Matthew Nguyen

Mrs. Jimenez

Period 5

December 9, 2013

A Different Point Of View

My Blake Griffin Flight 32 Basketball shoes may be perceived as any ordinary

pair of shoes but they have experienced things you only find in movies. These shoes

have been with me for 2 years but it has experienced more than you would expect.

Through playoff games, through season games, and championship games, they have

always been there to help me play my best basketball that I could possibly play. But the

most intense experience its had was two months ago in my championship game

against Mater Dei.

It was the game to truly determine which freshman team in California has the

most potential to win a title. Both Mater Deis freshman team and my freshman team

(Westminster High School) have a record of 19-1. Our only losses are from each other

from the two times weve played so far. This isnt only the tie-breaker to see who wins

two of three games, but a game to decide which team has enough heart to win a title

and prove they deserved it.

My best friend that would be the only one to help me play my hardest was my

basketball shoes. Inside was as soft and as comfortable as shoes can be and the

outside was as beautiful as a pair of Flight 32s can be. It was definitely the perfect pair

of shoes to wear for this game and I knew it. The game was already at halftime and my

closest pair of shoes has affected me tremendously.

 The halftime score was 45-44 and Mater Dei had the slight advantage. My team

and I have already been getting it done on the offensive end, but the defensive end was

a bust. The defense was so horrible that if theyve made their shots, we wouldve been

getting blown out.

Third quarter and our team is getting a little frustrated. Four minutes into the

quarter, our coach calls a timeout as we huddle together with the scoreboard behind us

showing everyone that the score was 59-50. And we were NOT leading the game. Our

star point guard and I exchanged words. Look for the open corners and call more

offensive plays!. I angrily told him.

Theyre running man defense on us. Our only chance to score is set screens

and get them confused so we have open three-pointer shots. And on defense, we have

got to switch to five defense or full defense, They keep feeding the big man inside

and thats where most of their points are coming from, he seemed to be a little

astounded my tone.

We finally made a 12 - 3 run, tying up the game. We couldnt have reached up if

our guard didnt hit 3 threes and get an And-1 play, also making the free throw. The

score was now 62-62 with one minute and twenty six seconds left to play in the quarter.

I have 16 points so far in the game and I wasnt done. Deciding that I needed to score to

get my team in the lead, I held the ball when there was 10 seconds left.

Five...Four...ThreeTwo...Swish! *Buzzer goes off* I hit the deep three pointer to put us

up by three but I was a little frustrated with the referees because Im pretty sure I got

fouled on that last shot.

Good shot Matt! Hey, that shots gonna be there all game. Dont always look to
assist. Get some buckets for yourself too, kiddo, my coach excitedly exclaimed.

Thanks coach but now that they know I can shoot, I think I should attack the

middle so the defense can collapse on me and leave the arc wide open for shots. Its a

perfect idea, I replied.

My idea worked for most of fourth quarter, always keeping us up by at least three

points. But it was two minutes left in the last quarter that the idea stopped working.

Theyve seem to figured out my plan. Therefore, I called a timeout and allowed my

coach to draw out a play or few for us to run. We tried running them, but we just couldnt

find any points. They were now up by two points and had possession with 25 seconds

to go. Their star shooter was wide open and shot the ball. To everyones surprise, the

ball went in and out as I soared through the air with my shoes to snatch the ball and

come down with it. I ran down the floor and being tugged at the whole time, I was angry.

I attacked the basket where their center was waiting for me. I threw the ball up at the

drag zone and was knocked down immediately from behind. One bounce...Two

bounce...IN! The buzzer rang all around me as I layed there for a moment. *WHISTLE!*

I got fouled! Coach called me over.

Great take buddy, but now times up and its up to you to win the game for us.

Yes, coach. Ill make the free throw.

I walked to the free throw line and blankly stared at the rim for a moment as if the

game didnt matter except for this moment. It was my moment to win it for us. The

referee passed me the ball and I felt the eyes of the crowd weigh on me.

I slowly lifted my hands with the ball, dipped, up, shoot, BANK. The crowd roared

and I felt comfortable again. The game was over. That was it. Weve won. Weve got the
trophy. The title was ours. That game took every last strength of mine. I went home after

that and just relaxed in my room. That was definitely the best game my shoes and I

have played. But who knows, that was most definitely not our last.