Anyone who knows me well knows that I have always enjoyed athletic competition. Baseball, basketball, football, soccer...I enjoy playing just about any sport. One reason why I enjoy sports so much is that I have truly been blessed with the ability to excel at them! I enjoy the strategy involved as well. I enjoy thinking of different scenarios and what the best strategy would be in those situations.

I think that I began playing sports when I was around six or seven. It all began with a father-son basketball league. That was a lot of fun; although I didn't think about it at the time, those days would be a sign of things to come.

I also have wonderful memories of playing soccer for the SAY soccer league. I remember playing games on cool autumn days. You could feel the dew on your cleats and see the beautiful blue sky above; I remember the sounds and smells as plain as day. I can't say that I was an outstanding player (pretty average actually) but soccer was still a lot of fun.

I also enjoyed playing kickball with my friends at Community Christian School in Hamilton, Ohio (I went there from 2nd through 6th grade.) The kickball days were so special; you didn't have to have gaudy skills to kick the ball. :) Anyone could step in and do well. I remember the times when someone who looked about as intimidating as a box of rocks would step in. We would act all relaxed and bring the defense in. On the first roll, that person would nail the ball over our heads and score a home run! Not only was kickball a game that everyone could play, it was a good lesson in humility for "veterans" of the game like us.

That brings me to the sport that I have really excelled at: basketball. Even though I'm very good at some other sports such as baseball and football, I feel that I was always meant to play basketball. I received my first basketball goal (it was about five feet tall) when I was 7; I had a blast playing on that goal. I would pretend that I played for the Lakers (they were actually my favorite team back then; the Hornets and Pacers are my teams today) and I would come up with difficult scenarios. Perhaps my "team" was down by five points with a minute to go; maybe we were down by one and I had a chance to shoot two free throws. How ironic is was that in the future, I would actually face those scenarios...in reality!

My experience in organized basketball began with the YMCA. I gained four valuable years of experience playing in these leagues; it was a blast even though I was slightly above average. I was a good player but I had a long way to go to reach greatness (still have a long way to go...lol). Unfortunately, there were some very tough roads ahead.

When I was twelve years old, I got my first taste of adversity. In 1993, I played for the Trinity Christian School junior high team (I was in seventh grade at the time.) Everything started out just fine. I joined the team and had some great times at practice. I did pretty well too; nothing earth-shattering but I felt that I did well enough to earn a starting position. However, it was simply not meant to be. I was absolutely stunned when I learned that I wouldn't get to start. Amazingly, not getting to start wasn't the worst of it. I ended up being one of the last guys to get into the game. This means that I only got to play during "trash time" (when we were either way ahead or way behind). My confidence was shattered; I made the mistake of letting what other people thought affect my play. As a result, I didn't play too well when I was lucky enough to get in the game. However, I should mention that everything changed our last few games. For some odd reason, I felt a bit more confident. I got to play a little more and scored my first points of the season in the last game. It was a great feeling even though I was still frustrated about the season. It was a very tough season but the Lord somehow got me through it. Unbeknownst to me, that experience would prove to be a very helpful one in the future.

As you can imagine, I wasn't a big fan of organized basketball after that season. I resolved never to put myself in a situation like that one again. Not only was I treated unfairly but my confidence was shaken big time. I actually believed the farce that I wasn't good enough to excel at basketball.

I remember praying to the Lord about this situation. I asked Him to help me and to give me strength through the tough times. He really came through in flying colors. I didn't receive a revelation or see visions or anything like that; I just felt at peace. I strongly feel that Jesus was the One who led me to the Athletes in Action basketball camp in June of 1994. It ended up being one of the best weeks of my life. The guys that I met were very friendly and encouraging; they didn't look down on anyone...not even a scrawny white kid like myself. :) I remember some of the names too; Rod Foster (a former NBA player and a great teacher), Ed (very encouraging), and Casey (my small groups' leader and a true inspiration). These men showed through their actions that they loved the Lord and that they loved us as well. The experience at this camp really ignited a fire within me. I was determined to prove to everyone that I was a great basketball player. The neat thing is that I knew in my heart that the Lord actually cared about something as trifle as basketball. He knew my hopes and dreams and it's because of little things like that that I know that He loves me. He cares about something as silly as a game! Needless to say, my long lost confidence had finally returned...doubly strong!!

