November
started out wonderfully. We had our big senior basketball game
against our cross town rivals; on our home court. Posters, balloons
and a pep rally prepared us for the big game. Needless to say, I was
super excited. These are the things that make school a little
worthwhile. It was near the end of our season and we were ready to go
out with a bang.
Our
cross town rivals are, needless to say, a little competitive. Well,
so are we. We lost to them in an exhibition game but beat them the
last two games we played them. Could we do it three times in a row?
It was time to prove to them that we deserved to win. Apparently they
said they were prepared to draw blood. I said, we were prepared to
break bones. It was uncharacteristically competitive of me, but I was
ready. This was our game.
......
I just didn't intend to break my own bones.
It
was the 3rd quarter and things were getting intense. I was playing
pretty well… according to me. We were up, but we kept pushing. The
entire school was there, my parents, and even some of the other
school made their way over. It was like a "High School Musical"
moment. It was in their end and it happened quickly. One of their
players and I both went up for a rebound. She ended up getting it,
but as I said, it was ‘our game’. I ripped it from her and she
apparently fell because of it. She wasn't hurt but I wasn't paying
attention because I went up and got a basket. Yeah, it was only one,
but that was good enough for me. Right away we were back on defense.
I was playing a hard man to man. Ready to pounce. One look at my
purple and scraped knees would tell anyone I wasn't afraid to dive
for a ball.
Then,
one of their players fumbled the ball. She got away with it and got
it under control. A bad pass caused another fumble. I spotted an
opportunity of a loose ball and wasn't going to let it go. At the
same time, another girl spotted the same opportunity and intended to
redeem herself. We both dove for the ball and a micro-second before,
I realized we were going to collide. I closed my eyes preparing
myself for the impact and BAM!
I
felt my nose shift.
