May PPOW

                                                                                                                                        Matthew Herrera

                                                                                                                                        May 7, 2015

                                                                                                                                        English 8-7

                                                                                                                                        PPOW

                       All-Star

            It all started happening the fame, and everything in his life and nothing else could've been better until it happened but first let me tell you how it started. I was a senior playing football and I was good really good there was no pass I couldn't do I was top on my team starter, and top in my education.

It was the start of the season and they were doing a blitz and they corner backs were covering the wide receivers really good and I couldn't get a pass to them. The only thing I could do is tried to run but I had to wait for an opening. It was through the middle and I went for it but once I took a step it closed but there was no going back so I cut to the right side of the field and my fellow teammates were setting up amazing blocks and then I got blind sided and couldn’t get up. All I remember is the coaches carrying me out of the field.

            “Can I still play,” questioned John.

            “You can its just we think you should not,” replied the doctor.

            “Who's we and any ways I need to,” answered John

           

I stormed out and got in the car soon after my mother returns to make me a deal. She says if I wait a week without playing football she would let me play again and I agreed. I have been dying for the week to be over but it's still Monday. When I walk into school everyone is excited and asking me if I am okay but I ignored them and went on with my day. It killed me to know that I was missing games but it was Friday so I would be right back in no time.

Its finally that time when I get to come back and I am excited just like everyone else while we walk out of the lockers but my coach stops me and tells me that they have found another person to start instead of me. I was disappointed because I had to sit on the bench for the whole game and also we had lost because my back up threw an interception and failed to make the tackle. The crowd screams at the coach for not putting me in and I knew the coach wanted to but was holding back and I think I know why.

I get home and ask my mom if anything is new and she plays it off like she doesn't know anything but I know she is the reason coach didn't put me in but I had no proof so I went on with my day.

Its practice and I work my hardest and it feels and looks like I never got injured and everyone could see that I was doing well. I was walking out of practice and then my head started to swirl I didn't know what was happening but then it stopped and I was on the ground.

The next thing I saw was my mother running up to me but by the time she got there I was up she asked me what happened and I played it off and said my legs hurt from practice so I laid down and she bought it. That night coach called and I wanted to know why I wasn’t playing so I picked up the other phone to hear their conversation.

“I wanted to know if I can put John in tomorrow,” mumbled coach.

“No, he is dying he will get hurt and then I wont be able to spend time with him,” she cried.

“You are killing him by not letting him play,” replied coach

I hanged up the phone and went to my room to make a plan and process this in my head. The next morning there was a game and I was ready to play. I came up to coach and demanded to play and he did and I thought it would of been harder than that but it wasn’t.

I was on the field and I was doing perfect but then the world was swirling and I was struggling to stay on my feet then it stopped and I looked around and saw frank wide open and I chucked it to him and waited to see if I still had it. This was an important play because it was all tied up and this could get us to state.

Frank fumbled the ball a little but got it and ran but a defender was closing up on him and then they clashed. I ran down to see if he had made the touchdown and it was close. The whistle blew and I looked at the scoreboard to see if we had made it just like everyone else and then it went we had won the game. The crowd came rushing down the field and then they picked me up and everyone was shouting my name but I had to get home and tell my mom about it.

I was about to my house then I saw police cars around it and I got out and ran. I ran into cops and they told me I couldn't go in but I told them it was my house and they let me through but the policeman at the door informed me of what happened. I broke down in tears and just fell and stayed there until they picked me up and took me to my grandma’s house. We had the funeral and I stayed there longer than anyone else did and drove back to my grandma’s house the next day I convinced myself that I would go to state and make my mom proud.

When I got to school everyone of my friends were standing there to support me and I thanked them all. It was about lunchtime when some new kid came up to me and told me to get out of his spot but I didn’t listen to him.

“Get out of my spot before I hit you so hard your mom will feel it,” yelled the kid

I got up as fast as I could and punched him in the jaw he didn’t see it coming and then my anger took over and I was on top of him punching him. The coach came in and pulled me off of the kid and told me to go to the office. I was penalized to miss one game of state but I didn’t care.

