Comebacks and Conference Championships

Ever since my 4th grade park district basketball games, I’ve been in love with the sport—the rush of running up and down the court, the pressure of a tied game, the thrill after hitting a three-point shot. I love celebrating with my teammates, thanking my coaches, and having refs who get the calls right.

My journey through basketball has not been linear. Starting club basketball in fifth grade was exhilarating. As the tallest on the team, I was immediately praised. I soon learned that the praise needs to be earned in order to continue. I went to practice when scheduled, and took my off-days to practice with my sister. The weekend tournaments were always my favorite part of the week and kept me going.

In middle school, my team was nearly unbeatable. With three out of five of our starters having played club, we probably had more experience than all the other teams we faced. After winning consecutive championships, my middle school basketball career was cut short by COVID. Despite being stuck on the wood floors of my family room, I kept practicing, doing Zoom workouts and ball-handling drills.

By the time I reached high school, I was terrified to say the least. Tryouts came, tryouts went, and I made varsity as a freshman! I was overjoyed, but that excitement quickly faded as we endured a rough season with just one win. Game after game, we lost, we cried, and we got back up again. The season ended, but I was determined to make the next one better.

Sophomore year brought a winning season. I grew more confident on the court—driving to the basket, hitting threes—and grew closer with my teammates, one of whom became my best friend. I became a better player and a harder worker.

Junior year was when I knew it was time to step up. As a co-captain, I led my team to another winning season. By the time we played a few conference games, we were sitting comfortably in second place. Determined to win, we practiced harder, watched more film, and kept our eyes on the prize. After a big win on senior night against our conference rivals, our coach announced that we had won the conference! The moment she said it, our team erupted in screams and hugs. We cut down the net, took a thousand photos, and celebrated our hard-earned victory.

Now, as a senior and co-captain, I knew we couldn’t let up. With our goal set from the beginning of the season, I pushed my teammates to reach our fullest potential. Our conference record continued to improve as we beat big competitors, and the target on our backs grew larger. Then came senior night, the moment that would decide it all. We were scheduled to play another conference team, and the stakes were clear—win, and we’d be two-time conference champs; lose, and all our hard work would be for nothing. With everything on the line, I made sure my team knew exactly what was at stake. We had to win, and we had to do it right. From the very start, we pressed hard. Steal after steal, point after point, we built a 30-point lead. With a running clock and all our bench players in, the energy in the gym was electric. When the buzzer went off, confetti rained down, and the cheers filled the air.

My high school career started with a single win. Now, I’m leaving my legacy as a two-time conference champion. Thank you, basketball.