Roller coaster of emotions

Last night, Luke had his playoff basketball game.  So far this year, the Bulldogs were 0-8, but were improving every game.  The boys played hard but always seemed to come up a bit short.  Coach Steve played every kid and no kid played the entire game ever.  I am not one of the people who believes that every kid deserves a trophy.  Nor am I am guy who says there are no winners or losers.  Of course there are winners and losers.  The team with the most points at the end of the game wins and the other team lost.  Period.  But you go out there, try your best, give it your all, and aim to win.  Every time.

Well, as of the start of the game, Luke had been held scoreless for the year.  The usual final scores for Freshman Basketball are somewhere in the neighborhood of 18-14, so it is not like the NBA.  Luke had been shooting better, but still having trouble getting his shot off without the defense blocking it.  Well, that changed in the playoff game tonight.  I saw him take a pass, and head straight for the hoop.  Just before the defense arrived, he stopped and popped.  He missed, but great try anyways.  Well, the game got tight at the end, and Luke made a great steal to give his team another chance at tying the game up.  He posted up, then became free.  The point guard saw him, and made the pass.  Instead of driving it this time, Luke jumped and released the ball.  Swish!!!!  The pure joy I saw on his face as he pumped his fist in the air was priceless.  He was determined and it paid off.  His whole team celebrated. 

Well, it turned out that this was not the game winning shot.  The other team managed to score a few more times and took a 3 point lead to what appeared to be the end.  Suddenly, Luke was guarding the opponents best player (the opposing coach's son who was never taken out of the game and was responsible for 80% of the opposing team's points).  That boy was driving when Luke reached out and grabbed the ball, tying him up for a jump ball.  The possession arrow was pointing Bulldogs.  Luke had given his team one last chance to launch a three pointer on a pure hustle play.  Alas, the Bulldogs couldn't get a shot off and the other team won by 3, ending the Bulldogs season.

The tears were shed by many on the team, and Luke couldn't take a compliment for 30 minutes afterwards as he was "decompressing".  But I am very proud of the way my boy competed. 

He loves basketball and his looking forward to playing again in the summer.  Maybe I will have to show him some of my old Globetrotter moves, if I don't pull a muscle or two in the process.