PLAYERS

The Game

So it is finally the High School Basketball Competition final between East Point High School who triumphed over Oaks High School in the semi-finals game earlier and Gateway High School who also beat Bright Lights High School to get to the final. Gateway High School seem to be the big boys here since they won every match with mind blowing point difference  with East Point High School winning by small margins being the underdogs though they are the defending champions but played marvellously well last year to lifting the trophy for the first time compared to their performance this year. Yet still they are in the finals again which is a plus to them.
Joel and his team go train early in the morning before the game in the early afternoons. After several exercises and physicals and a short match played, they sit to listen to their key player Joel. Joel sits in the middle of the circle. He encourages his fellow team mates of East Point High School. "Yes, we are more of the underdogs compared to the outstanding performance by Gateway but we've also won all our matches to reach here. We play for East Point, we win for East Point. Most of us here are the same guys who brought glory to East Point last year. We're the defending champions and we're in the final again. We need a back to back glory to gain the bragging rights once more. We go into the match with positive intents. Nothing should lower our morales. We play for ourselves, family and most especially East Point High School. All that matters is a win. The margin shouldn't matter. We need to secure the trophy for the second time in a row. Let's make East Point, ourselves and families proud once more. Let's play our hearts out guys". He stands as they all stand too. They come together with hands stretched in fists, they join as they chorus, " 1, 2, 3, Huhuhuhuhuu, East Point once again". They disperse as they all go freshen up and meet at the changing room later on.

After washing down and still at the changing room, Davida knocks at the door. Abdul-Jabbar checks who's at the door and finds out it is Davida. He shouts Kevin's name and says, "Davida is here". Kevin rushes to see her. She gives him a hug and then covers her eyes shyly. Kevin notices it is because he's shirtless. He smirks and he says you always hid to look at this. Now here it is for you to see clearly. Take  off your hands for it is yours. He grabs her hand and places it on his chest as she runs her index finger through the packs covering her mouth as she wears a blushy smile. "Why are you here by the way", Kevin asks. "I couldn't wait any longer for you to finish and come out, so I decided to come see my handsome and besides I was missing you so badly. I might not see you before the game so I came to wish you all the best too since I'm your number one fan". Kevin smiles and pecks her on the cheek. "I'm happy you came too. Thank you by the way", he says. "I'll be watching from the Sarbah Stands  yeah", she says. She hugs him once more and before she left Kevin gave her a kiss. Cole comes to stand by Kevin as he watches Davida walk away. "You guys are a perfect couple, a tall and a short" Cole says jokingly. They laugh to that and go back to sit inside.

There came a call from the principal asking that they all gather at the Nelson's Hall in the next five minutes for a word. Mrs. Beverly Essandoh addresses the student body and asks that they cheer their boys to win the game. She called out the names of the players for them to come upfront and the mention of Kevin and Joel's name came the loudest noise. Joel being the best basketball player and Kevin, the famous, talented and most fashionable student. She pleaded with the team to play their hearts out to lift the trophy for the second consecutive time.

So it is game time between East Point High School and Gateway High School who made it to this years High School Basketball Competition finals. East Point were in their traditional white and black and Gateway, blue and yellow.

The game started with both teams playing so well. Ameyaw, the key player of Gateway, with an outstanding performance on the first quarter with thirteen points to his name and excellent handles crossing Debrah who tried to tackle him. First quarter ended in a tie with both teams having twenty three points each.
After a quick break, the second quarter was kick start. Gateway came in strongly to lead by halftime with an eight points difference with East Point trailing with forty points. 40 - 48 was the score at halftime. Joel, Kevin and Abdul-Jabbar fighting strongly to get East Point back into the game in the third quarter. Evans of Gateway showing his class with three point shots which pushed the tally of Gateway. The third quarter ended with a crazy dunk by Kevin making it a two points difference for team Gateway. Third quarter ended 55 - 57 making the game hotter now.
East Point gathers as Joel's says, "this is the last and final quarter. We are trailing by just two points. We go in crazy for victory guys". They join their fists as they chorus"crazy for victory".

The fourth quarter started as East Point checks the ball and Cole makes the shot from the rebound making it 57 - 57. The game went on hotter than ever thought. This was hottest quarter with several blocks, three points shots and crazy crosses by handlers of both teams. Kevin making four three point shots and Joel also making same. Twenty seconds to end game and it is 73 - 73. Kevin with the ball pushes Alli of Gateway back with a cross as he forces his way through the Gateway defends to make an alley-oop assist off the backboard to Joel who dunks so well with ten seconds to go. The whole East Point fans start to chant crazily to keep team in high hopes and not afford to make any mistake. With four seconds to go, Billy of Gateway tries to make a three points shot but gets a stay down crazy block from Davies the tallest in East Point team which makes it clear for East Point to carry the day.
East Point lifted the trophy for the second consecutive as the High School Basketball champions with Joel, Kevin and Abdul-Jabbar being the same performing magic this year too for East Point High School. A moment of euphoria for East Point as they celebrate their win. What makes it unique was the comeback they took to overthrow Gateway to carry the day. Joel winning the Most Valuable Player for the second time and Kevin winning assist of the game with his alley-oop pass off the backboard.

Davida runs to Kevin as they hug closely with Davida giving him a cheek peck. Michelle joins Joel as others get joined by their lovers too. It was a moment of joy for East Point. Joel presents the trophy to Mr. Jones their coach and the principal.
Davida, Kevin, Joel, Michelle and others with their lovers decide to sit on the stands to have a chat.
"You played so well showing your mind blowing skills. You played just like your role model, Lebron James with Joel doing his Curry and Giannis", said Davida. "You guys played so well", Michelle added as she kept complimenting Joel too.
They head home as it was getting late.

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