The Night Of The Warriors

We played at the Bartlett gym. It is a small metal gym with a tile floor. That is slick as glass and a big circular fan at one end of the court. It smelled like sweat and popcorn. And i heard the squeak of the shoes. It was are first game. They have played a few games before us we were a little nervous. I started on A team and we played hard. ‘I did get in foul trouble and had to sit a little’. ‘’ my first fouls was when I tried to stuff a kid and hit the kid’’.

When I was younger I used to play sports especially football. I remember playing in the championship game for Coral Reef Senior High against American Heritage Senior High. It was my last high school game and for us to remain undefeated throughout the season. I also knew I had to bring my “A” game because of college scouts were going to be at the game. Our game was to be played at Florida International University at 7pm. My team and I went to the FIU stadium two hours before the game started to stretch and loosen up. So as the time was winding down for us to play we step on the field, all I could see was a lot people in the stands cheering us on. I kind of had butterflies in my stomach but I had to put that feeling aside and help my team win.

We reminded each other that we needed to just have fun and relax on the court. The nerves kicked in for me once we arrived at McCormick Place. My stomach was twisting and my legs went weak. Tall escalators carried us up to the level that the courts were on. We were welcomed by a sign that said, “Welcome to the 2017 Nike Tournament of Champions.” I was shocked walking through the large doors that led to the courts. All I could see were courts upon courts. It felt like we walked forever to get to our court. As I was lacing up my shoes, all I could think about was all of the hard and long practices that had led up to this. I didn’t work hard for nothing. I realized that I was only a freshman and still had a long ways to go. Most of the nerves came out after the first game. We played three games that day with college coaches watching all of them. The lumps were in my throat and it felt like my heart sank to my stomach. I have never had college coaches watching games that I was playing in. After each game I reflected back on how I played and told myself what I needed to work on and do better at. I have never played against girls that were so good at basketball. Some of the teams had tall girls that hovered over all of us. Not all of the games went as we had planned, but we played well as a team.

The days following were so exciting, with welcoming the team home and celebrating with them. The parade in the city and seeing how much joy a basketball game can bring to everyone. Just like my mom said, the feeling of excitment I will never forget and I hope one day when I have children they can expirence this excitment with their favorite

The crowd is cheering, the pressure, the weight of my team on my shoulders I take three dribbles and then I spring up and take a shot and. It was a December night on the day of the Oley Championship Basketball Game, against Oley. After the tip off, the game was in Oley’s hands. They played great defense, made a lot of their shots, but our team just played horribly and they were up by 16 points. At the end of the third the score was around 26-10 Oley, but in my head the game was not over yet because we still had 8 minutes to come back, and I always want to win. Nothing really happened in the first 4 minutes, but in the last 2 minutes I contributed with an assist and 5 points including a layup and a three.

I was 12 year old when I started playing basketball. My dream was to be similar to Michael Jordan. However, my GBL team has lost every game since I’ve started playing basketball. I was also playing with my older brother Jeremiah for the first time, but we were always fighting about whose better. I knew this season would bring us together. With a lot of hard work we finally won. It took me and my brother to work together to win.

When the crowd inspired me to play on I did just that, and guarded like my life depended on it and stole the ball,I zoomed down the court with the ball hitting

After the Raiders and I finish setting up all of the chairs and the table, where the stat keepers and score keepers sit, I get ready to shoot around before the game. I look around and all I see is an empty court. Just looking at the court fueled the excitement that I felt for this upcoming game. It was the type of excitement that could only be satisfied once the game started. As the game drew closer, I could smell Franklin coming

It was a hot summer day in Hammond, Louisiana and I was pouring down sweat like I had just jumped in a pool. The game was just about to begin, me and my team was eagle eyeing the bomb squad. It was so quiet that you could hear your own sweat hitting the bench. The umpire broke up everyone’s concentration by saying, “play ball”! The defense had ran out on the field and I started rolling ground balls from 2nd to short-stop to third base. They had all made good throws back to me and then I threw the ball into the dug-out because the game had begun.

Two months later it was the first day of dance masters I felt so bad that I was almost going to make my heart cry inside, and my mom knew I was feeling that inside to. She then told me I will always be here for you. I said wow that was a very heartfelt sentence. Then I said I love you mom, And gave her a hug.

That day still feels like it was yesterday, that day was one of the greats, we were playing the undefeated team for the championship. Boy wasn't I excited, the park gym was packed to me it felt as if I was playing at Staples Center. Before tipoff I had all these thoughts and doubts running through my mind cause everybody in that gym was rooting for the other team. This game was close as we both fought for the title, there were many lead changes in the game who knew who was gonna come out on top. Clutch time, fourth quarter ten seconds left, tied game, the crowd is going wild as it felt like the building was about to collapse. My coach calls a timeout as I run towards the huddle I glance at the score tie game with ten seconds left we have a chance to prove everyone wrong. This was it, this is what he feels, this is why we practice, I knew I had to make this shot. As we set up in our positions that our coach had scribbled on his clipboard, the referee hands in the ball and we begin to run the play, as i struggle to get open I knew the clock was ticking I had no time to waste as soon as I catch that ball. Finally

I walked to it, and all the sudden I was in a white jersey, and it read elite. The arena was wooden floor, and many many fans were filling the seats. I was wondering still where I was. I seen many of the NBA superstars like Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, and Lebron James on the sideline seats. My name was finally called over from somewhere. It was the bench with all other white jerseys in a huddle. I ran over to the huddle, and seen many of the NBA rookies like D 'angelo Russell, Karl Anthony Towns, and Jahlil Okafor. I gathered in the huddle, and our coach was speaking about our game plan. I was so confused on where I was still. Until D 'angelo Russell announced, “welcome to my career!” My eyes opened so wide with a surprised face. The scoreboard went off which told us the game was about to begin.

I woke up the morning of the game with butterflies in my stomach and had trouble eating breakfast. We played in a big,open gym with three sets of bleachers surrounding the court. Lowndes and Lakeside fans filled the bleachers.

I have never felt more nervous than in the locker room before my region game in Pierre to advance to the state tournament. My teammates and I were gathered in the locker room before the game like we usually are, but this was different. The feeling of knowing that this was our last chance of going to the state tournament and playing for a championship was on the line. I remember it was so quite. I had headphones on, and so many thoughts were traveling my mind. The music blasting in my ears was a blur and all I could hear was my own heart beating. Coach Gardner entered the room and had the coaching staff with him preparing to give his pregame speech. After he relieved some of our stress and nerves, we were ready. We broke down the huddle and jogged down the dark hall to the court. I will never forget walking onto the court hearing the screeching cheers and seeing the sea of purple on one side of the court and red on the other.

I love basketball and I love it even more when I am playing with my best friends. I look forward to every bus ride, game, practice, and team dinner, just because it is another time to hang out with my best friends. Throughout the past two seasons, we have made so many memories, that still make me laugh. From our pre-game locker room fun, to making animal noises in the huddle, to even making it to state, these past couple of years have been a blast. I have so many memories from basketball, but there is one that sticks out the most.