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An Intense Basketball Match
by Claricia Tan Kai Ning (2 Growth)
I was filled with anxiety and euphoria as a participant in the North Zone Basketball Competition. I was a strong competitor representing Canberra Primary. However, Fuchun Primary had one of the best and most formidable players, and they were my opponents. One of them was number 12. She was extremely tall and skillful, to be exact, the best player I had ever encountered throughout the entire competition. She had been benched for now, but I was praying that I would be ready when she got called in to play.
“Beep!” the match had just began. I was shivering with cold and sweaty hands, but yet, I persevered on to bring hope to our team. The first round began and it already had my teammates taken aback. Fuchun had already intercepted the ball from our best player and had already scored a magnificent goal. In preparation for this match, we had watched many clips of Fuchun’s matches during the competitions. We even keenly observed many formations that they had used. And yet, one minute in and they had already achieved two points. At this point of time, the crowd was cheering enthusiastically. Many questions flooded my mind, is this the type of spirit I am going to represent in front of the crowd? I had finally woken up from my senses. I concentrated harder as I picked up my pace.
My teammates and I coordinated our steps and used our first trump card where we tricked the opponents from thinking that I was going for a lay-up move. However, I did a brief feint, faked a jump, and caused the opponent to block at the wrong timing. Within a fraction of a second, I swiftly tossed the ball behind my back, allowing my teammate to score. Four minutes in and we finally secured our first goal. The score was now even and there was still hope of winning!
At the 26-26 score mark, I was given one free throw shot to make up for the foul. I was not the greatest at free throw shots, but I focused hard and aimed for precision and accuracy. The ball went in the hoop with a “swoosh” and that marked the end of our third round.
The score was 27 - 26 with Canberra leading. Just as we thought things were going decently, Fuchun’s coach suddenly subbed in number 12. As she entered the court, I could feel an ominous aura approaching. My hair stood on end and my body froze with a feeling of uneasiness.
As expected, number 12 was as agile as a cat, for the past three rounds; she was not benched for no reason. She had analysed our every move. Whenever I tried faking a pass or a shot, she read my mind and intercepted the ball. It was as though she came from the future. This caused a disruption to our strategies and we were unable to coordinate efficiently.
The score was 27 - 34. Maintaining a calm composure, we battled hard to make a comeback in the last fifteen minutes. My teammates and I picked up speed, got out of our comfort zone and pushed ourselves to our limits. Number 12 was taken aback by our sharper and defter movements and was having a hard time intercepting our ball. The score was now 31 - 34. Two more goals within five minutes and we would win. Fuchun started to play more defensively by tossing the ball among their team mates to bide their time. However, their efforts were gone to waste when I managed to steal the ball from their grasp. My coach and my teammates who were watching and the audiences cheered and encouraged us as we rushed towards the opponent’s goal. The score was now 33 - 34 with three minutes left on the clock.
One more goal was all we needed to bring back pride to our school. The spectators were delirious with adrenaline as we did the near-impossible task of turning the game around. By the looks of the opposing team faces, they were in a panicked state as they tried to score another goal. The ball bounced off the rim of the hoop and my teammate rebounded the ball. She tossed the ball to me, who had already run towards the opposing team’s hoop. Number 12 ran towards their goal as fast as lightning. As I prepared to shoot the ball, the entire crowd was biting their fingernails as the match had reached an extremely intense moment. I shot the ball, however, number 12 got to the hoop just in time. The ball touched the fingertips of number 12 and the ball rolled around the hoop.
The ball did not go in… just then the time had ended. There was a moment of silence from the crowd. It was a jaw-dropping moment. Fuchun had won. A loud cheer came from the opposing team. Despite being disappointed about the match, my team and I were still grateful for the experience given to us as we went and shook hands with the opposing team.
Ignorance Is Not Bliss
by Victoria Huang (2 Growth)
I sat at the foyer, trying my best not to burst with excitement. It was still pitch dark outside. The moon shone beautifully as it cast its gaze on us. I breathed a big breath, allowing the air to clear my mind that was filled with anticipation and thoughts about winning our first match against Anderson Secondary School. They were a formidable school and had always topped the podium every year. While it may sound intimidating to others, it only fueled my burning desire to trounce the opponent. Besides, my team had been on a winning streak, what or who could possibly stand in our way?
“Victoria.” I was snapped back to reality by my teacher’s stern voice. Her voice was laced with irritation almost as if she had eaten something that was horrid and was trying to get the taste out of her taste buds. She pointed at my attire, “You are not allowed to wear the old PE t-shirt as it is different from your teammates, I’m sorry but you cannot play.” My heart sank, as I tightened my grip on the cold and hard chair. The wind blew, as if mocking my carelessness.