1995 proved to be a very big year in more ways than one! In August of 1995, my family moved from Ohio (where I lived for nearly my entire life) to Indiana. This was a tough experience because all of my friends and old stomping grounds were in Ohio. Moving to a new place was a very strange experience indeed. From the Queen City to one big cornfield...lol. Although I couldn't understand this move at the time, I now realize that it was the Lord's guidance.

Through Carey Jones and his family (they lived just down the road from me), I learned of a basketball camp that was taking place that August. I decided that I had nothing to lose so I attended the camp. As I entered the Millcreek Civic Center for the first time, I was greeted by coaches Lee Griffith and Mark Swan. Little did I know that both individuals would become an integral part of my life for the next several years. Regarding the camp itself, it wasn't another Athletes in Action by any stretch but it was still a lot of fun. The odd thing is that I thought that this was simply a basketball camp and nothing more. Not until the last day of the camp did I learn that most of the guys played for the Homeschool Sons: a team consisting of various people in the local homeschooling group. When I was offered a spot on the team's roster, I was flattered and joined on the spot. To this day, I don't know why I joined the team without hesistation; you would have thought that the TCS experience would have kept me from trying the "organized basketball" thing again. However, I feel that the Lord orchestrated this; these events didn't happen by chance.

So after a one year hiatus, I was back in organized basketball. Since I was in ninth grade at the time, I was officially on the Varsity team. However, Coach Griffith encouraged me to play for the Junior High team; he felt that I would get more playing time there. Even though I felt that I could play on the Varsity (deja vu), I had learned my lesson from the past. I consented which turned out to be a very wise decision. My coach was Mark Swan and what a great coach he was! He was so good at encouraging me and was just a fun coach to play for in general. The first game was like a dream; I got to play for almost the entire game and I scored 4 points to boot! In just one game with a new team and new teammates, I had equaled my total output with the TCS team. From that game on, I just kept on rolling. I finished with 125 points that season (a 7.3 point per game average...my high score that season was 15 points). I also scored around 10 points for the Varsity team (some of the JH players got to sit on the Varsity bench). There was one Varsity basket in particular that was simply unforgettable! I received a pass on a fast break and somehow made the layup/running jumper over three guys! When the shot went in, I had to do a double-take; I had absolutely no idea how I had made that shot. I remember one of our big guys congratulating me and the fans just going nuts. It was an awesome feeling too; I felt that I was becoming the player that I had only seen in my dreams.

You know what was so strange about my first season though? I was silly enough to play all of the games that year without my glasses! I could hardly see the basket and I was still making most of my shots! It is so funny because after each game, I would put on my glasses and be able to see everything so clearly. I would look at the basket and think "So that's what it looks like!" Lol...it was only because of the Lord that I didn't make a complete fool of myself. How did my shots go in you ask? To this day, it remains a mystery to even me. I had a nice shot that year but to hit such a high percentage; it boggles my mind.

Thankfully, I wised up and got contacts the following year. Now I could see the basket perfectly; this allowed me to make my 3 point shot the deadly shot that it should have been my first year with the Sons. However, since I was now a freshman, I could no longer play for the Junior High team. The prospect of sitting on the bench for the Varsity was daunting. I didn't want to have to go through that again. I knew that I would be a "pine man" too; for some odd reason, our Varsity coach didn't seem to like me like he did my first year. Maybe it was my style that he didn't like. I've always thought of myself as a player of finesse; I'm not a big physical guy that runs everyone down and does an earth-shattering dunk that brings down the roof. No way; not me...I've always thrived on three-point shooting and quickness. However, that didn't seem to impress the coach...it was strange indeed.