Games passed and we were moving up and it was about the time for the championship to come and everyone was working their butt off to be perfect because they heard scouts were coming to watch. We were versing the same team that gave me my injury and I was nervous but we had to do what had to be done and that was winning. The first quarter passed and it was tied up 14 to 14. It passed quickly and without a warning it was the last quarter. The time seemed to go by quicker than usual and we had to kick off.

They had scored and we just got the ball with 40 seconds left and everyone was worried about the clock so I had to step in.

“Hey look at me not the clock we can still do this,” I yelled, “So here’s the plan.”

We hiked the ball and this would be the last play of the game they were covered and I had to run it. I went for the middle but it closed so I cut to the right of the field and then the same guy was coming but this time I didn't have the ball once they tackled me everyone stopped except for number 28 he started to run and no one was paying attention before the referee blew the whistle for a touchdown. We had to make this two-point conversion to win the game. It was a run up the middle I said hike and I was off straight to the middle but there was a wall so I had to jump.

I closed my eyes and opened them once I heard the whistle I looked at where I was and I made the touchdown we had won state. I got in my car and headed home.

“911 what's your problem,” asked the operator

“There was a crash, the person was perfectly driving and then he lost control and his car flipped,” cried the person.

Dirt Bike

There was a boy named Ryan. He loved to go and ride dirt bike, but the first time he crashed. He was riding  a ktm 1990 125cc. He went to the supercross track when he was only 5 years old and started. He got a KTM, and he loved it. He wanted to get a Honda for his birthday, and his mom said, “Maybe.”

He dreamed about it all the time then, and when the day came that he got it, he was super excited to get to ride it.

His dad said, “Get on and start it up!” He did, and he started tearing up some dirt. He loved the dual exhaust. He went up the hill, and he was thinking in his head and wondering how much horse power this thing has.

His dad said, “800!”

Ryan said, “Wow and thank you for this awesome birthday present!”

His dad and he were riding, and Ryan gunned it and and passed his dad going 50 mph.

Ryan said, “See ya later!”

His dad has a KTM 550 with a extension on the back, so he can go up the hill faster than Ryan, but on ground he was really fast. Ryan also could race on a motocross track, and they are really hard to ride on because of the bumps. The way you have to ride;  you can also hit the high jumps and get a whip. They are just to show what you can do with your bike. Ryan was ready for the 2005 motorcross to start, so his dad got him all signed up and went to the race.

He was practicing when he saw Harold Waddell, the 8 time National Hill Climbing Champion. His bike runs on nitrogen, and they sound real mean.

“ryan would ride your bike!”

He said, “Ok, good luck Bud!”

This bike has 2500 HP, and it’s very dangerous and scary. ryan was riding with him, and ryan was just so happy to ride with someone Pro, and he told me that ryan had a good bike.

ryan  said, “Same to you dude!”

My dad saw me talking to him, and said, “Oh my, ryan  know who you are!”

My dad ran to him and asked him for his autograph, and his number. He did that so ryan can get in the hill climb next week. ryan  was really excited for it. I know that it is hard, and you need an extension on you back tire, so that you can get more tires and mud grips. ryan told his dad that ryan wanted to ride the ktm  next week.

He said, “Alright, sounds good!”

We went to the starting for the motocross, and ryan took off with a good start. ryan  took off  in fifth place  , and at the first corner he made a pass and was in 2nd place next to Ryan Villopoto. He was riding a Kawasaki that was all jacked up. He was up there a few seconds ahead of me, so he gunned it and was on him. ryan gave him an elbow, and he fell down. had taken first, and he was happy! He wasn’t! in I made up a lot of time then. he felt something behind me, and it was Ryan. He was already behind me, so he was riding more observe to the final lap. He was turning, and I gunned it. he cut him off at his turn.

his dad yelled, “Go, go, go!”

he smiled because he was getting in the groove of this. ryan was going really fast;  he went to pass me again, so he cut him off. There was 30 feet till the finish line. he was riding hard when  villopoto gave me a push, so I gunned it. I elbowed him, and he fell again. I was riding up to the finish line and was pretty happy he won because that means that  get to do more races. I get to go on in this bracket after the race. I went over to Villopoto and shook his hand.

