Personal Narrative Essay Against The 'Kingdom Hoops'

The season was going good and going by fast, our record stands above 500. Our last tournament was in Lawrence Kansas. We played one game against the “Kingdom Hoops,” and we played amazing…, in the second half. In the first half we played super sloppy. We ended up winning the first game by about twenty points. We had to travel to another gym for our next game. The next game was going ok against the “Omaha Grizzlies” we know they were better than us but we worked harder in the first half. Up by 4 at halftime, and we came out blazing. Shot after shot, stop after stop we were playing phenomenal. Then they called a timeout, because their coach was infuriated, screaming and yelling at them, his face as red as a tomato, “GET YOUR CRAP TOGETHER!” Then they came out strong. They went after every loose ball every
rebound it seemed like the whole game was going there way. We put up shots, but nothing falls. It felt like there was a top on the rim. I look over at our coach he was standing with his arms crossed with a tight shirt that shows him biceps, “Stay calm, Gabe run white next time down!”
We get the ball back I blasted, “White, white!”
I got the ball from out of bounce jogging it up the yellowish orange court.
I look over at Tanner waiting for him to cut back door. His man was over playing him like crazy. He was so tight on him, you could have thought he was glued to him, and then he cut backdoor, a perfect time for a bounce pass, but then a big man slid over. My pass looked like a bullet out of the chamber flying to my big man James, he puts up the layup, but missed.
We were panicking as the game slipped away. We pulled it together a little bit. But still was too close of a game. They now were putting a full court press on Michael, Tanner, and I. Their big strong player guarded the ball out of bounce and then the small quick guards, guarded us. As soon as we get the ball in bounce they trapped us, like a Venus fly trap. Keeping us in the corner, as long as we can get it to the middle of the court it was smooth sailing from there.
And BOOM we were in the lead again, we snapped. Creaming them right there, we were playing amazing, this game was back and forth. Fighting to take it once and for all. Amazingly they caught up again I was very
enraged.
I absolutely had to do something about it, there was a loose ball that nobody was going to get to sailing out of bounce I slide trying to save it, wam I slid right into the bleachers. Hurt I came out for one play. Knowing that we need to win or we go home I told my coach to put me in I said I was fine, even though I was fighting off the pain. We had about four defensive positions in a row they got a free throw, rebound, free throw, rebound. Yes four times, in a row! With 15 seconds left they shot a free throw missed we got the rebound. My big man James kicks it out to Michael Paulson at half court. Mike put the kids on skates, he spun around like a ballerina. Drove to the corner drew two men out to him. Stopped kicked it to Tanner up top, he made another man come out to him. He flung the ball to me right where I want it for a shot I was set and ready.
The ball hit my hands ready to shoot I waited a second for their very tall man to come out and jump to block me I waited for him to fly bye. And pulled the trigger. The shot went up splash, went right threw the back of the net. They quickly got the ball in bounce. They had their shooter spotted up and they got him the ball he put the shot up it was like it was in slow motion soaring like an eagle throw the air. He missed the shot, we won the game. My team rushing out to me like a pack of wolves and I was the last ounce of food they will ever get. I look up at my dad getting the game on video jumping out of his shoes smiling cheek to cheek. Parents screaming and my coach congratulating me.
Walking through the line shaking hands everyone says nice shot. I go up and talk to my dad, and my really good friends mom.
She said, “Way to go Gabe! Dinner's on us tonight!”
All us just giggle. I called my mom she said, “Way to go buddy I’m so proud of you! Talk to you later I have to get back to game changer”
Because she was doing my sister's softball game on game changer.
I replied with “Thanks mom be home soon.” So we had one more game we lost but we had a great time with my team this summer. I had to say goodbye to all my teammates from across the state and some out of state. It was sad to say goodbye but it won’t be the last time I play with most if them. I'm looking forward to next season with the boys. If I learned one thing it would be if you work harder than the person next to you, most of the time you will prevail. Like thinking of it our team worked harder than every team down there just some were better but some were close enough to win. Each person worked harder than the person we had to guard or who was guarding us. That's what I take away from this experience.