That's Why They Play the Game

Basketball is like religion.  Many attend but few understand

- Scott Skiles

One of my favorites sports' quotes of all time given.  Scott Skiles is former Michigan State and NBA point guard.  Later, he served as head coach for four different NBA teams.

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During our short drive Saturday afternoon to MBA for the freshman team's game against CPA, I told JP to have fun and play with confidence.  I reminded him that a way to show gratitude and an appreciation for his athletic gifts is to play basketball with joy.  I also said silent prayer when I dropped him off and asked that he have fun, enjoy himself, and simply play his best.

My hope was that the team would get off to a better start, since virtual every team they play tends to blow them out in the first half.  Unfortunately, it was more of the same as MBA gave up 39 points to CPA by halftime.  That was one point shy of the 40 points they gave up to CPA in the game at their place earlier in the week.  Missed assignments.  Players not getting back on defense.  Poor communication.  Players not switching on picks.  Just awful defense.  

At halftime, I jokingly bet another player's dad $5 that CPA would score more than 90 points, the arbitrary over/under line I set on the game. 

While JP started and played better and with more confidence, he missed a couple of early shots he probably should have made, including an open 8-footer from the left side that he air balled when he should have shot it off the glass for an easy bucket.  He just missed a catch and shoot 3-pointer on the baseline from the left side, though.  It was a good and confident shot and I was glad he took it.  Late in the first half, he was fouled on a drive and hit 1 of 2 free throws.  

MBA fell behind by more than 20 points in the third quarter and I was dreading the ride home with JP.  He wan't going to be happy.  Again.  

Everything, and I mean everything, changed in the fourth quarter.

It was like watching two completely different basketball games and from MBA's standpoint, two different basketball teams.  The boys played with an intensity - a desperation - that was palpable, on offense and defense.  They forced CPA to turn the ball over time and time again, converting the turnover into fast break baskets on the other end of the court.  Caleb got hot and hit a few 3's during the rally.  Anders got to the rack on a couple of drives and laid the ball in for easy bucket.  JP rebounded an off-target, air balled 3-pointer and made nifty pass to Bobby (aka Jimmy Chitwood), who drained a three from the baseline.  

Late in the game, MBA was forced to foul CPA's player on every possession.  As often happens in games like this, one missed free throw led to another and suddenly, MBA was down by four points with the ball and less than 20 seconds left in the game.  After a missed bucked and a mad scramble as time wound down, Anders passed the ball to JP on the left baseline in the corner, directly across the court from where I was standing.  Without thinking, JP launched a 3-pointer with maybe 10 second left.  

For me, time froze as the ball was in the air.  The entire, frustrating season - for the team and JP - flashed through my mind.  I waited.  The crowd waited.  The players waited for what seemed like and eternity.

Nothing but net!

MBA's JV team, watching from the sideline before their game, erupted in cheers.  Near pandemonium in the crowd, as the parents looked at each other incredulously and cheered for the boys.  Coach Dodson immediately called a timeout to set the defense.  

I almost choked up as JP jogged to the sideline and yelled to his teammates on the bench as they ran toward him.  His roar was a release of so much pent up emotion.  Relief.  Intensity.  Frustration.  Anger.  

And, yes, joy.  Pure and unadulterated. 

Joy.  

Landon hit a 3-pointer as time expired and MBA lost by one point.  Still, the mood among the parents was almost ebullient after the game, as we waited on our sons, proud to a person of their effort.  Their competitiveness.  Their refusal to quit.

For the first time after a game for, maybe, the entire season, JP seemed satisfied as we sat together and watched the first half of MBA's JV game.  

Well, not totally, because at one point he looked at me and said, "you know if I would have hit both of my free throws in the first half - he hit one of two - we would have been tied at the end."  

I smiled, shook my head, and put my arm around him.  

And that, my friends, is why they play the game.