He said, “Good race.”

I was so happy that he was not mad because we were getting pretty aggressive. We saw the monster girls, and I went to get my 1st place trophy. We got the bike in the back of the truck and on the way home I called mom. I asked her if we can order a pizza for supper. She said that we could. I went ahead and ordered it. We were 40 minutes away from home, and mom was happy for me that I won my race.

I’m so ready for the hill climb this weekend! I had school tomorrow, and I didn’t want to go, but dad said that if you get  good grades you can get a good job and get money to buy yourself the baddest bike out there. Your kids will have a bike like you, and I said, “I know.”

I walked through the door, and I saw the pizza there and took 3 pieces and went down stairs eat. I went to sleep, then woke up and got in the shower. I got ready for school, so when I was in school everybody was talking about me. They saw my race on the TV in the school because I did well. I told all my friends that I got to see Ronald Waddell. They said, No way!”

I said, “Way!”

I went to the class, and I was just think of this weekend. The day went on its 8th hour, and I’m about to go home! I see my KTM with dual exhaust fmf with a hill climbing wheel. I was happy, and we lived on a hill. I went on a ride on it, and it started and sounded really weird because he had Ronald help him. I got a nitro bike that has 2300 HP, and I’m only 14 years old.  Dad said, “Don’t be scared just ride like you would regularly.”

I was riding and popped a wheelie. I went on the hill and gunned it.  I got ruts in the mud and went up the hill in 1 second. I went back up to the house and saw dad.

I said, “This bike is awesome, and it’s really fast!”

Dad said, “One problem, you have to jump start it to start it. When you do that, it’s good until it dies or runs out of gas. I went for another ride, and I was riding up the hill. I was ready for the weekend to be here so badly. I was ready. I went to the hill and held the clutch, and let off and went fast up the hill. I went to the house to eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

I went to the motocross track for a while and rode my motocross bike that was not even touched yet. The hill climb was so high that I was riding, and i hit a rock. My bike flipped over me, and the bike hit my arm. It felt like it was broken, but I got up and keep on riding. Dad saw it on the camera, and he ran outside. He saw me riding and stopped me. He asked me if I was alright.

I said, “Yes, I will be fine.”  I need to practice, so he let me go on.

Dad went back up to the house to eat supper. I went to sleep, then woke up and it was Friday, the last day of school! I was so happy that it was Friday, and I get to go to the races im going to win this race and go to the semi finales for the new 2016 ktm 450cc we have to look over my bike i said to my dad and he said ill help you put on new stickers and new grips for the throttle i went to school and when i got there i seen all my friands and they said whasts up i replied nothing thinking about the race they said you live for them races i said well there realy fun and i could make alot of money doing it and they laughed at me and said yeah your gonna make it so thats when i mad a big dissivtion and quit be in a local school and started being home schooled and my dad made a hill and a moto cross track i was have way more fun just doing work and and rideing all day is realy fun.im going to the hill climb tomoaorrw im going to bed at 8 and wake up at 630 and be there at 730 warm up for 3 hours then go up the hill i was ready had 3 5 hour energey and was ready to ride. The first race i had i had to race a yamaha yz 250 it was on the orange light i tapped my clutch and i had a good take off then i shifted into 3 gear i was half way up and i was think where is he at then i was done and he was down the hill having troubles coming up it i parked my bike and ate some deer jerky. to be continued

Racing

Racing

We went to the race, and when we were there I saw a lot of people. I heard people cheering, Spencer! I was like, what’s going on? I had one of the fastest times in the competition. I was ready. I got all my stuff on, fired up my bike, and I took off to the hill. They were really loud and I heard them. I had my helmet on with music going. Three, two, one, I fired off and went up the hill. fifty eighty hundred twenty and I was done racing for awhile, and I went to the bottom. My time was nine seconds faster than the other guys who were riding 450 complained  about me because I was too fast for them. They were pretty mad at me, but I didn't care. The second run I felt something in my gut, so I looked at my bike, and my gas tube had been cut by somebody. I was furious!