However, the Lord worked out another miracle. For some reason, the Sons added a Junior Varsity team that year. Players that weren't "good" enough for the Varsity team got to thrive at the JV level. I didn't complain though; it was a great opportunity! My coach that year was Jeff Bowen. He was a soft-spoken guy but he really knew the game well. I got to play a lot too! As if the wonderful 1995-96 season wasn't enough, I got the chance to play at the JV level for two funfilled years.

I averaged around 8 points a game during the 1996-97 season and pushed that figure up to 11 points per game during the 1997-98 campaign. Both years were enjoyable; I steadily improved, continued to gain confidence, and got to know my teammates very well. I was just so thankful for getting a chance to play in so many games! Although it's hard to pick favorites, there was one game in particular that I remember very well. It was during the 1996-97 season. We were playing a pretty good team (New Horizons) and we were down the entire game. However, I came to life in the fourth quarter and hit some big threes. The crowd was going nuts and we put ourselves in a position to win. After hitting a few 3's, I remember coming down the court and just filling very confident. I surprised everyone (even myself) by shooting a 3 several feet behind the line. Seeing that shot swish through the net was so awesome! We weren't quite able to pull out a victory but as I gazed at myself in the mirror after the game, I could only wonder in amazement. Did I really do that? Is this really happening? I could only praise the Lord and thank him for these glorious years.

Unfortunately, things weren't as rosy at the Varsity level. My relationship with the coach seemed to become worse than ever. To this day, I have no idea why he disliked me so much. I came to every practice, always gave 100 percent, and respected him. However, nothing seemed to help. As you can imagine, my playing time with the Varsity dwindled. It was so frustrating too. Seeing some of my teammates get into the game before me just drove me nuts. There was one incident in particular that really took the cake. During one Varsity game, our starters simply looked terrible. I guess that it was just one of those days. However, our coach made a very good move. He put the JV starters (myself included) in the game. That was justice too because the Varsity really looked awful. However, for some reason that I will never know, I was taken out of the game after one minute of action. I was the only one taken out too! All of the other JV players remained in the game! It was an outrage; I was very tempted to confront the coach right then. However, the Lord somehow helped me to restrain myself.

As I look back in retrospect, the whole thing was kind of cool because instead of being depressed, I felt a righteous anger. My confidence wasn't shaken one iota either. Instead of sulking about the whole thing, I played a good game of Double Dragon 2 that day. After doing a gazillion uppercuts and knee bashes, I admit that I felt a lot better...lol. It makes me laugh when I think of that day now. Video games aside, I realized that I had come a long way by God's grace. I no longer dwelt on what others thought; I knew that with Jesus, I could excel at anything. I would move on and get through these tough times. After all, there was always the JV and playing for them was a lot of fun. I still had something to prove though; still some demons to exorcise. If I could just get the chance to prove myself at the Varsity level, I would be happy.

After a lot of waiting and by the Grace of God, the window of opportunity finally opened for me. Coach Mark Swan (remember that name from earlier?) took over as the coach of the Varsity. Since we had been together my first year with the Sons, we knew each other very well. He knew that I was capable of great things. I remember after the final game a season earlier that he told me that the following season, I would be draining threes for the Varsity. He really believed in me and I became determined not to let him down. As practice began and the regular season loomed, I was thrilled! I didn't expect to start (by this time, I didn't expect much at the Varsity level) but I knew that I would be treated fairly by Coach Swan.

