Personal Narrative: The Basketball Team

“Come on guys,” I yelled. I heard the screech of the referee’s whistle. Rushing to the bench, I heard the referee call out “Timeout, Heat.” Everything was on the line and our team’s championship hopes, being foremost on our team’s minds, was all coach could scream about. “I’m not going to tell you how to play basketball,” he yelled out. “That’s your job. I’m just going to say that right now, to us, this is a championship game. If we win this, we move on to the championship. If not, at least let us fall valiantly.” That got the whole team riled up as we rushed back onto the court. The crowd, encouraging as always, yelled out their approval on the fact that we were giving it our all. With just sixteen seconds left in the game and our team down by four, something special had to happen or we were done for the season.

Basketball was a new experience to me a few years ago, but i never realized I was going to love it. When I was younger, I’ve always wanted to play the sport of basketball, and I got my opportunity to play when I was in fifth grade at Monte Vista Elementary.

I fell in love with basketball 7 years ago. What began as a few trial trainings gradually grew into a deep passion for the sport. I realized that I had the flair for it as doing moves like layups came to me very naturally. All I had to do was to observe my coach do an example once, practice the move a few times, and I got it.

Our 8th grade basketball team were putting on a show! Opponents would enter bobcat territory where our team would play a hard fight to take another win. Every game spectators are left in astonishment after witnessing determination, willingness, and our spirit until the clock expires down to its last second.

There he was sitting in the bleachers waiting for the game to be over hoping that it wouldn't be long. His little brother, Mike, was playing a lacrosse game, the hardest one of their season. Mike was pretty good, but not as good as the people on the other team. The score was 17-2, they were ranked number two in the state, but these guys were number one.

Their coach was Chet Carnivale. Coach Chet had been making a big impact on the Greenwave girls. It was late January, early February; the middle of the basketball season, and their record was 22-0. They couldn’t believe they were undefeated. Taking on Sacred Heart at 4:30, the Greenwave girls would compete to win the championship game in the Sacred Heart Tournament. Time had flown by. The sound of basketballs bouncing and the squeaking of basketball shoes burning rubber on the floor meant that it was almost game time. The Greenwave girls were extremely anxious. Coach Chet had sparked a new confidence in them, and their anxiety and fear quickly turned into anger and determination to give their long-time enemy a taste of their own medicine. Somehow, the fear of destroying their record and losing a chance at revenge still lingered in the back of their minds. All of a sudden, the ref blew the whistle for the jump

The state tournament was next week it was the biggest tournament of the year. They had practice every day for two hours up till the tournament. Their first game was on Thursday at 12 pm so they had to get out of school early for it. They played a really good team from the south called the kings. It was going to be a fight if they wanted to win this one. Thursday had came and the team was ready for the game. The Hawks scored just 30 seconds into the game. Frank cheered from the bench. The Kings answered right back making it 1-1 after the first period. There coach came into their locker room furious and said the team could do better. The second under way and the Kings lead 2-1. The Hawks take a time out and answer back making it 2-2. Frank still has not played but he encourages his teammates on the bench. There were five minutes left in the third period and it is all tied up 3-3. The clock was winding down and one of Frank's teammate Cody scores with just a minute left making it 4-3. The hawks win and advance to the semifinals tomorrow against the

Ella and her team dominated the first and second games and were off to play in the championship game. When the team found out they were playing the Rochester Falcons they knew it would be a tough game. Ella and her team were doing great during the first half of the game, but by halftime both teams were tied 45-45. In the locker room Ella overheard her two best friends discussing a plan to hurt Rochester's star player Danielle

For a majority of people in the world, if they were to wake up with 350 million dollars, and would be able to be fully retired by 38 years old, then they would be very content and happy with their lives. Being able to wake up every day in a big mansion, lying with your family by the poolside, not worrying about financial issues for yourself or loved ones, and lastly having the great opportunity for you and your whole family, to not work a day the rest of your lives. It is an ideal situation that approximately 99.99% of people would want. But, an outlier, challenges those astonishing odds, by using their influence and popularity, to help out and make a difference. Not

I grew up as an older sibiling who really had no one to express myself with. There are kids who live in secluded areas or just don't have the social skills to find other friends. Organized activites changed my perspective as a young child on how to actually have fun with my other peers. I personally liked playing basketball and was quite decent at the sport, I quickly developed friends who enjoyed the sport as much as I did. After awhile I started hanging out with a variety of different kids who were mutual friends between my friends and I.

Some of us were finding bugs in the towels and also seeing mold in the air conditioning units. As the parents were demanding that the staff of the hotel would clean up the rooms the team sat in the lobby while Coach Gaines talked to us about the semifinal game we would play the next day. TEAM 1 was going to be a hard team to beat but every team member knew exactly what we needed to do to get that win to make it to the state final game. Coach Gaines, standing in the almost empty hotel, told us the game plan while her voice carried down the halls making it almost scary. She explained to the team, “to win games you have to work as team and hold each other up. Not one single person can carry this team”. After the meeting in the lobby we were all sent back to the rooms where half of the team sat up half the night worrying about how the game was going to go the next day or just about what bugs might be under the mattresses. I was awake half the night thinking of what might happen in the game. Will I strike out every time at bat? Will I make a ton of errors? Soon enough I wake up the obnoxious banging at the door and scream blaring down the hallways that it was game

The next day was friday it was time for the game Heffay went to practice while Quan stayed home to rest. Quan ate before the game Quan knew was going to win the game. Heffay knew to and he was sure of it. Quan got to the park and started warming up he shot the ball stretched ran and crossed over a couple of time. Heffay warmed up to but not as good as Quan But he was at the park all day practicing.

“Friday night games with huge crowds. That atmosphere is hard to beat.” Senior Hunter Martin is playing through his fourth and final year on the Varsity basketball team. For two years in a row, he has been the starting foward. “Basketball hasn’t always been easy but I’m really glad I stuck through it all four years,” Martin said. Looking back on his accomplishments, Martin said that his favorite memory was was win the team won districts his sophomore year. “Nothing can compare to that moment of celebrating with my team.”

The Hornets felt like Flanagan had to be in an easy seed. The Hornets had played to the 4th quarter and decided to put the second string in. The Hornets came out with a win 46- 31. The Hornets were 3rd in state. The Hornets were so happy they all went out on the court and started jumping. They boys had gotten a trophy and medals. Matt was the point leader in that game with having his threes spot on. Matt was in tears winning that game and having his team come all this way. The boys were heading home with a fire truck and cop flashing lights and making noise at 8;30 at night on a Saturday. The Hornets were in the newspaper from their victory and effort. The Hornets were on a float in the parade and got cheered on by everyone they went by. After all the effects from winning state everyone was sad that it’s over, but they knew they could attack state next year. Matt was a huge part of the team. He was an excellent shooter and defender. He was a great captain to the team and also the best focused person to the game. The Hornets had done an excellent job making this far in basketball and everyone was proud of them. Matt was happy with the outcome, but ready to do more next year. State

One rainy night in November, I arrived to the church gym for my first basketball practice of the season. As I walked in the doors creaked and you could smell the gym floor. As I already heard the basketballs hitting the ground, bouncing up and down. My friends Brittany and Destiny walked in right behind me through the door. That was when we realized we were the only girls surrounded by all guys. As practice came to a start we began to run, it felt like we were never going to stop. Up and down the court as we ran suicides, you could hear the squeaking of shoes as we went from the next line back and then on to the next. Before we started scrimmaging, the two captains were boys. Brittany, Destiny, and I stood in amazement as we were the last three standing there. You could see by their expressions they didn’t want any of us on either team.