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Janet was tying her sneakers for her first game on her school’s basketball team. All of Janet’s practicing proved successful as she made the Wildcats basketball team. She was on the second string of the junior varsity team, hoping to one day make it to the starting lineup. They were scheduled to play against the Crusaders. Janet was excited and nervous at the same time. She was happy to hear that her mom, dad, and Nancy were coming to the game. Mike was not able to attend because he had to work. Her dad knocked on her door, letting her know that they would be leaving in five minutes. Janet had to be a half hour early for the game so the team can stretch out and practice.
John pulled the car up in front of the gym. As Janet opened the door, she felt the brisk wind of the cool autumn evening. Janet waved to John, Michelle, and Nancy and they waved back as they went to park the car. Janet ran into the gym to avoid the feeling of the brisk air. As she got into the gym, she was welcomed with warmth and smiles from her coach and other teammates. Her coach told her that one of the team’s starters was out sick and the other players felt that Janet should take the starting position in her place. Janet was overwhelmed with joy that she had to fight to hold her tears back. The other players gave her a pat on the back, and all told her that she deserved it.
The coach gave the team a motivating speech in the locker room. The coach’s words really got the team lifted and they all cheered in excitement. As the team came out of the locker room, Janet saw the crowd cheering and found where her mom, dad, and Nancy were sitting. They waved to her and held up their signs cheering her and her team on. She waved back and gave them a thumb up. The team then lined up in two lines and practiced their layups. When the buzzer sounded off, both teams went to their benches and the coach sent out the starting lineup. Janet was assigned shooting guard and she noticed her mom, dad, and Nancy talking to each other in excitement finding out that Janet was starting.
Both teams shook each other’s hands and lined up for the jump ball. As the referee threw the ball in the air, both members jumped up for the ball. The Crusaders managed to win the jump ball and the Wildcats got into their positions for defense. As the guard for the Crusaders dribbled down the court, Janet kept up with the one she was assigned to cover on their player-to-player defense. The Crusaders’ guard passed it to the power forward, then the power forward passed it to the shooting guard and the shooting guard took a shot. The basket missed and the Wildcats got the rebound. The rebounder passed it to the point guard and both teams ran down to the other side of the court. Janet’s coach called for a play they have been working on called the “Wild Dog.” The point guard and shooting guard set up on the top, both forwards set up on the opposite sides, and the center was down by the basket. The point guard passed it to her left and ran towards Janet to set a pick. Janet ran around the point guard and was open for a long two pointer. The forward passed it to Janet and Janet took the shot. The basket went in, and the crowd cheered. Her teammates gave her high fives as they ran down the court to play defense.
It was ten minutes into the third quarter and the game went back and forth. The Wildcats were up by four points in this close game. Janet was doing very well in the game. She scored six baskets and had a steal. She noticed her mom, dad, and Nancy cheering after every shot. She loved having them at the game.
The coach called for Janet to get back into the game and she kneeled in front of the score table, to signal that a sub was needed. The buzzer went off and the referee called for subs. Janet went into the game, ready to open the gap between the two teams.
As Janet ran up the court after her team scored a basket, she noticed a crowd gathering. She looked to see Nancy frantically on the phone but could not see her mom or dad. She then looked and noticed her mom’s blonde hair as she was lying on the ground and her dad was trying to wake her up.