In a rusty old lockerroom before our opening game of the 1998-99 season, I was shell-shocked when Coach Swan announced me as one of our starters. I couldn't believe it! I would get to start with great players like Carey Jones (probably the greatest player to ever play for the Sons), Jesse Garner (a speed demon), and my good friend Jared (sharp-shooter and good team player). I was amazed! As the game began, all of us were doing very well. I scored 7 points in the first half and I felt great! However, during the second half, Coach Swan put me on the bench briefly. He wanted more out of me; he knew that I could do better. He even encouraged me to shoot more! This was such a sharp contrast to my previous coach. I seized the opportunity like there was no tomorrow and followed Coach Swan's advice. The second half was like a dream! The basket just looked like an ocean to me and my shots fell like hotcakes! I scored 15 points in the second half (most of them in the 4th quarter) and I ended up leading the team in scoring that night with a career high 22 points! Not only did I get to start that night but I led the team in scoring! If you would have told me before the game that the scenario above would have played out, I would have just laughed at you! Unfortunately, we narrowly lose the game (a good friend of ours hit the game-winning shot with a few seconds to go...the rascal!!) but we felt very confident after that game. We had played very well as a team and the chemistry just seemed to be there. I just knew that the rest of the season was going to be a lot of fun.

I have to admit that it was oh-so-sweet to finally get the opportunity to prove my critics dead wrong. I finally got to show everyone that I deserved a spot in our Varsity starting lineup after all. I just needed to be given the opportunity. There have probably been many basketball players over the years that could have been exceptional had they been given the chance. There are people that I know at college who are better than me at basketball and they have been cut!! Isn't that amazing? I am just so thankful that Coach Swan gave me that chance. Once I got to start, it was all downhill from there. Of course, this story would be incomplete if I failed to give Jesus the credit as well. People can say all they want about their strength and skill but I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that there was someone else on that court with me that night.

In my opinion, that game against the Homeschool Lions was the culmination of all of my previous experiences. All of the YMCA games, the Trinity fiasco, my JH and JV days with the Sons; problems with various coaches over the years; all of those events led up to that cool November evening. I had become more determined along the way and had come to realize that there would be roadblocks in my way. My dream wouldn't come to me; I would have to fight like heck to reach it. Looking back though, it was well worth each and every snag that I ran into along the way.

My Junior and Senior years were easily my most enjoyable years with the Homeschool Sons. I got to start for the Varsity both years and was even the team captain my Senior year! I went on to average over 14 points a game during my Junior year. We really had an awesome team that year too! We had good chemistry, unselfish players, and a great coach. It seemed like someone different stepped up in each game too. Carey scored 45 points in his final game (still the team record for points btw), Jesse garnered 44 in a tournament championship game, Jared smoked everyone with 25 once, and I saved us on a few occasions with around 20 points. Four players ended up averaging double figures in points that year which just shows how we were truly a team. We ended up going 13-8 that season which is very solid but we really could have done even better. We hit a snag late in the year where we lost 4 games in a row. Winning the tournament that we entered was a very memorable experience though. I remember the feeling of being ahead by 25 points in the Championship on the other team's home floor. It was such a great feeling!

After the season was over, I have to admit that I was disappointed. Three of our starters graduated and the other one decided to call it quits which made it very tough for me. Even Coach Swan decided to hang things up; he was such a wonderful inspiration too. There was even the possibility that the Sons organization might fold. Thankfully, several people stepped in to prevent that from happening.

Brett Henson took over as coach that year and my Dad assisted (he had assisted my Junior year as well). Overall, I felt that Coach Henson did a very good job for being thrown into that position. I did miss Coach Swan (he was the one who gave me a chance after all) but Coach Henson was a good guy as well. There were a lot of new faces my Senior year and a lot of growing up to do as a result. Several players who thrived at the JV level finally got a chance to play at the Varsity level. My good friends Wade (a strong inside player) and JR (we played JH and JV ball together) came up so it wasn't all bad. I think that all of us missed Carey and Jesse though; they had meant so much to the Sons for so long.

