How Basketball Changed My Life

When I was in the 11th grade, I played in a game that would change the opinion that I had of myself. Basketball was a huge part of my life growing up. I started playing when I was in the 6th grade and continued to play every year until I graduated from high school. I never believed that I was very good at basketball. I started that day just like I had any other day. My alarm went off at 6am, and then I woke up and went downstairs to eat breakfast. After finishing my breakfast I made my way back upstairs to get ready for the day. I had packed up my basketball bag the night before to ensure that I do not forget anything. As it was nearing 7 o’clock I went downstairs to wait for my bus. As the day went on I could feel myself becoming more nervous. I was use to this happening before every game. My stomach would turn and I felt like I had a million butterflies …show more content…
So going into the second quarter we knew that they would start doing a full court pressure. It’s our ball at half court, and Katie threw the ball in to Bethany. She dribbled to the three point line and threw the ball to Lisa. She tries to shoot the ball but the other team hits it out of bounds. The ref called it as our ball. Katie called the play “red robin”, and we stacked under the basket. When she hit the ball for us to break, I ran to the foul shot line and she passes to me. I dribbled in for a layup just as the other girl jumed in front of me. I make the shot, and hear the referee blow the whistle. A foul is called on her, and I get one foul shot. We line up, and I was given the ball. I can hear the crowd cheering, and I try to focus on my breathing to calm my nerves. I dribble the ball twice, hold the ball up, and shoot. Swoosh. Nothing but net. I couldn’t help but smile to myself. The second quarter went on just as the first one did. We went back and forth on being in the lead. When the buzzer sounded for half time the score was tied at twenty-four to