My Love for Basketball
Hello again!
Thank you for coming back for more!
I was just reminiscing about my middle school years, thinking about the sports I used to participate in. When I was in 6th grade, I started running cross country and playing basketball. I did not completely enjoy cross country, but I did like the road trips and getting to make new friends. However, this post is not titled "My Love for Cross Country." It is titled "My Love for Basketball," so I will talk about basketball.
Anyway, in sixth grade, I signed up for basketball because some of my teammates from the cross country team were playing basketball that year.
My first practice was a little scary. My new coach was a super-tall man with a loud voice. I was scared of him for about five minutes. Thankfully, I quickly learned that my coach was super-nice and super funny. I really enjoyed practices after that.
I also learned very quickly that I was terrible at basketball. Absolutely terrible. I did not know how to dribble, I did not know how to shoot, I did not know how run a play--I knew nothing about basketball. Thankfully, Coach taught me everything that he could, and by the time the first game rolled around I thought I was ready to play some ball!
My first game was pretty bad. I played a total of three minutes, which was more than enough. The whole time I was on the court, I was confused. I pretty much did not know my right side from my left, and I could not catch a pass! Even though I was did not play a good game, I had a great time.
After that game, I continued to work hard in practice, and I got better every game I played. I ended my sixth grade season excited to prepare for the next season.
Unfortunately, my seventh grade season did not go as I planned. I had gotten somewhat better, and I had a lot of great teammates, but I did not get a lot of playing time. This would have been okay if my parents had not been paying for me to play. Thoughts of ending my basketball career entered my brain.
A few crazy things happened my seventh grade season.
Boys' Basketball Practice
My sister and I practiced with the Varsity Boy's team because my dad coached them. We figured that practicing with the boys would make us better, and it did. Dad had us (the boys team and us girls) do a scrimmage at one practice, and I decided to play defense down low (at the post). Soon after I got into position, I took an accidental charge on a 6'4, 225-lb high schooler who was going for a layup. I ended up sprawled on the ground, looking up at the sky. I was a little shocked, and I did see some blinding light. Thankfully, I was peeled off the ground, and I recovered pretty quickly.
Junior Varsity Boys' Game
One of our games was located on the West Side of the Middle of Nowhere. the gym floor was made of carpet, and our junior varsity boys' team had only four players. My dad came up to me and asked if I would like to play in a Junior Varsity guys' game. I told him yes, and within five minutes, I was warming up with the junior varsity boys and two of my other teammates that my dad had hastily recruited. Pretty soon after that, we were ready!
That game was so much fun. I played all four quarters, and got a few rebounds. I was really excited that I got to play so much!
Athletic Banquet Pick-up Game
At the end of the season, we had our awards banquet. The food was delicious, the speakers were great, and at the end of the banquet, we played a pick-up game. I was having a wonderful time with my friends playing one of my favorite sports. In the middle of the game, the player that I was doing defense on went up for a jump shot. I jumped up with her trying to block her shot, and I failed. My feet landed on the ground before hers did, and her foot landed on my ankle, pushing it into a pretty uncomfortable position. The pain was terrible! I limped off the court, my foot feeling like a noodle. I had sprained my ankle for the first time.
Well, my seventh grade season was my last season of basketball. The summer after that season, I decided to pursue cross country and track. However, my involvement in basketball did not end there, but that's another story for another time.
Recruiting
I have attached a link to my basketball stats just to show that there are records of my participation. Even though it says I played in seventh and eighth grade, I really played in sixth and seventh.
.
http://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/leah-johnson/RXRS_fTpEeKZ5AAmVebBJg/gendersport/girls-basketball-stats.htm
Thanks for reading! Leave a comment or question below!
Thank you for coming back for more!
I was just reminiscing about my middle school years, thinking about the sports I used to participate in. When I was in 6th grade, I started running cross country and playing basketball. I did not completely enjoy cross country, but I did like the road trips and getting to make new friends. However, this post is not titled "My Love for Cross Country." It is titled "My Love for Basketball," so I will talk about basketball.
Anyway, in sixth grade, I signed up for basketball because some of my teammates from the cross country team were playing basketball that year.
My first practice was a little scary. My new coach was a super-tall man with a loud voice. I was scared of him for about five minutes. Thankfully, I quickly learned that my coach was super-nice and super funny. I really enjoyed practices after that.
I also learned very quickly that I was terrible at basketball. Absolutely terrible. I did not know how to dribble, I did not know how to shoot, I did not know how run a play--I knew nothing about basketball. Thankfully, Coach taught me everything that he could, and by the time the first game rolled around I thought I was ready to play some ball!
My first game was pretty bad. I played a total of three minutes, which was more than enough. The whole time I was on the court, I was confused. I pretty much did not know my right side from my left, and I could not catch a pass! Even though I was did not play a good game, I had a great time.
After that game, I continued to work hard in practice, and I got better every game I played. I ended my sixth grade season excited to prepare for the next season.
Unfortunately, my seventh grade season did not go as I planned. I had gotten somewhat better, and I had a lot of great teammates, but I did not get a lot of playing time. This would have been okay if my parents had not been paying for me to play. Thoughts of ending my basketball career entered my brain.
A few crazy things happened my seventh grade season.
Boys' Basketball Practice
My sister and I practiced with the Varsity Boy's team because my dad coached them. We figured that practicing with the boys would make us better, and it did. Dad had us (the boys team and us girls) do a scrimmage at one practice, and I decided to play defense down low (at the post). Soon after I got into position, I took an accidental charge on a 6'4, 225-lb high schooler who was going for a layup. I ended up sprawled on the ground, looking up at the sky. I was a little shocked, and I did see some blinding light. Thankfully, I was peeled off the ground, and I recovered pretty quickly.
Junior Varsity Boys' Game
One of our games was located on the West Side of the Middle of Nowhere. the gym floor was made of carpet, and our junior varsity boys' team had only four players. My dad came up to me and asked if I would like to play in a Junior Varsity guys' game. I told him yes, and within five minutes, I was warming up with the junior varsity boys and two of my other teammates that my dad had hastily recruited. Pretty soon after that, we were ready!
That game was so much fun. I played all four quarters, and got a few rebounds. I was really excited that I got to play so much!
Athletic Banquet Pick-up Game
At the end of the season, we had our awards banquet. The food was delicious, the speakers were great, and at the end of the banquet, we played a pick-up game. I was having a wonderful time with my friends playing one of my favorite sports. In the middle of the game, the player that I was doing defense on went up for a jump shot. I jumped up with her trying to block her shot, and I failed. My feet landed on the ground before hers did, and her foot landed on my ankle, pushing it into a pretty uncomfortable position. The pain was terrible! I limped off the court, my foot feeling like a noodle. I had sprained my ankle for the first time.
Well, my seventh grade season was my last season of basketball. The summer after that season, I decided to pursue cross country and track. However, my involvement in basketball did not end there, but that's another story for another time.
Recruiting
I have attached a link to my basketball stats just to show that there are records of my participation. Even though it says I played in seventh and eighth grade, I really played in sixth and seventh.
.
http://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/leah-johnson/RXRS_fTpEeKZ5AAmVebBJg/gendersport/girls-basketball-stats.htm
Thanks for reading! Leave a comment or question below!
Ciao! I love your stories and I laughed out loud! Thank you for sharing your stories, especially if they are about basketball! Love ya!
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