2018/2019
Vol. 14

Buzzer Beater

1998; Florissant, Missouri, USA

It was a normal day in Florissant, Missouri. My uncle Drew, who was twelve, was slowly eating his breakfast, dreading a big basketball game against his school’s rival. He was feeling mad and upset because he didn’t want to go to the game. Drew didn’t believe his team needed him.

Drew knew he wasn’t that good at basketball and feared he might hurt his team. Drew was talking to his dad about how he didn’t want to go. His dad insisted that he was going because Drew couldn’t quit in the middle of the season. While Drew was eating, he couldn’t help but think about playing. As he got angrier, milk flew out of the cereal bowl and he clenched the spoon with more muscle than usual.

As Drew’s dad drove him to the game, Drew was still trying to figure out how to escape. Drew’s stomach hurt and a headache developed, but Dad drove on. When they got to the game, Drew said, “I can do this.” He walked into the hot gym, where his teammates were already warming up.

When it was time for the game to start, the coach told all of the players their positions, but Drew was left on the bench. Drew smiled because he was getting what he wanted. Drew thought how relieved he was that he didn’t have to play.

A couple of minutes later, Drew’s team was winning. Then Drew saw his coach slowly get up. Drew started to panic. His coach walked straight to him. Then his coach said, “You’re going in.”

Drew’s heart felt like it was going to pound straight through his chest. Drew couldn’t believe he was actually going in. He was put in at point guard, which was his usual position.

Drew’s heart was still racing but had calmed down a bit. Drew wiped his drenched palms on his jersey. The other team was coming at him. Drew went for the steal. He missed and fell straight onto his back. Then the other team scored. At halftime Drew’s team was still winning, but not by much.

Drew was sitting once again to start the second half. About eight minutes later Drew went in. He didn’t care that much, because his team had a big enough lead — at least that’s what he thought. Drew was playing point guard, but he must have had one of the worst games ever, because almost everyone got past him.

Suddenly the score was 28–26, the other team leading. There were only five seconds left in the game. Drew had the ball, and his coach screamed, “Pass it, Drew!” Drew looked at his coach, smirked, looked back at the hoop, and shot from just behind the three-point line on the left side of the court. The ball rolled off his fingertips. Everyone stared at Drew as the ball sank through the basket. As Drew stood there in awe, everyone around him cheered.

Drew was shocked that he had made the basket and had won the game for his team. He learned that he could help his team without even realizing it. Drew never tried to miss another game.

James Bowman; Missouri, USA

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