My Basketball Career At Valparaiso University

In the Semi-Final game we played the Wilsonville Wildcats. It was a game where we got smacked in the mouth early, The Wildcats were up two touchdowns early, but we were never out of the game we came back made them play four quarters of all out physical football. We ended up winning that game 63-35. Entering the locker room, the excitement filled the air and the chant “were going to the ship,” began. The whole season lead up to this moment the moment when we knew that we had made it all the

“Are you fired up?!?” the General yelled. The answer, of course, was “Yes sir, fired up, sir!” This was how we started every year of Dixie Basketball Camp as we came together in the Southwest Mississippi Community College (SMCC) auditorium. It is hard to explain what the Dixie Basketball Camp is all about. Experiencing it is really the only way of knowing. Dixie teaches kids every year the value of hard work along with the fundamentals of basketball. The camp has a unique and special enthusiasm, filled with cheering and chants, many of which have continued for many years and have made Dixie one-of-a-kind. The General, Joe Dean Jr., has been running the camp for over twenty years. He inspires five hundred campers every year to work hard and sweat on the basketball court. Over the past eight years, he has served as a role model for me at the camp. The Dixie Basketball Camp has been a significant part of my life since the fourth grade; I could not help but be upset as I drove away from the campus after my eighth and final year at the world famous Dixie Basketball Camp and Country Club, “Hey!” I was going to miss all of the enthusiasm the most.

As we walked out of the McLeod Center, I learned that I experience history wherever I go. I can also say that any team can be beaten on any given day. Even if your record is bad you can still exceed expectation to win. Being with my dad and experiencing this moment is one of the best memories I will never forget this moment with

It is the first round of the Basketball State playoffs, and with eight seconds left, the talented Northwest team is down by three. The star point guard speed dribbles up the court, the tension on and off the court is immense, the pressure is even greater. Everyone during and prior to this game, had witnessed a season full of promise, and the consensus conclusion for most recognized this team as the best team to have ever come out Northwest High School. This was our best and likely only chance for success. So as the point guard puts the ball up, time nearly stops, it has a chance, but in like in life, the game of basketball is unforgiving, he misses. As most made their pre-conceived predictions of the future, or lack thereof, a young sophomore and his Junior Varsity teammates, we were inspired by our elders walking off the court, and the doubters going home. Bonded together, and we believed we were destine for something historical, and mythological outside our small circle. Thus two years later the 2016 Northwest Varsity Basketball team, the discourse community, where I developed relationships with the people I still call my brothers. A community which has shaped my work ethic, and has given me the knowledge of the amount of effort and work it takes to be successful. All of which was in efforts for a goal not even pronounced among our teammates, to us the future was still a mystery, only realized to us a one

“A loud and spirited crowd has the potential to alter the result of a game” (Benavidez). Almost every sport’s fan in the world would agree. A large crowd is one thing, but a large crowd who is passionately cheering on their team plays a crucial role in sporting events. When asked the question on how school spirit affects his team’s performance, Seth Mcgowen responded, “It increases the morale of the player. When we see there’s a big crowd there cheering us on, we feel like we have to do better so that we don’t let them down. If they’re shouting my name and cheering for me personally, it makes me step up my performance and do something great.” Key words in Mcgowen’s response are “cheering us on” (Benavidez). Mcgowen said an enormous crowd is not what encourages the team, but an enormous crowd that cheers does. Former Tupelo High School basketball coach Jerry Lee Clayton preached the importance of having school spirit and used to tell his players, “A school without spirit is nothing, but a school with spirit has the power to do miraculous things.” Athletes want school spirit from their town and school because they have the chance to feel an emotional connection with the fans. What team wants to compete for a school that does not support them, but all teams want to compete for a school that gives them full support. School spirit has the power to affect a team’s performance, and that is a benefit almost everyone can

The 13C basketball team had a great season despite only two games being played. From the two matches, the squad managed to split the win/loss column, going down to Scots College in the first match of the season before securing a memorable 19-13 victory against tough opponents Newington College. The disrupted season never hindered the boy’s effort in training and you could see the progression week to week. They did not just develop individual skills, but each player developed their basketball sense, improving their awareness and intangibles that will take them to next level as athletes.

As I walked into Hall D of the Kentucky International Convention Center, I noticed half of my team sitting on the green and blue carpet with yellow streaks. I joyfully skipped over to Lexi, my strong back spot, sat down, and started to tie the long, rough-looking white laces of my off-white Tumblina cheer shoes. All around me, I heard murmurs; cheer counts from one to eight, laughing moms and daughters, gossip behind me, and coaches trying to perfect their teams routine before hitting the big mat. I could smell the strong scent of hairspray, hot food right from the restaurant nearby, and the disgusting smell of spray glitter all around me.