I went up to the announcer and took the microphone and said, “Whoever cut my gas tube is just mad because they don’t want to lose! I will beat anyone!”

My dad got a water hose and hooked it up to my bike. It was working for now, so I was on my 250. The guy that was by my bike said that I think you did that while you were racing. I held my clutch in and fired off getting roots in the dirt. The guy bawled and his bike died.

I yelled, “See ya later, sucker!”

He threw up his hands and said,” Race me in enduro.”

I said, “Ok lets go!”

We went to the woods and was going through trails in the woods. He was riding next to me, and try to make a pass. I wouldn’t give it up, so he came up right next to me. I pushed him into a tree! He was really mad after the race. He came over to our trailer and started a whole bunch of commotion about me. He said that I  should be DQ'd  for giving him an elbow. He went to the Hill Blazers and talked to them.

They said, “Suck it up, it’s part of riding!”

He was 4 years younger so just go and ride for the fun of it, not to win all the time! I thought winning was the only thing for me because I need their sponsorships. They would help me so much at this current moment. I’m trying to get a Redbull sponsor, so I can race when I’m older. I want to get that money; I took a thirty minute break, and then went to the guy that was trash talking me.

I said, “Let”s go round!”

He said, “I would be glad to.” He went to get his bike. I was ready, and I thought that I was going to lose this one because he had been doing this for 15 years. I was ready! I had my jamz playing in my ears. I was listing to 40 Mil, and I saw the flag swipe down. I took first place, and it was getting kind of  boring just racing the same guy, so I  had my dad race him. My dad won a few times too; I was happy for him, but I told him you can’t ride too hard because it will mess up your leg and your back because of the car wreck. I was wanting my dad to race with me this year, but around Christmas we T-boned someone, and we got hurt really bad. I was upset my dad couldn’t race, but i told myself there is always next year! I hopped on my bike and rode off with him while he could ride. He told me when we got back that I’m getting too old for this.

I said, “No you’re not; you’re just worn out!”

I was beating you.

He laughed with joy and said, “Wow! You read my mind.” We were having a fire around the camper, and I had plans for tomorrow. I was going fishing. My dad’s friend has a boat, so there was a guarantee that we will catch some. I fell asleep, and woke up to the trains. I smelled bacon and got up and ate some. I got dressed to go fishing, my dad and I went down to his friends. He was already in the water catching fish. We called him, and he came bye, and picked us up. From there we went to the hot spot. We were catching them one after another, and I was ready for the race next week! I was in the finals. I was nervous than I ever been before, but I was confident in myself. The day had went by fast while fishing and catching them. We kept the nice sized ones and took them back to the camper and roasted them over the fire. They were really good. I was tired so I went to sleep. We left in the morning. I had practice all week and was ready the week. It went by fast.

I got my bike in dad’s truck and yelled, “Let’s go!”

He yelled back,”What’s the rush!”

I said, “I’m hyped!” It might have had something in a box with Red Bull all over. I was so excited to see what it was. It was a new helmet that had Redbull logo on it and new boots. We threw it in the back of the truck, and headed to the races. I saw my bracket. I was ready! I got my stuff on and hopped on my bike. I took off, and we all got two practice laps. I was going fast! I  clicked my gears into 4, and I was done with the 2 laps, and parked my bike. I waited until the little kids were done. It was our turn. I was at the starting line: red, orange, green! I took off. I was in last because my bike died on me. i was in last i had seen them a head of me but i didnt care i was caching up passed the guy in front of me and i was ready to get first but i had a lot of time to make up i was in 5 I was coming behind the 4th and 3rd places and I was in 2 the guy in 1st didn't recognize me behind him and i was trying to pass when he seen me right beside him I gave him a wave and toke of I was in 1st with only 40 yards till the finish line I was riding really hard I was so exhausted and tired I barely finished I got to see my sponsor and they gave me a new ktm because I was doing really good I even had moster looking at my races my dad told me because he does all the work for me but when I get get older I have to do the business part.the day came to an end I had my big trophy and that's all that mattered to me because winning isn't everything its the only thing.      

