COVID stole my team’s championship

I coached these kids to the big game ready to hoist the unattainable trophy

Helplessly, sweat builds up on my forehead,

I watch as time evaporates from the clock,

And the season,

Trailing 31–30,

Playoffs

First-round

Six ticks left,

Khaliq drives, kicks it out to Stevie.

Stevie unleashes a wobbly jumper that clanks off the front rim

Two seconds. One second.

The referee boisterously blows his whistle,

“Technical on Endeavor!”

Too many players on the court,

Stunned

Veins-of-icy Steve steps to the free-throw line,

Smoothly sinks the first shot

Shot two:

Swish!

Stevie runs over to the opposing fans,

Who harassed and egged him on all game.

Heckling, taunting

“Nice shot Stephen!” on an airball.

“Way to turn the ball over” on an errant pass.

Stevie, doing his best Arnold Schwarzenegger,

flexes his muscles proudly, smiling ear to ear,

In a gratifying 32–30 Millen win,

On to the semifinals:

The night lights on the scoreboard almost blew out

A basketball version of the Natural

Making Paul Westhead proud,

Final score: Millen 94, Anadverde 83

Hot-shooting, fast-breaking, unselfish passing,

Nas 30, Khaliq 21, Stevie 16, Anthony 15.

Anthony: Coachable, never complained, aggressive rebounder

No need to outlet, great taking it coast-to-coast

“Get off me, fool,” Anthony mumbled being fouled hard,

In the closing minutes of the Endeavor win,

Clay “The Worm” McClure,

Stepped in big in Endeavor playoff game,

Couldn’t shoot, but rebounding machine.

Kicked off for fighting,

Given a second shot,

Punched a hole in the wall in the semifinals,

Kicked off again

Denovan the Dominator:

Thirty-one points in a PLP 80–30 shellacking,

Polite, respectful, humble and always saying “Yes, coach.”

Khaliq

Passionate, court-savvy, but volatile Khaliq,

Five technicals

Usually cursing at refs

Messing around before games,

Chomping on chips,

Hoody pulled over his head,

Slapping the boy’s head in front of him,

Flirting with girls

A Second point guard, great drives, passing and daring defense,

Don’t forget Big Mike

Shaking his head, lowering his head as he slumped to the bench,

“I sucked!”

Steamrolling to ten straight W’s

Ready for the championship after our explosive win

Desert Willow awaits!

Game to be played at the stuffed-as-sardine Millen Corral

Another banner and trophy hopefully headed our way,

Math teacher Eisenmenger ready to push the buzzer extra long,

Teaching “Wrinkle in Time” in fourth-period English,

Text comes over phone:

“All championship tournament games cancelled”

March 12, 2020

Heartbroken

No one could stop the talented Trailblazers,

Except COVID

Four lonely first-place trophies still sitting in room 207,

Collecting dust

The unfinished season.

Thanks for reading.

Tagging my fellow championship readers: Scot Butwell, Sreese, Lu Skerdoo, Evon, MarkfromBoston 🐾🍻, Princella Talley, Klara Jane Holloway, Janet Meisel, yknakano.

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