AHW

Basketball Tournament


      I play on a travel basketball team called "Pistons Elite." It is  a travel team through a basketball program called "Pistons Academy." The main idea of the camp is to make yourself a better basketball player. They have seasons and camps YEAR round, no matter what skill level you are at. So, if you love basketball, go to this camp. It is very hard work, and I think you have to be committed and REALLY love basketball. The practices run for about 2 hours and the practices are 3, or 4 times a week. Tomorrow is the tournament including part of Sunday. My team plays 5 games in the tournament. Ok, you might think the tournament is for trophies, BUT IT'S NOT! It is to improve as a team. I think that's fair enough to win trophies in tournaments in the future.


      I was in a tournament before. I think the part that gets to you, or makes you nervous, is the environment.  Some things I find stressful are all the parents talking & yelling at there kids, the whistle that the ref blows on a foul or a loose ball, or the stress of the shot taken at the final second of the game to win it. But if you make it....... YOU GO CRAZY!! I remember that happening to me in a tournament before, there was 1 minute left in the game, we were down by 3. But before I go there, lets go an hour before the game started.


        It was June of last year, I was in a tournament in a Pistons Academy summer camp. "The last day of camp is today," I thought. My team was 4-0 and was about to play another undefeated team. I got my shoes tied, jersey on, and I was stretched out. I went to check in because only the starters start the game, since I am the biggest one out there so i did the tip-off and I won the tip so my team had the ball my teammate shot a jump shot, he made the score? 2-0 us. then I got put out until the start of the 4th quarter because I rolled my ankle. The score? 30-35. We were down no one scored on us and we didn't score on them. I stole the ball from a newbie and ran down the court and made a lay-up.


   Now the score is 32-35 we need a three to tie the game up or else we won't win the championship! I sprint down the floor and block a shot. I have possession of the ball then I ran down to the 3-point line, set my feet, jump and release.......I made it!!!! We tie the game with 7 seconds left. We foul the guy, he misses both free throws, then we get the ball and I pass it to my teammate. He catches the ball and makes a lay-up with no time left on the clock. We WIN!!