The U part 3

The U part 3

In a little school outside of Tuscaloosa, Alabama home of the Crimson Tide stood a little town of Burmeister, Alabama. A town that has a outstanding young talented athlete named Jeffery Louis. All of his friends called him Jeff, Jeff was the starting linebacker for the varsity football team. He was 6’1 and he had sprinter speed. He was the heart and the soul of the entire team. Jeff was a very smart person in and out of school, he never really got into trouble anywhere.

Jeff has received many offers from many division one college football teams all around the country. His team had just won the state championship, and he had his eyes on only three schools. He could stay within the state and go to The University of Alabama, he could stay in the south and attend The University of Miami, FL. and finally he could attend The University of Oklahoma.

When it came down to making the decision he decided to take his talents to the University of Miami Florida. Miami has been mediocre since their 2001-2002 national title appearances. After ponzi schemes and bad losses took Miami from the top to the bottom. They were hoping to change their image by recruiting Jeff from Alabama. Then something changed in Miami, once word got out about Jeff going to Miami many other recruits started to roll in from all around the country. They had gotten four five star recruits from the state of Miami that had previously said they would be leaving the Miami area. They would finish off the offseason with one of the best recruiting classes ever in the past decade, but with that comes suspicion. Questions started to rise about how they could pull in all those recruits. The truth was they didn’t even know, but they think it had something to do with the Jeff. They kicked off the season losing to in overtime to the defending national champions the Ohio State Buckeyes. Then after that lose something clicked in that team and they would go on to win every other game in the regular season. Then they were hit with the most controversial things that could happen at that time, the rankings put them ranked five in the country behind another one loss team who they had beat in the season, that team was Oklahoma.

Miami was matched up against Nebraska in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, they won 40-7. It had been made clear that Miami would try to make a run for the National Championship next year, but so would the champions Oklahoma looking to repeat National Championship wins. Miami would win all of their regular season games  and be put at the two seed in the playoff for the championship. Then have to beat the also undefeated TCU horned frogs. The canes crushed the frogs in a 40-10 win to put them in the National Championship game. When the Rose bowl was over, the Miami canes would play the Oklahoma sooners in the National Championship, the team that beat them out last year.

The game started and Miami had scored on their first possession and put up a 7-0 score in the first quarter. Then the score stayed at that until Oklahoma threw a pick-six with 30 seconds left in the game and shattered their chance at a comeback. They canes won the National Championship. Jeff was the player that got the pick, and he was the sole reason they won that game because the two other times the sooners were in threat of scoring Jeff caused a turnover. They put together the perfect season and stunned the nation while doing so. They were at the top and they were by some putting back together what they had broke after the 2000-2002 teams won the national title.

After they put together the perfect season they were hoping to repeat national championship wins, something that they were unable to do in 2002.

The season started and they only lost one senior to the NFL, they were starting the season playing Ohio. The game was a blowout 42-0 and The U had started up again to try to win the title. The rest of the season they had best their opponents by an average of 20 points  and they would again have a perfect regular season and go to the playoff. In their first game they had to play Alabama. The game was close until the last seconds when Miami had to kick a field goal to win the sugar bowl and put them in the Championship game. They would have to play the also undefeated Mississippi State Bulldogs for the big game.

The game started and the Canes would score on their first possession and they would also give up a score on the dogs first possession. The game was a toss up for who would win from the beginning until the end. The Canes scored and they gave the bulldogs one more shot with 1:30 left in the game. The first play The quarterback scrambled and ran for 15 yards. Then a pass play would put them in striking position. They threw the fade and the dogs receiver caught it and they scored. Then the Mississippi coach would keep the offense on the field and they will go for the two and the win. They lined up in a run and they snapped it and the quarterback ran the statue of liberty. The running back ran it and he crossed the goal line. They converted the two points and they won the game. Then like all scoring plays they are reviewed and upon replay they saw the runner had been tripped up and his knee had touched the ground and he was down. This time the Canes would be able to repeat title wins and they did it by one point. The Canes were on top again and they were the best team in the nation.

