Ajax High Basketball Tragedy

Part 15

     The first half started with us winning the tip off. Right off the bat I waste no time with getting us up on the board. The first bucket of the provincial finals was my 3. Now half way through the first half and were up 27-25. My heart can't stop beating rapidly, 3 after 3 after 3 Singhampton was now up by 11 at the half. I didn't start the 2nd half, but in all respect, I deserved it. Coach put me in around the 8:20 mark. We're still down but now it's 15. As soon as I stepped on the court I felt a feeling I've never felt before, something that gave me hope. I grabbed the ball and dribbled down to there end and took a wide open triple... Nailed it! Down by 12. Three and a half remain and I feel like I'm an NBA all star and I'm untouchable. 91-86 the score with them in the lead, coached called time out and we caught are breath. Now only three points separate us from them. The boys and I know what we need to do. Fred in bounded it to me then Trevor set a screen for a open 3, I took it... but missed. Thirty seconds left and the score hasn't changed. Singhampton has possession and takes an easy lay up. I hand the ball over to Matt and Matt goes in hard for a bucket and a harm. On the line he hits the one. With us down by 2, a 3 would make us win. Ten seconds left and Singhampton just running out the clock, I get a lucky bounce and are guys get possession. With 5 on the clock I rush down and take my last shot of the game. It's do or die, if I hit it, we win, if I don't, we lose and are seasons done. With the crowd on their feet and eyes wide open, the shot hits the rim...and bounces out. The buzzer sounds and Singhampton rushes to the court in celebration, disappointment in my face we walk to the room and are seasons over. 

After the game I didn't feel like talking to anybody about the game, I felt I needed this for not only the team but also in honoring for my friends that died last year. The team got home around 10pm on Thursday night and we went are ways. Friday morning I wake up to a knock on my front door, it looked like one of the men from the crowd. He politely asked if he could come in. He was telling me about the amazing game I played and how I played with a lot of heart and passion, and how that was exactly what he was looking for. I was confused, but then he told me he was an official NBA scout. I was invited to the 2008 NBA draft.  

The End