Life is comprised of a series of learning profound learning experiences. On that stands out occurred last year in seventh grade. Two friends and I decided we wanted to try something new, to learn how to play basketball! We made that decision mainly because we wanted to do an activity together for the winter term, and seventh graders didn't have the option of doing the winter school play. We were very hesitant; only one of us had any experience playing basketball, and we didn't think it would be very fun to run up and down a court trying to get a ball in a hoop. Still we kept an open mind and began to learn how to play.…
When I first arrived at Rotunda D I thought to myself great I get to stand the whole time because there is not one open seat. Dean Nickels started the event off by introducing Scott Naggy, head boys basketball coach. Naggy then talked a little about how they recruit players for South Dakota State University. He then introduced two of his players. The first was from the West side of Chicago, he talked about how he would play basketball to escape from the hardships of growing up in West Chicago. The second player was from Michigan, he explained how basketball was the main sport played in that area. He explained how the teachers there didn't care how the students do in there class they will just pass them to get rid of them. He…
It all began with a simple phone call one night after dinner. “Joe,” my father hollered up the stairs, “it’s for you. It’s Jackie, and she sounds upset.” As I came downstairs to pick up the phone, I was not happy. I was tired and had looked forward to a nice and quiet evening at home, not another stupid adventure with Jackie.…
A memory from my athletics that will stick with me forever was the last time I was able to lace up and play basketball on our home court. We played a long time rival, Aquin. The game was down to the wire and I was able to tie the game with 24 seconds left. Then we got the ball back and Ellie was fouled with about a second left, which if anyone on our team were to be put on the line, I would choose her. She went up and swooshed the first shot! Then, since Aquin wouldn't be able to get the rebound, make it down the court, and shoot with the time left, coach told her to miss the second shot. Ellie then winded up and chucked the ball right off the backboard so they ended up getting the ball out of bounds anyway. We blocked the throw in, and I ran…
I was an eight year old kid when I had my first ever glimpse of the NBA Basketball. It was a lanky afro manchild doing a reverse dunk versus Indiana right in front of the Laker crowd. Crowd was in awe, Commentators were ecstatic and Kevin Harlan in his usual voice saying, Kobe can’t be denied. That day, my love affair with the Los Angeles Lakers started.…
On January 26th, I made a huge error in my basketball game against West Central. To anybody else, that game might have seemed unimportant- insignificant really. They were not a conference rival or a sectional team. To me however, this game was very significant because I used to attend that school. At that game, I played all of my friends from kindergarten to fifth grade. I hoped that I didn’t make a fool of myself. I hoped to do amazing so that all of my old friends would see what a great basketball player I had become. I hoped that I would make a play so amazing that everyone would remember it. While I would certainly not forget the play I made, it was not the spectacular one I had dreamed. My gym teacher- Mr. Prairie asked the class, “Who’s ready for the basketball game tonight against West Central,” and I wondered if I was. Because of my insistent worrying I could not manage to make a play through all of gym class (we were playing basketball)…
I started out on the bench because I was new.As I sat there and watched the girls I noticed there lighting speed, bolting up and down the court. Then it was finally time for me to go in. I could tell the other girls just clicked .Passing back and forth and making layups. Then there was me, the chicken with there head cut off. Well it wasn't that bad . Actually the coach said I did good , but that is how I interpreted the situation . We won the game 52-20 I was really happy but that was just the begin because it was a tournament there would be three more games.We won! We won! We one! Campions we were named. We got shirts and a trophy. That one tournament in Canby was only the being to victory after…
For as long as I remember, I have been raised with a basketball hoop. This hoop stood firmly, looking down at the trees secured by patches of cement in my backyard, in my neighborhood, Dorchester. This hoop was my center of faith and tranquility surrounded by gunfires, shattering windows, car alarms. As a girl, I learned not to adventure any place else other than this hoop because going beyond its faded lines on the concrete is an unknown world full of hazards and danger. And when I did cross these seraphic lines, I could sense the bittersweet emotions running throughout the neighborhood, my home.…
It was a fun game to watch, as we all thought about us playing on that court the next day. It was finally game day, and we had to play Stewartville, 2nd place from Minnesota. They were athletic, but we ended up winning the close match. Our next rival was the Bismark Thunder, 1st in North Dakota and last year's national champions. We were nervous since the were taller, stronger, faster, and just better than us. We lost to them, but we were fired up to play for 3rd place. The team headed over to the Target Center for the 3rd place game. Playing there was so neat, being under the lights, having them announce your name, and just being with the tam. We played Grafton, who placed 2nd at state in North Dakota. They looked like us, athletically, so we weren’t too worried. We came out with a bang, ready to play. Darby and Ellie pushed it up the court on fast breaks, giving us the early lead. Rilee and I played great defense on the post, as well as Marlee on the wing. Jenny came in and scored a couple before halftime. We were tied 17-17 at the half, and we knew we would have to work even harder. Halftime was over, and we played our hearts out the rest of the game. Mavis and Paige played great offensively, as well as Taylor on defense. We beat Grafton, 36-34, with Darby’s 1:00 left, 2-point shot. We were so happy that we had pulled off that win! We spent the next hour at the…
My first time playing basketball was kind of scary because i thought i sucked at basketball, but i wasn't going to be bad at all my coach said. He actually said i would be pretty good. My first game was a different story i had to face some 6 foot giant in the paint. We were all in 5th grade i don't know what they were feeding that kid. He was eating little kids or something.…
One extremely important activity outside of the classroom that has helped me grow as an individual is Church League basketball at my local YMCA. From the outside looking in this league seems to be a form of glorified pick-up basketball with referees and a scoreboard but there is so much more to it. Almost half way through my junior year my father convinced me to try out for the varsity basketball team at school in November to which I hesitated at first but later gave in and tried out only to be cut. At first I was upset because I had never been cut from a team and I was unsure of how to handle it and what to do with my free time. This prompted me to reach out to God and ask him for a sense of direction and purpose in this time of my life to which He responded with a friend inviting me to Church League basketball. Once I experienced a few scrimmages and practices I decided to commit to playing Church League and coming to all of the…
The game took place on a cold, November afternoon in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. It was the last game of the tournament and we, the CBS Falcons, faced the Red Dogs in the championship game. We were confident about our chances of victory; however, our confidence was quickly put to the test when we first saw the other team. This game taught me never again to judge a book by its cover and that effort can trump skill.…
During one game of basketball I was making a lot shots. When I was running super fast and one of the players on the green team tripped me and then I slid on my back and on the back of our jerseys the numbers are like the grippy kind so then I go the biggest skin mark on my back and my spine was bleeding but i didn't know it until I got home. But during that whole game my back was hurting so I timed out. I Told coach to check my back because it was hurting the whole game.…
My heart won’t stop racing, I don’t know why and, My eyesight starting to fade away slowly like I had glaucoma. All the surrounding noise around me by the crowd had me going deaf, then I started to sweat from all the pressure around me like a morning workout. I was zoning out of nowhere, and then I started to realize I was nervous as heck. The crowd started to go wild when the announcers started to announce the starting five for each team. That’s the pressure I get every game I played that year of my freshmen year in my high school basketball games. I loved playing freshman basketball because the road trips we went to together. the thrill you get out of the games we played and lastly the team was like a family to me.…
Between 4th and 5th grade I joined a basketball team. I was in tryouts but I didn’t think I did so well. I ended up making the team though. Practices after practices, my first game took place.…