The canes would lose all most starters to the NFL and go 5-4 the next 5 seasons and Miami was back 

to where they had started.

Buzzer Beater

  Final Buzzer

  Our story begins in the high school basketball championship. The current matchup is between  the Benjamin Franklin night riders, and the Storm City cyclones. The cyclones starting five are up at the point standing at an even six feet tall John Wilcox, at the two spot, the three point specialist Cain Madison, at the small forward position the five, nine speed demon Brandon Faulk, and finally at the four and five spot at power forward  Heath Spikes, finally at Center standing 7 feet tall Thomas Morris.

Here come the night riders. The road to the Kansas state championship is underway Thomas morris is the jumper for the cyclones. The tip is won by Storm city and an immediate pass to Cain Madison from John Wilcox puts the clones up three to nothing. Now here come the night riders the point guard passes it inside to the center where he puts up the quick shot and is denied by Thomas Morris rebound goes to the cyclones.

10 minutes later- Its a blow out here in Storm City as the cyclones led 50-13 the cyclones starters are averaging 10 points per player. With only 30 seconds left in the first half the night rider have the ball and setting up their offense only 5 left on the shot clock the night riders heave up a prayer for three covered and fouled by Brandon Faulk he gets it to go and one so that wil make the halftime score 50-17 cyclones.

At the start of the second half the night riders exploded to a 30-0 run to be trailing 47-50 and with 10 seconds left they have the ball of the inbound they get it inside then kick it out for three and he makes it plus the foul.

He gets a chance to win but both coaches call there timeouts. Here is the free throw he shots it bounces off the backboard. John Wilcox throws up a hail mary and it toilet bowls in game over final score Benjamin Franklin night riders 50 the Storm City cyclones 53.

The four of the five starters for the cyclones would all eventually find their way to the NBA. Whether its through the Euro league or the D-league John Wilcox would commit to Iowa state university and take them to the final four two time and win the championship two time against Kansas and Ohio state.

Cain Madison would commit to the university of Iowa and moved to point guard and played against John but lost three of their four meetings. Brandon Faulk would commit to the university of Wisconsin and would lead his team in scoring and take them to the elite eight three time and would make it to the championship game once but would lose to Ohio state on there way to play Iowa state in the championship game.

Heath Spikes had the toughest road only getting to play his junior and senior year after missing his freshman year with and broken ankle. He led his team in rebounds and anger management lessons. He was removed from NCAA play his sophomore year due to four fights during the regular season. He was ejected in all four fights.

Thomas Morris had the most promising career of the five but was diagnosed with and irregular heart that had gone over noticed and he didn’t try out for the NBA draft but he found his way to the dis ability olympics and won gold for team USA he qualified four times for the olympics and won gold 3 times losing to team Britain once.

All five of them had historic careers in different ways

Elite Team

Elite team

Once upon a time there was a kid named Max Baker, he loved the sport of basketball. Max is in eighth grade, he is about 5 foot and is 95 pounds. He noticed at school that there was a tryout sheet for the travel basketball team. Max had been working on his jump shot all summer, at the park courts.

“Max thought that he probably has a good shot at making the travel team.”

There were a lot of other really good players in his grade, who are faster and bigger, but Max has this spin move that he can beat them on every time. Max is also a three point specialist he can shot perimeter shots and corner shots. He made the game winning three last year to win the semi final game vs the bobcats. But this week was tryout week, so Max had to focus on his game.

It was the next week and it was time for the tryouts. When he first got there he was the only one there. He wondered if today was the day for the tryouts. But on his sheet it said 3:00 sharp on wednesday, so this had to be it he wondered. Anyways he grabbed a ball and started shooting.

