December 4th marked the first basketball game of my Junior year in high school. It was an away game on a Friday night at Osborne. It was the first time that I’d played in that gym and let’s just say it left a good taste in my mouth once I left.
Hearing the announcer say my name and going to the middle of the court with a million butterflies of excitement in my stomach that started the Monday of that week was a familiar feeling I’ll never get tired of and was overjoyed to feel it again after waiting a long eight months in between.
This was the first game I played with my team where I really feel like we were constantly pushing the ball and ready to jump on anything. Everyone was giving it their all and playing their A-game. I was also very impressed with how the freshman stepped up. Scoring 20 points in the first quarter we were already put in the lead by 11 points. We pressed the whole first half and a little bit into the third quarter. All of the extra running and conditioning we did during practice the weeks before was to prepare us for this and you could tell how much it did. Each girl on the court was full of fire, and if they were tired they were hiding it well.
We walked away with the first win of the season out scoring the Lady Bulldogs 52-32. I had a huge amount of satisfaction and joy from the way we played and hope for what’s to come this season. Not to mention we got pizza on the bus on the way home which added to the joy. ; )
The next week we would be playing three games, one on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, for the Tescott Tip off Tournament. The first game we played Wilson, and there was a drastic difference from how we played Friday to that game. It may have been because it was at 3 p.m. and that was throwing us a little off inside but the whole game just kind of felt a little slow and like we were sitting back and watching it happen instead of taking charge as we did the game before. After half though we came out ready to go and retaliate. Scoring 16 as a team in the final quarter we put away the Lady Dragons with a final score of 45-41. Giving us a 2-0 record and in the running for a first place in the tournament.
The next game played was against the Tescott Trojans on Tuesday. (Say that five times fast.) Coming out from a rather unsatisfying game the night before we proved what we were really here for during this game. Scoring 20 in the first quarter as a team and ending the game with a total of 16 steals, we definitely surprised some people. Stepping up or game in hustle not only from the years before but also the night before, the Lady Warriors won with a final score of 42-23 and an advance to a first place competition against the Sylvan-Lucas Mustangs the upcoming Friday.
I definitely did not step on the court Friday expecting what we had coming. The game started of as regular and routinely as it always has but within minutes we were shown that our team would have to play a little dirtier with this one to get the outcome we wanted. It wasn’t until getting my head got bashed not only once, but twice against the court, a girl rolling across my whole body like she was trying to get the last bit of tooth paste out of me, and a swollen shut eye for a player on the opposing team, (given by her own teammate) did we truly start playing with the aggressiveness that showed we were not to be thrown around and messed with like the way they were treating us.
Going into half down by 3 and coming back out after a big firing up session in the locker room your own Lady Warriors put it to the Mustangs outscoring them in the third quarter 20-6. Everyone on the team was on fire making mostly everything we put up, proving we were not to be pushed around and are not a team that backs down to a little challenge. Which is something I have come to love about our little group this year, everyone truly has each others back, we are a family. After a hard fought battle, big emphasis on battle, we defeated the Mustangs with a score of 55-41. Making the Lady Warrior undefeated after four games and also the Tescott Tip Off champions for the second year in a row.
I have loved every minute of this season, and I think it will lead to be the most fun for me yet. I feel as everyone is stepping into their positions. Everyone is always helping each other, there is no finger pointing or drama which I love. We are all here to better each other and have fun in the process. I have personally come to love having small numbers on a team (We have 11 this year, and it marks the first time in my high school sports career we have enough to scrimmage.) and I feel that it makes us more tight knit and I love how close we all are, not only with the team mates but also with our coach. We were left without an assistant this year (We miss you Mrs. Petty!) but I also feel this is just one more thing that draws us closer together. This team is my family and there is no one else I would rather be playing with or for.
We have a full season ahead of us and I can guarantee that every game will be one worth watching, so if you have the chance, please do come to support and watch the Southern Cloud Warriors as we go into the season prepared to take on anything.
With my closing words I would like to say to all of the girls on my team reading this… Stay Hungry.
No comments:
Post a Comment