 3 seconds,

2 seconds,

1 second.

You are at the three point line.

You pull up and shoot the ball into the air.

It’s spinning and time seems to slow.

Finally it reaches the rim.

It rolls around for what seems like an eternity,

Then it goes in.

At the buzzer the game is won.

You have done it.

Your basketball team is the new state champions.