“Today he thought”  

“Today is the day that show these guys what I’m made of.” He started off with some easy layups, then when he made them, he started backing up and shot perimeter shots. He noticed that he had been shooting really well lately, he wondered if it was just him getting better, or just luck. But he was going to go with it. Max looked at the clock it read 3:10, they have to be coming soon. Then, finally his coach walked in, “ Practice doesn’t start for a hour and a half.” You are a little early son.”

“ No sir, I thought it read 3:00 sharp,” said Max.

“ Nope,” said Coach.

“ Ok I’m going to just stay here, and practice for a bit if you don’t mind.” Max said.

“ Ok, that’s fine with me.” said Coach.

Finally after a thousand shots, Max thought, finally, It was time for practice. There was at least twenty boys, or so that showed up. There was big kids, and smaller kids around Max’s size. Max still thought that he had a good shot of making the team. Finally, after ten minutes of shooting around, it was go time.

Max got split up in a group with kids, that were more of his skill type. They started of with a quick game of knock out. Whoever was the top three people to win out of the four groups, got to pick their teams. Max was feeling really confident about this, he started off 3rd in line. Max ended up getting 4th in the game.

Max was put on a team with some okay players. Not as good as players as he thought he would get, but he was ok with it. Max’s team played first, his team was the Spurs. He had to play the Heat first. Max seen that there was some really good kids on that team and that he needed to play really good, to impress the coaches.

It was the opening tip off, the heat got the tip and went down and drained a three pointer, right away. Max got the ball from inbounds, he moved the ball up the court and saw Josh in the corner. He passed it to him.

Max said, “ Oh no, don’t shoot that,” but he did anyway and drained it.

“ No that’s how we play.” said Josh.

It was ten to 11, the Heat were winning. It was Spurs ball, Max caught the inbounds play and drove coast to coast up the courts. There was three minutes left in the 2nd half, Max had to do something, he passed to the right and went to the left. Then the guy went to the top of the key, and caught the ball. Then he beamed it back at Max in the corner, Max straightened his stance and let it fly.

All he could see was the ball going straight through the net, like a darting bullet. Max held up his three fingers and made a sign on his eyes. But he noticed the other team was catching up, so he had to run back on defense. The score was 13 to 11 and Max found his rhythm, Max was draining three’s left and right all around the perimeter. It was the 3rd quarter with only two minutes left, the score was 26 to 15.

Max had already about half of their points, dropping 13 points and four assists. It ended up being the end of the third quarter and the fourth came along. You could tell that the Heat were getting really tired, so it was time for Max to push through it and attack the paint. Max got the ball and drove up the court. He drove the lane hard and kicked it out to Josh in the corner.

He pulled up and shot it, the ball rolled around the hoop like a toilet bowl and finally went in. The score was 29 to 15, it was getting to be about the end of the fourth. When 20 seconds pulled up on the clock, Max got the ball he wanted to try this new move that he had never done before. It was the behind the back, crossover, spin move, right to the hole. He knew if he could perfect this move, the judges will automatically write his name down for the team.

I can do this he thought. Then Max got the ball from inbounds, he let the ball roll until about half court, then he picked it up. Max drove to the three point line, then did his move. He got the behind the back, crossover, then the spin move. After that his defender was clueless, and Max seen a wide open lane then attacked. Easy left hand layup for two.

The game finally came to a close, with the Spurs coming out with the win. The final score was 31 to 15 the Spurs. At the end of practice, they were going to call out the names of the 10 out of the twenty people who showed up, to be on the team.

The coach called of from his clipboard, “ Josh, Gabriel, Blake, Eli, Johnny, Doug, Mitchell.”

“ I wonder if I will get picked,” Max said.

“Wyatt, Kyle, and last but not least Max,” said Coach

“ Sorry boys better luck next year,” he said to the other player.

Max was so happy that he made the team. After that he ran all the way home from practice and yelled as loud as he could, (as he walked in the front door,) “I made the team,” said Max

So that was the story of Max Baker, making his elite tryout team.