Even though my Senior year was a rebuilding year, there were times when we had brief flashes of brilliance. Note the word "brief" however. Most of the new players just didn't seem to show the same passion for the game as Carey, Jesse, and Jared though. They took their opportunity to play at the Varsity level way too lightly. Instead of having to fight and claw their way to the top like me, they pretty much got to play by default (that sort of thing happens when you lose four starters). As a result, many of them just didn't seem to show the same passion or love for the game like a Jesse or Carey. I do have to give them credit though; they really tried for me and the other seniors. There was so much personality on the team that year too. Chris Morris was simply hilarious! He would always act silly and put his jersey over his head during practice. Lol...maybe that wasn't such a good thing? JR was always a lot of fun to be around as well. Him and Stephen (one of our top subs...the guy should have started in my opinion) would always do something funny. And then there was Wade. His excellent shot-blocking ability and inside presence complimented my speed and outside shooting ability perfectly. Although I hate to pick favorites, Wade and I just seemed to really click off the court as well as on it. He was such an easy guy to get along with; friendly, funny, and never a trash-talker. But boy could he play when he was determined! Man, if him and I had only had more support offensively...we would have been a real force to reckon with!

Although my Senior year was a lot of fun, I did miss having the support on the scoreboard. My 14 points per game average my Junior year was actually third on the team and I loved it! We were a team that year and didn't need one guy to do all of the work. Unfortunately, that load landed squarely on my shoulders my Senior year and I pretty much had to carry my team (with the exception of Wade). Granted, it was a tremendous opportunity and I had always dreamed of being the leader but I guess that I didn't consider the ramifications of being in that position. It kind of boils down to the question of "Do you want to score tons of points or would you rather win?" Although I did score a lot of points my Senior year, the W's were...lacking.

We ended up going 7-11 that year which wasn't horrible but was nothing compared to our 13-8 team the year before. Perhaps things would have been different if we had won a few games early in the season. We played very well in each of our first two games...I'll say right away that those games were two of the most enjoyable ones of my career. I came out of the gates on fire that year and scored a combined 54 points in those games! I won't forget Opening Night. It was against the Lions (who else?) and I got absolutely hammered on a three-point shot. However, the shot swished through the net and the fans just went crazy!! It was so awesome; man did I ever love our fans (who were awesome throughout my career...not just during the good times). Unfortunately, we lost the game by around three to five points. We played against the Wildcats (Homeschool team from Indianapolis) in our second game of the 1999-00 season and it just might have been my best overall game with the Sons. I ended up with a career high 29 points and hit 14-14 free throws that night!! We were actually down by 10 points with around a minute to go but for some reason, the Wildcats kept fouling me! They had a full-court press going but they were just being way too aggressive. With all of my free throws falling, we somehow managed to slice the lead all the way down to two with a mere five seconds remaining! We had a chance to tie or even win the game! We brought the ball up the court and got it to Chris. He made a nice cut to the basket and put up a pretty good-looking 10 foot jumper. Unfortunately, it just rimmed out and we lost the game by that much. It was a great shot and all but I just wonder what would have happened if he had looked to his left before taking the shot. I was standing right behind the three point line at the left wing and was wide open. I don't have any hard feelings or anything but I just wonder what would have happened had I had the chance to win the game. With the way things were going for me, I truly believe that I would have nailed that shot and won the game for us. Of course, there is always the chance that it could have gone the other way and I would have missed it. Either way you look at it, what I say here won't change anything, but it's fun just to comtemplate and wonder what could have happened. I don't blame Chris though. He took a good shot and all that I am saying would be a moot point had the shot fallen. It's still okay to wonder though.

Unfortunately, not all of our games were that close. Although we won the game following the matchup with the Wildcats, there was a six game losing streak that began about halfway through the season that was particularly painful. For some reason, we just didn't click as a team at all. People were hogging the ball, the wrong people were in the game at the wrong time, and a feeling of lethargy just seemed to take over. I know that I'm being pretty rough but that's how bad it was. It was like someone taking a small pebble from the bottom of a huge rock pile. Before you knew it, you were drowning in rocks! That's how the losing streak was. It was so frustrating because we had been blessed with such a golden opportunity here. Getting to start for a Varsity basketball team? How many kids would give anything they had just to get the opportunity to start in one game? I know that I sure would...playing basketball for the Sons meant so much to me. That's why losing was so tough. We weren't making the most of a precious opportunity.

