This was the final game of the round robin basketball tournament during the bottom of the fourth quarter with less than 30 seconds left on the clock. The score was all tied up with the ball in the enemy team’s possession. My heart raced frantically as I desperately tried to stop the advance of the ball. The tension in the room was high as everybody watched to see which team would be the victor. I kept my eyes locked on player fifteen, who had possession of the ball, like a hawk eyeing down its prey. Suddenly, an enemy player ran up to me and set a screen. My body couldn’t react in time and I could only see number fifteen race past me through the corner of my eyes. The ball was way past me, already beyond my control.

“Stop the ball!” I shouted fiercely.

I saw two of my teammates run up to block the shot, but it was too late. The ball drifted through the air and landed through the hoop with a “swoosh” sound. My heart sank as I took a glimpse at the scoreboard to see the two points being added to the enemy team and the twelve remaining seconds left on the clock. I could only think how difficult it would be to win the game at this point. Winning would take a miracle.

“Hurry up!” one of my teammates yelled at me from behind.

The ball was passed in and at this point, everybody darted towards the hoop. The ball was passed to me and I could feel the slow tick of the timer count down. The tremendous amount of pressure and responsibility on me was immense as my entire team looked towards me to score the final shot. The few remaining seconds I had left now felt like minutes as I knew this would be the deciding shot of the game.

“Ten seconds on the clock!” Jessie shouted.

I could feel the rapid beat of my heart pulse through my body. One mistake and it would be all over.
“Seven seconds left!” Nathan exclaimed, “take the shot!”

I dribbled the ball up to the 3-point line with my back to the defender. each individual bounce echoed throughout the room as I felt the rhythmic pulse in my head.

“Five!” Yelled my teammates on the bench.

Immediately I planted my feet firmly into the ground and quickly pivoted my body around the defender. I could see a clear shot to the hoop.

“This is it,” I thought to myself, “It’s now or never.”

I jumped high into the air, raised the ball over my head, and flicked my wrist. The ball spun through the air as it made an arching route towards the hoop. All eyes were glued to the ball and the room fell dead silent for what felt like an eternity. I could see the path of the ball pre-planned in my head as I stared at it as it approached the hoop. The ball first hit the rim that sent a ringing noise across the room . Then it bounced towards the backboard and hit the inner edge of the rim and rolled around precariously. It was as if the ball was dancing around the rim. Finally, the ball rebounded off the rim as it made two gentle bounces from side to side. Suddenly, I could see the ball hop slightly into the air as it made its final bounce. My heart sank as I could only stand there, staring at the ball as it bounced out of the hoop and hit the ground with a dull “thump.”