Since we’re on the subject of basketball, let’s circle back to the end of a season for my son’s basketball team. If you recall, my son and his 5th grade team, ended up finishing the season a perfect 13-0. Unfortunately no playoffs for the 5th graders, but yeah, undefeated… it was awesome. That was the first season; the second season kicked into high gear after that ended. In a different league, his school put together a 6th grade team that did almost as well.
This team was undefeated as well in the regular season; yeah, not one fricking loss in basketball all year long for my son in the regular season… not too shabby. He came off the bench in this one, with two 6th graders starting at guard in front of him. He played a good amount though, not as much as I’d like of course, but he got some run; the kids ahead of him were really good too. I actually would have employed a 3 guard offense, getting your 3 best guards on the court together, but what do I know. Plus, how can you argue with undefeated? They stormed into the playoffs with a number one seed and a bye.
The first game in the playoff bracket, which served as the semifinals, was more of the same; it was a bloodbath. They annihilated the team they faced; it was never in doubt. We knew the championship would be different. The team we played during the last week of the regular season was really good; the best team we’d seen all year. We would face them in the finals, or so we thought. They actually got beat in their semifinal game, which meant we’d face a team we had played twice during the regular season. I had forgot about them… our two games were decided by a combined 5 points; I guess there were two teams that gave us a run for our money. How would the finals play out?
Well, not good for starters; it was 10-0 after the first quarter. Let me put my coach’s hat on for one second; I can’t help myself. I would have benched the starters 3 minutes in; they weren’t on it. Yes, we would need them to be on it for us to win the game, but… send a message. Take the entire starting lineup out, put your 2nd string out there, and hope that the starters get the message, and come back like gang busters a few minutes later. But no… just kept banging our heads against the wall with our starters. We’ll never know what would have happened if what I thought should have transpired, but I’ll tell you this: can’t do worse than a 0 point first quarter. Anyways… let me get back to being a fan, and oh yeah, a Dad.
My son didn’t play the entire first half; wasn’t too happy about that. He did start the 2nd half, and looked nervous, just like the rest of his team. He missed a pass and then threw another one away, sure path to getting back on the bench, although what he did looked like what every other kid already did in the first half. The game was over for all intensive purposes when we finally did bring in our 2nd string, late in the 4th quarter; the other team did the same. And then what happened? A comeback began. Yeah, it was crazy and exciting. My son was right in the middle of it. He hit a big three pointer, and lead a defensive effort that brought us within striking distance. Only down 5 points with about 9 seconds to go…. footnote: the kids operating the clock messed up late in the 4th, letting at least 5 seconds run off; we complained about it, but got nowhere. My son took another three pointers with 9 seconds left that would have cut the lead to two points… it was right on line, but… clank. Hey, it was a good effort; IF that would have went, IF we had those extra seconds… like I said, we’ll never know.
I do know that there is unfinished business in this league, where we finished 2nd two years in a row. Next year will be different though. My son and his classmates will be the “upper class men” in 6th grade; they will be the ones to decide how the season plays out. I can’t wait to see it. But for now, basketball season is officially over. Whew!
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