The Night Of The Warriors

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.

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.

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.

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.

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’’.

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

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

SWOOSH!! I made my first basket ever, but it was only 1 minute into the the first quarter, and only the first game of the season. I still had ways to go, but when the crowd stated cheering for me that's when I realized that I love basketball and that it was going to be a good season.

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.

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

As my team and I ran through the spirit line, our fans jumped to their feet and cheered loudly. To this day, that memory still sends chills to my body. Before beginning the game, I remember saying, "Please God help us win this game!" The taste of ice cold water during a timeout is the best thirst quencher. The smell of concession stand food sometimes makes me feel nauseous. The feeling of holding the state championship trophy in my hand

Then we all got back out on the floor knowing we would have to work fast and believe in one another. My best friend took the ball out-of-bounds, she passed it to our point guard, and then our point guard sprinted to half court. Okay, you can do this...just believe. With three seconds on the clock she passed the ball to me on the base-line three-point spot. The ball

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.

It was the end of a normal school day. Our first home game was that day and I was pumped! I went home after school to get my jerseys and my squeaky clean, high top basketball shoes, then headed to the school shortly after. We were versing Ridgedale that day which I was almost 110% sure that we would win because the varsity last year creamed them. So we all get ready to go out and warm up, like usual. The game then started and we played really good I made 7 offencive and 5 defensive rebounds, and 2 points. After half time that game I was told to go dress for the varsity game. I felt really good about myself and I was ready to play more. So we were warming up like usual and then when the game started I was sitting on the bench until after half time. In the third

That night was a game I will always remember. It brings me great joy and gives me deep pride. It is one of the greatest feelings I have ever experienced in my life. It was and still is a moment that I look back on and reminisce. I used to work for a private company at Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino as a Casino Dealer, and that memorable moment happened when I played basketball with my casino team. I have played basketball tournaments in high school and in government leagues, however, none of them compares when I played in Tinian Dynasty’s Inter-Department Basketball Tournament. It was a popular event that happens every year between different departments of the company, and I was just in time to join the tournament. My teammates and I did advance to the