Basketball Life

• Lila Cooper, Grade 5
• Poetry
• 2014

All the way. Take it all the way.
That’s all I could hear as I was driving up the court hoping to get the shot in. My hand goes up with the perfect flick. As it bangs on the backboard it goes in. I’m so happy. We’re up by one point with 30 seconds left. What’s going to happen? I feel the sweat running down my face.
Number 5 is in-bounding the ball. As I watch with nerves, all I want to do is run up and help the guards, but I’m up the other end of the court. I look up, I look up and I see the score board. Twenty seconds left. Finally, the ball is coming to me. I intercept the ball. Yes! I take it up the court like a guard. My feet are hurting and my hand pumping. I bounce pass to my team mate. The ball glides across the court and she catches it. As I watch her trying to drive into the key I cut through and she passes the ball. I cross step, my legs are in agony. I push through the pain and I shoot. It’s all net! It’s the happiest sound I have heard all night!
But still 10 seconds left. The opposition has the ball they take it up the court. They keep passing. I look up, one second to go. The siren goes and it’s ringing in my ear. I look up and check the scoreboard. WE WON!! I’m ecstatic! What a way for the last game of the season.