Our high school girls' basketball season came to an end last weekend with a tournament in Salzburg. During the last game of the tournament, which was the 5th/6th place game, we were locked in an intense battle with the host team, American International School of Salzburg (AISS). We had played this team in pool play earlier in the tournament and beaten them with relative ease. This time, however, they came out with some defensive changes and an extremely high level of energy. Our best player was isolated by a box-and-1 defense, which basically means the team didn't think we could beat them without production from one player.
Anyway, the game was close throughout, with stingy defense highlighting both ends of the floor. Entering the fourth quarter we were down by a couple points, but that lead would change hands a few times leading up to the game's waning moments. With about 30 seconds we were tied, with AISS in possession of the basketball. Our defense held, and in a scramble for a loose ball one of our players was fouled. So, with 7 seconds left on the clock, one of our freshmen was headed to the free throw line for 2 shots...
Before we continue, let me provide some important contextual information for you. This particular player is NOT among our most accurate free throw shooters. Almost every practice of the season we finished by having each player shoot a free throw. If the player missed, the team ran. If the player converted, no running was required. Incredibly, this particular player had made a total of ZERO free throws during the season leading up to this point. That's zero (0), zip, nil, nada--not even ONE free throw made during any of our season's practices and games. Needless to say my confidence in our situation wasn't exactly soaring. Back to the action.
...As our player stepped up the line, it was obvious she was nervous. The home team's crowd was being extremely raucous in the stands behind the basket, and it was taking its toll on her. In fact, the referee had to prompt her to shoot the ball on her first free throw. Timidly, she let the first one go. Everyone watched with baited breath as the ball moved slowly towards the basket. Would she make it? Was it even possible? I hoped against hope. The suspense was agonizing. Time stood still. Gravity became mythical. And then my worst fear was realized. The ball landed about 2 feet short of the rim. The opposing team erupted with cheers, as did the crowd. The referee prepared to pass the ball back for the second attempt...
At this point I prayed. I didn't pray for God to let us win, or for angels to come and guide the ball into the basket, as I don't believe God particularly cares about who wins and loses in a 5th place game at a high school basketball tournament. Instead, I simply prayed that God would help strengthen the gal who was standing so nervously at the free throw line--help her be calm, and help her do her best. Win or lose, our team's goal was to honor God, and I wanted all our girls to know they had done their best to do that.
She received the ball for the second free throw. The crowd was even more rowdy now. She stepped up to the line, set herself up, and released the second attempt. Again, the clock stopped. The ball was entrancing as it floated towards the hoop. A tumbleweed rolled by. My jaw was clinched. All was silent. And then the unthinkable happened--SWISH! The ball splashed through the net emphatically, confirmed by that unmistakable sound of absolute perfection. It was an impossibly perfect shot, against impossible odds and amidst seemingly impossible circumstances. She had absolutely nailed it--her only made free throw of the entire season! Marv Albert would have gone crazy. I had a hard time not going crazy myself! The whole moment was like a cross between Teen Wolf and Hoosiers, with this unlikely freshman gal playing the part of Michael J. Fox and Jimmy Chitwood. It was unbelievable, and it was glorious.
That free throw ended up being the game winner. The other team got the ball in bounds and took a shot to win at the buzzer, but it was off the mark. We had triumphed. After the game I shared the story of the prayer with the team, and was surprised to hear just about every one of the girls say they had been praying as well (what a proud moment that was as a coach). As a team, we left that basketball court certain that the Lord had indeed given that player strength. In reality, maybe He cares more about the details than I thought? Either way, to Him be the glory.
Anyway, the game was close throughout, with stingy defense highlighting both ends of the floor. Entering the fourth quarter we were down by a couple points, but that lead would change hands a few times leading up to the game's waning moments. With about 30 seconds we were tied, with AISS in possession of the basketball. Our defense held, and in a scramble for a loose ball one of our players was fouled. So, with 7 seconds left on the clock, one of our freshmen was headed to the free throw line for 2 shots...
Before we continue, let me provide some important contextual information for you. This particular player is NOT among our most accurate free throw shooters. Almost every practice of the season we finished by having each player shoot a free throw. If the player missed, the team ran. If the player converted, no running was required. Incredibly, this particular player had made a total of ZERO free throws during the season leading up to this point. That's zero (0), zip, nil, nada--not even ONE free throw made during any of our season's practices and games. Needless to say my confidence in our situation wasn't exactly soaring. Back to the action.
...As our player stepped up the line, it was obvious she was nervous. The home team's crowd was being extremely raucous in the stands behind the basket, and it was taking its toll on her. In fact, the referee had to prompt her to shoot the ball on her first free throw. Timidly, she let the first one go. Everyone watched with baited breath as the ball moved slowly towards the basket. Would she make it? Was it even possible? I hoped against hope. The suspense was agonizing. Time stood still. Gravity became mythical. And then my worst fear was realized. The ball landed about 2 feet short of the rim. The opposing team erupted with cheers, as did the crowd. The referee prepared to pass the ball back for the second attempt...
At this point I prayed. I didn't pray for God to let us win, or for angels to come and guide the ball into the basket, as I don't believe God particularly cares about who wins and loses in a 5th place game at a high school basketball tournament. Instead, I simply prayed that God would help strengthen the gal who was standing so nervously at the free throw line--help her be calm, and help her do her best. Win or lose, our team's goal was to honor God, and I wanted all our girls to know they had done their best to do that.
She received the ball for the second free throw. The crowd was even more rowdy now. She stepped up to the line, set herself up, and released the second attempt. Again, the clock stopped. The ball was entrancing as it floated towards the hoop. A tumbleweed rolled by. My jaw was clinched. All was silent. And then the unthinkable happened--SWISH! The ball splashed through the net emphatically, confirmed by that unmistakable sound of absolute perfection. It was an impossibly perfect shot, against impossible odds and amidst seemingly impossible circumstances. She had absolutely nailed it--her only made free throw of the entire season! Marv Albert would have gone crazy. I had a hard time not going crazy myself! The whole moment was like a cross between Teen Wolf and Hoosiers, with this unlikely freshman gal playing the part of Michael J. Fox and Jimmy Chitwood. It was unbelievable, and it was glorious.
That free throw ended up being the game winner. The other team got the ball in bounds and took a shot to win at the buzzer, but it was off the mark. We had triumphed. After the game I shared the story of the prayer with the team, and was surprised to hear just about every one of the girls say they had been praying as well (what a proud moment that was as a coach). As a team, we left that basketball court certain that the Lord had indeed given that player strength. In reality, maybe He cares more about the details than I thought? Either way, to Him be the glory.
1 comment:
Wow! This is a great story. And I believe your prayer was right on; not to win or lose, but focused on what was really important here: the girl at the free throw line. Awesome!
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