I am happy to say that there were a few games late in my final year with the Sons that were very memorable. We played our big rival, ICA at home (Millcreek Civic Center) after enduring our miserable losing streak. We wanted a win so badly; we'd do practically anything to get one. Somehow, someway, we finally got things rolling against ICA. It wasn't a pretty game mind you (the score was in the 50s late in the game) but we were somehow able to stay close enough to give ourselves a fighting chance. Late in the game, we got to within three points with a minute left. I was able to get free for a 3 in the corner and nailed it! Suddenly, the game was deadlocked at 57 apiece! ICA did have a shot to win but our defense somehow stopped Schooley (one of the best players that I have ever played against) from hitting a jump shot as time expired. I was ecstatic! We had pushed the game to overtime! However, I was shocked to learn that there had been a whistle as time expired. A foul had been called on ICA with no time left and we were in the bonus! Ole reliable Wade had managed to block out for the rebound and drew an over-the-back call. He received two pressure-packed free throws with no time left! Even though he wasn't an outstanding FT shooter, he swished both FT's and we won the game! Who cares about percentages right? Just make the big ones baby! :) It felt so refreshing to finally come out on top and win a big game. Everyone went crazy and we all went out to eat after the game. I was sure on a high that night!!

Although it wasn't nearly as exciting, my final road game with the Sons was memorable as well. We got a rematch against the Homeschool Lions (who had beaten us on opening night). I don't know how but we put together a masterful performance that night that just makes you wonder "What if?" Although I led the team with 22 points, it was truly the team that allowed us to win the game. I can't think of anyone who didn't play a great game that night. We had around an 8 to 10 point lead when I suddenly got hot. I was able to hit some big 3's late in the third quarter that really extended our lead. I remember one in particular that didn't necessarily swish; it seemed to go straight through the basket untouched (those shots really feel good). It was so cool to see them take a timeout out of desperation...we sure got our revenge for that opening night loss! We ended up winning the game by like 25 points and it felt great! Not only did we win the game, we blew them out!

This brings us (finally) to my final game as a member of the Sons. It was a very bittersweet day; something that began way back in 1995 ended on that February day in 2000. Many of my relatives came to this game which really made it special; I was hoping desparately to go out with just one more victory. Just one more baby! The game didn't start out very promising though. I had a tough time hitting my shots early on and Wade went down with an ankle injury. We were playing a very tough team (Northwest) too so the margin for error was small. However, I knew that the Lord would give my strength. Even if we lost the game, I had no intentions of going quietly into the sunset...no sirree. I didn't come all this way in the Sons organization to fold now. The second half was truly magical. It was easily the best "half" of my career with the Sons. I truly left everything on the court. I began hitting 2's, 3's, and free throws. I dove for loose balls and didn't let Northwest get any easy points. There was an unforgettable spurt in the 4th quarter. Stephen (our phenomenal sixth man) hit a tough layup, Isaiah hit a beautiful shot from the side, and I nailed two tough 3's and a layup that I can only describe as "determination." We were able to establish a four point lead but Northwest showed why they were 18-2. They hit some tough threes as well as some layups underneath. Although we hung around, I had no choice but to foul out with only a few seconds remaining. It was truly bittersweet. We came so close. Even though we lost the game by a mere 4 points, I did go out the way that I wanted to go out. I hated the fact that we lost the game, but I ended up with 27 points and had a magical 4th. I was just praising Jesus after the game; you've seen the road that I've taken and everything that brought me to that moment. The game looked like a total disaster early but it ended with both teams leaving it all on the floor.

