This weekend could have been historic for the Tabor Seawolves.  As girls varisty basketball made the semi-finals on Wednesday, things were looking up, and the road to victory was right in our grasp.  The senior basketball players, including Tiff, Jilly, Maddie and I were especially hungry for a championship considering we had made it the past two years but lost undeniably.  We have had the Class A championship ripped from us too often- and this year was our year to win it.  The dynamics of the team were as perfect as a team can get.  Nearing the end of the season, the team was playing the best they had ever done and everything seemed to fall right into place.  The plays were executed flawlessly, the coaches and players all getting along.  The season, despite little competition, made our team one for the history books- playing the hardest schedule and going undefeated.  We were ranked number one in the A division for seedings of the tournament, followed by Worcester, Nobles and Kent respectively.

After a marginal win over Andover to secure a spot in the semi-finals, we thought we were intangible.  Our next oppenent: Kent.  Considering we had already beaten Kent in a Christmas tournament a few months ago by a good amount, we were feeling pretty confident.  We prepared as normal on Thursday for the next day.  Although I was confident, I still got the ‘butterflies’ as game day had approached. 

When the refs threw up the ball for tip-off, the nervs went away and the game was played.   Throughout most of the first half, we were pretty evenly matched.  Jilly, who is easily 6 foot 2 inches and usually the difference in the game, was sized up against a girl from Ukraine, who was just as big and strong.  Depsite the refs favoring Kent, with the fouls 9-2 at one point, at the half the score was a tie, 30-30. 

Going into the locker room, there was mixed feelings.  Although we were not playing our best, the score was still tied and there was another sixteen minutes to play our hearts out.  As Mr.Becker walked into the locker room for the half time talk, the room went quiet, I was curious to hear what he had to say.  His calmness and confidence cooled us down and we prepared for the next half.  The second half started, well, sub-par if you will.  Despite the 50 Tabor kids cheering us on, we were down by 15 points with six minutes to go.  Panic started to overcome me as Becker called a timeout to figure out what was going on.  After a ‘pep talk’ from him, we came out with a bang.  The big girl on their team and best player had fouled out, and all I was thinking was this was our chance to comeback.  I was right.  Going on a 17-2 run, we were suddenly up by one with ten seconds left.  After a made three by Maddie, without thinking Kent got the ball in quickly, pushed it up the court as time was running down.  I turned around to see the point guard throw a pass to a player in the corner, and with a second to go she shot the ball, seeming like she wasn’t even looking as she did it.  The ball jiggled around the rim, and in slow motion went it.  As the ball bounced on the floor and Kent girls rushing the court, all I could really think that this wasn’t real.

This was the seniors last year to pull through and win a championship.  We didn’t accomplish that.  What we did accomplish was something more important.  After the game, no one pointed fingers, or yelled.  We were not sad we had lost, but more importantly because the season was over.  The team that consumed most of our time, that made us laugh the most, and felt like a home away from home had ended.  Even though we did not accomplish what we set out to do, what we came away with was more important.