One Game

In sports, games are all that matter. Whether it's opening day, or the championship, every game counts. For our Monache JV Basketball Team, one game made the difference. It made the difference between 20-0 and 19-1.

We started the season 9-0. Four of those wins came in a tournament which we hosted, and won. After every game, we felt great. Coming from a year ago where we went 2-12, to 9-0. Who wouldn't be excited? Well, two of us actually weren't. Us two, Brandon Swearingen and I, were battling injuries. Brandon, with a lower back injury, missed about seven games. I, on the other hand, with an ankle injury, missed ten, half the season.

Thankfully, our team did not slow down without us. When I returned, we were 9-1, and in first place. With our sights off of a perfect season, we mainly focused on EYL.

Coming back from an injury is not very fun at all. It felt like I hadn't played in a year. I was a totally different player, and just needed to get back into my rhythm. It took me about five more games to actually do so.

With five games left in the season, we were 14-1. We were doing spectactular. Brandon and I were fully healthy and back in the rotation. But three other players, Chris Atchison, Trevor Kroutil, and Austin Kittrell, were now injured. Trevor and Chris were out for the season with broken hands. Austin had a foot injury, and missed a couple games.

Two games later, and we were facing Tulare Union, the only team that beat us, and the only team competing with us for first place at that point. The last time we played them, we had lost by three points. This game was different. We beat them by twenty points, finished 12-0 at home, and won EYL (First Place).

Our season was far from over. Two games later, we had Porterville, our inner city rival, and the biggest game of the year.

We came into this game more ready then any other game of the season. The biggest crowd, and the most anticipated game of the year. Going into halftime, we led 16-7. It was a very defensive game from both sides, and poor offensive.

We knew the game wasn't over. They were on their home court, and were ready to make a run. And that was just it. At the end of the thrid, the score was tied at twenty two.

The fans were in store for a very interesting fourth quarter.

At the end of the fourth quarter, Porterville had scored twenty eight, Monache the same.
All that was left was overtime.

At the beginning of overtime, our best player, Andy McMullen, rolled his ankle, and had to sit the rest of the game. Mason Hernandez was subbed in for him.

Our Lineup for Overtime
1- Jesus Salas
2- Alex Ramirez
3- Mason Hernandez
4- Matt Steventon
5- Sal Arredondo

With the game all tied up, I went to the free throw line. I made the first and missed the second. We were up by one, and Porterville had the ball. They came down and scored to put them up by one. There was under twenty seconds left in the game. We attacked the basket, and our big freshman Sal, scored. With five seconds left, Porterville was bringing the ball down. Mason and I poked the ball out in the final seconds, and Jesus picked it up and threw it stright in the air to end the game.

All the hardwork, all the sweat, and all the injuries finally paid off. We finished the season 19-1.

Yes, 20-0 would've been a lot better than 19-1, but 19-1 was a lot better than everyone else in our league.

Next is Summer Basketball.

Take a Seat



A must win game for the Miami Heat

again ended the same way it had the

previous four, a loss. The Heat,

(43-21), are third in the Eastern

Conference, and would face the New

York Knicks in the first round of

the playoffs, if the season had ended

today. The difference between the third

seed, and the very close second seed, is

first round opponents. The second seed

would face the Philadelphia 76ixers,

opposed to the Knicks. Yet only one

game separates the 76ixers and the

Knicks, star power is what sets

them apart. Carmelo Anthony,

Amare Stoudemire, and

Chauncy Billups; two of the

greatest scorers in the league,

along with a NBA  Finals MVP,

and much experience. A team

that should be feared in April.

The Miami Heat, who have

lost five straight games, and six

of their last seven, act as if they

don't know what the reason is

for their struggles. Everything

that's wrong is right in front of

them, whether it is Bosh's 

inconsistency, lousy bench

production, late game fails,

or just poor coaching, it's

there, and they aren't improving

at all. At least, they aren't

showing it. The biggest reason

for the Heat's downfall, is their

bench. Tuesday night, they

scored only eight points, which is

two points more than sunday night

against the Bulls. In two games,

the Heat's bench scored just

fourteen points. That's as much as

Dwyane Wade scored in the fourth

quarter of tuesday night's game.

Mike Miller, the guy who gets

the most minutes of the bench,

and is relatively their six man,

has not been producing at all.

He continues to miss the

outside shot, which is supposed

to be his favorite. He turns the

ball over, and commits unneeded

fouls. When he starts to make his

shots, the Heat will be able to

spread the court, and open it up

for Wade and James.

Tuesday night, Miami received almost

no production from their frontcourt.

From their four bigman, just nine points.

C. Bosh - 40 Minutes, 3-11, 7 Points.

E. Dampier - 12 Minutes, 1-2, 2 Points.

J. Anthony - 13 Minutes, 0-0, 0 Points.

Z. Ilgauskas - 3 Minutes, 0-0, 0 Points

So no points? You would think,

"They're big men, they get rebounds."

Well, the two top rebounders were,

Lebron James, and Dwyane Wade.

L. James - 11 Rebounds

D. Wade - 6 Rebounds

C. Bosh - 4 Rebounds

E. Dampier - 2 Rebounds

J. Anthony - 2 Rebounds

Z. Ilgauskas - 0 Rebounds

As of now, Lebron, and Dwyane, are the only ones doing

pretty much anything. They lead in points, rebounds, and

assists.

A guy who should get a lot more credit, is Mario Chalmers.

He really has become the three point shooter for the Heat.

Defense is not his downfall either, he plays aggresive, and

stays with his player.

Another guy who needs more playing

time is James Jones. He does need help in the

defense end of the game, but his shooting is

great. He could spread the floor and

do what Mike Miller can't, as of now.

All the Miami Heat need to do,

is get back to their rhythm. Get their

rotation back, with more Eddie

House, and James Jones, and less

Mike Miller, even it out. When it

comes down to late game situations,

the ball should be in Wade's hands.

Thursday, the Heat, and their five

game losing streak take on the Lakers,

 and their eight game winning streak.

This will be a good time to turn

things around and makea statement.