At that moment there was nothing that could have made us happier. The boom of the cannon was so loud that I could feel it reverberating through my chest and it was incredible. The boys made the field goal and the score was now tied at 7. Shortly after Kade’s first touchdown, he made another and the crowd went wild. Carlye and I chest bumped and laughed at how ridiculous we probably looked, but we were so thrilled that we could not possibly care what anyone thought of us. We threw up some stunts and my heart was racing. Everyone seemed to be in a daze, in disbelieve that we were really ahead. Our score was now heightened to 13 while Campus was still at

As I walked into Hall D of the Kentucky International Convention Center, I noticed half of my team sitting on the green and blue carpet with yellow streaks. I joyfully skipped over to Lexi, my strong back spot, sat down, and started to tie the long, rough-looking white laces of my off-white Tumblina cheer shoes. All around me, I heard murmurs; cheer counts from one to eight, laughing moms and daughters, gossip behind me, and coaches trying to perfect their teams routine before hitting the big mat. I could smell the strong scent of hairspray, hot food right from the restaurant nearby, and the disgusting smell of spray glitter all around me.

The crowd, cheering so loud we could barely hear ourselves. This is the moment we have all been waiting for. We didn’t start off very good. It was a very competitive game. We needed to give everything that we had in order to come back and try to win it. We all knew that the odds were against us. Yes, two of our starters were sick/hurt but we both started and were doing everything that we possibly could do to help the team out and win. It was a frustrating first half. We had played Osage before and knew what we had to do to win like we did last time. It just would be a little harder this time. At the half, Hampton was down 28-41. At that point, I was disappointed in myself. I was mad that I couldn’t do anything more to help them out. I tried, but my body wasn’t keeping up the way it usually would. I’m usually the one they put on the other teams best girl so they can’t score. They couldn’t do that tonight because I was so worn

Running into the gym with my team, knowing it was my last middle school basketball game, but first championship game I felt elated and truly blessed. My knees quivered with anticipation after seeing all the bleachers filled with people. After realizing even the press and other media was in attendance I grasped the moment like a newly elected president at his inauguration. I am warming up doing basketball drills, when I began to look at the flags on the gym wall depicting the history of the basketball team. The years and dates of the last championship game, Historically a championship game had not been won since 2007 . The more I stared at the flags, the more it made me want to win this game and make history in this gym. As the crowd and cheerleaders start to chant, cheer and get loud, I started to feel more comfortable and rowdy more than I had ever felt in any other game that I’ve played. Waiting for the referee to blow the whistle for jumpall to start. I felt my fingertips tapping the side of my leg, which for some reason gives me a sign to myself that I am pumped up and ready to play!

The brightly lit court contrasted with the darkness of the huge cavern with its freezer-like biting cold air which encompassed all areas of the Shadow Hill’s gym. Every one who was attending this event was swept up with anticipation waiting for this match to start. Lost in my thoughts, the shrill of a single whistle reminded me why I was there. This was one of the most important and competitive games in the low desert. Shadow Hills High School’s volleyball team was scheduled to play Xavier College Prep’s volleyball team tonight. The Shadow Hills team-I know most of the players-contains a lot of skilled players, as does the Xavier Prep team. Xavier Prep has more funding for sports programs, allowing them to spend more money on the

Syracuse University is a basketball school. It’s a big part of our campus culture, and many SU students love to play the game. With this in mind, we sought out to create a fundraising campaign for the PATHE initiative that provides students with a way to enjoy themselves while giving aid to young scholars seeking a path to college. Hoops for Higher Education is an event that will take place in the Flanagan Gymnasium. This event will be held on an afternoon on a weekend where students will have more free time on their hands to attend, and participants of this event will play against each other in a 3 v 3 basketball tournament for a grand prize of $100. Teams will be made up of three players, with an optional fourth additional person who will

As we heard the band round out the fight song and go into “chugga chugga CHOO CHOO” chaos seats in. I saw that the band has formed the tunnel for the team to run through. I felt myself drop everything and set into a dead sprint. I was being followed by a herd of spirit team members who all wanted a good position to see our boys with adrenaline pumping out the ears run through us. This was when we realize how much each and every one of them wants the win. Each of the fifty or so boys who were about to give their heart and sole on the field, wanted a victory for themselves, but more importantly, for our family at Newton

The team was ready, we had been working extremely hard for the past seven months for this. We were all in great shape and very rested. A few of the returning players were meeting me at my house to carpool to the final game of the state championship tournament. Everyone knew that the hard work had paid off when we won the semi-final game the preceding day.