When the Buzzer Sounds

Tatiana Cerreta
December 16, 2009
Filed under Opinion/Editorial, Sports

The crowded gymnasium begins to get louder and louder as the entrance song begins to play, The coach, already on the floor, waiting for his team to enter, has left the players  alone with each other just a few moments before they must run out and face their competition head on. The teammates, some smiling, some eyes closed, and a few jumping on their toes, anticipating the start of the game.  As their cue to run out comes, they bolt through the stadium doors and their fans go crazy. Friends and family cheer as each of the girls they know passes and they begin their warm up exercises.  Their opponents make their entrance now, and the Lady Bengals pretend not to notice them but size each player up as she shoots or goes for a rebound.  They act as their coach has instructed, “Like ducks on a pound,” serene on top of the surface but frantic underneath.  The buzzer sounds, and the jump ball starts the game. The girls take their positions.  The battle begins.

In early November, twelve spots were available to the many girls trying out to make the Varsity Basketball team this year. Three days were set up to determine who out of the crowd were the best of the best and deserved a spot among the lucky twelve.  It was on a Thursday morning when the list of finals was posted on the gymnasium door. Girls and their friends crowded around the door. Some were disappointed and some thrilled. They had made the team.  But as time has passed, the team has been reduced and reduced because for some, the team just wasn’t for them or the grueling weeks have taken too much of a toll on them. Yes, the weeks since the team was announced, the Lady Bengals have been working extremely hard to form a winning machine just in time for the first game, Friday, December 4^th.  Morning practices starting at 7:15 am, plus afternoon practices for an hour and a half everyday has started to transform the team drastically but will it all pay off? You’re going to have to be the one to decide that, in the crowd cheering the Lady Bengals on and support all the hard work the final ten have made. When the entrance music begins, as the crowded gym gets louder and louder, and everyone starts to cheer and cry out, will you be there?