I thought it was all over until I spotted the General Office at the corner of my eye, a wave of relief hit me as I regained my composure. This was my first Netball National School Games Competition and I was not about to let this experience slip out of my grasp because of some trivial mistake. I quickly made my way to the General Office, and walked out with a new navy blue PE attire, feeling all victorious once again, albeit prematurely.
When we arrived at the court, it was bustling with students my age who had the same resolve as soldiers going onto the battlefield. That resolve inspired me to do my best, to do everything I could for the team.
We entered the court and took our positions. Suddenly I found myself in between two giant opponents. When the umpire blew the whistle, I ran but my momentum was slowed down by the two players marking me. I watched as they effortlessly received the ball that was intended for me. I clicked my tongue, and changed directions quickly in a futile effort to try to block the pass. “Beep!” Everyone paused as we waited for the umpire’s verdict, “Wing attack, Obstruction! Stand beside the Wing Defense.” I bit my lip and obeyed, cursing at myself internally for making such an amateur mistake.
I watched as our opponents scored while I just stood by, unable to do anything. This replayed for the next two matches, there was a whistle every time we got our hands on the ball. Our coach screamed and shouted at us in desperation and hope that we would stop sabotaging ourselves. I couldn’t count how many times we passed the ball to them, how many times we were sandwiched and cornered like a prey and its predator. How foolish of me to have wasted my time laughing and giggling away in the bus instead of discussing our plans. How childish of me to think that winning was easy, that the opponent would go easy on us.
I could hear their laughs, mocking our incompetence. “Greenfield students never win a game in Netball.” The whispers overwhelmed my train of thoughts and the game ended just like that. Our coach shook his head and simply sighed, as I stared blankly at the floor. It was failure at its finest. After we came back to school, I headed to the toilet and washed my face before changing out of my jersey. Embarrassment was written all over my face as I laughed at my foolish thoughts. I realised there and then that there was a difference between the desire to compete and the desire to win. Everyone had worked hard and I simply lazed around and skipped trainings, I wasted their hard work. The ball you pass on to the goal shooter is the embodiment of everybody’s blood sweat and tears, throwing it away is just disregarding your teammates efforts. I learned that the hard way.
The Basketball Tournament
by Lim Yun Guang (2 Growth)
The moment I had stepped foot on the glistening basketball court, my heart felt a great sense of awe. The atmosphere of the place was grand and looked as if it was polished from top to bottom. We briskly did our usual warm-ups and readied up. Nevertheless, once the opposing basketball team entered the court, our basketball team knew this was not going to be an easy feat. We were all filled with determination as this was our final match of the season and our scores were tied with the opposite team. This match was going to ultimately decide the winner of the tournament. The stakes were high as we would return to school either coming out on top, or leaving empty handed with all our efforts and hopes shattered. We all did not want to face the ridicule of our own intrusive thoughts if the latter truly was the outcome. Thus, with our eyes set on the prize, we put our skills to the test.
The obnoxiously loud timer sounded, and off went the first set of players on both teams, dashing across the court to their respective positions. I watched eagerly as both teams were on even ground in terms of skill and score. However, the tides almost immediately turned as the opponents started outplaying every one of my teammates in just a few sudden moves. My heart thumped vigorously as the gap between our scores grew larger and as our hopes dwindled and faded.
My anxiousness was magnified significantly when I had an abrupt realisation that I was next in line as well! I was intimidated by them the instant they set foot on the glossy basketball court let alone play against them. I was sure that we were no match for their skill and endurance. Waves of worry hit me like a truck as my group got up and scattered across the court into our proper positions. I barely held myself on my own two legs as they shook at a rapid pace from the horror I felt. Dread, dismay and despondency overcame me and engulfed me as if I had fallen into a dark abyss. Countless attempts to control my hyperventilation were in vain.
The timer sounded once more, sounding both raucous and insistent, sending all of us into a frantic state. The opponents were vicious and nimble with their every move. Just a minor mistake in our defence could cost us the entire game! However, we immediately took notice of a fatal flaw in their offensive attacks and positioning. We took advantage of this opportunity at once and thus began our comeback in the game. Our strategy was flawless, and what made it better was the fact that the enemy team did not observe this at all until it was all far too late.
The timer sounded once more, but this time it sounded rewarding and soft. I shot a glance at the timer and stood in disbelief. We had surpassed their score by a single point!
It turned out we had scored the last point during the final ten seconds of the match. It was our first victory as a team! We then all huddled together and shouted our school’s name triumphantly and went on to shake hands with the opposite team as a sign of sportsmanship.
That day, we went home on the school bus with a sense of accomplishment and motivation. This experience taught us to keep on sharpening our skills and not feel hopeless even when odds may be stacked against us.
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