That last game was enough to bring my career point total to more than 1,000 too! I ended up with a grand total of 1,015 points with the Homeschool Sons. Not bad after scoring 4 points for Trinity Christian School eh? ;)

I guess that the reason that I chose to share this story with you is that it is such a great story full of success, adversity, and inspiration. I admit that it made me feel nostalgic to relive some of the best years of my life too. Everything that I have told you is 100% true too; nothing has been fabricated. I just think that it's a testimony of the power of God and how our present trials just might be preparing us for the future. Only Jesus knew back in my childhood that I would someday live my dream of playing organized basketball. I remember pretending to score game-winning baskets and make game-winning free throws on my first basketball goal. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would actually be under that kind of pressure in real-life. As I walked up to Coach Henson during our team banquet and accepted the 1999-2000 MVP trophy, I couldn't help but silently pray, "Lord, with You, great things truly are possible."

Even though I miss my "glory years" so much, I am still very thankful for the good times that I was blessed with. I got to experience something that not many people get to enjoy. I've been on both sides of the fence too so I feel that I can relate with just about anyone. I know what it's like to sit on the bench and receive about as much respect as ragweed and I also know the feeling of being the MVP. Surprisingly, the difference between the two is less than you might be inclined to think. I was the same person with the same abilities when I was on the bench as I was when I received MVP honors. Granted, I did practice like heck over those next two years but there really is a fine line between success and a major lack of it.

Even though I no longer play for the Sons, I am thankful to say that I have been able to participate in the 2001 and 2003 Sons alumni games! I have actually had the opportunity to play alongside old school guys like Ben Griffith, Carey Jones, and Jesse Garner once more! As a matter of fact, we had the chance to play together just this past February! We had an absolutely amazing game and it was just so nostalgic to be back in the Millcreek Civic Center. The place never changes I tell you. It was just like old times! The fans were there, the starting lineups were announced, and everyone's basketball shoes were all polished up. It was so hilarious to see my teammate Noah reveal his mohawk (yes, it was a mohawk) during the starting lineup announcement! It was so funny!

The game itself did not disappoint either. I had actually woke up that morning feeling so excited because I would get the chance to play again! It was like a dream and I was ready to soak it all in once more. Ben had a nice dunk, I hit several threes early in the game (I was so fired up!!), Carey was as determined as ever, and Jesse was as fiery as ever! The old school guys really dominanted the game but unfortunately the second team (with the exception of Wade who was as dominant as ever) had some major issues. We put together a nice ten point lead with just two minutes to go but the second team just couldn't hold it. Granted, the Sons really put together a string of amazing shots (they couldn't hit those same shots again...I swear!!) but I should note that the clockkeeper was really sleeping on the job (clock didn't run like it should have...the last two minutes were more like five minutes in actuality...I'm dead serious!!) which allowed the Sons team to have that much-needed space to come back. We went to overtime on a questionable foul too. Now even though we were a little flustered, I'll admit that I enjoyed playing in an overtime game. I had never actually played in one with the Sons so it was pretty cool to finally get the chance here. Both teams played evenly and the old school guys really hung in there. After all, we weren't exactly in tip-top shape like when we played together with the Sons. :) We were tied after the first overtime and the score remained knotted after the second one! As Noah put it during the second overtime, the game was "crazy!" I regret to say that I actually had a shot to win the game in the second overtime but it was short. I was thrilled to have the chance but I feel that I rushed it a little too much. Man, I wish that I could have just knocked the thing down. Anyway, the refs decided that we should end the game with free-throw shooting. Each team would select five players and the team that made the most would win the game. I'll say right off the bat that that is no way to end a hotly contested game. We have just had one of the most amazing games in Sons history and you want to end it on...free throws?! Basketball is a team sport right? You end it playing as a team...not by shooting free throws! We did shoot well though. Ben nailed the first one and I swished the next. Now that was a sweet feeling. It's hard to beat a free throw attempt in a third overtime in terms of pressure! Unfortunately, the next guy for our team had his shot go in and out. Somehow, the Varsity starters made all of their free throws and we ended up 4 for 5. Even though the record may show that the Sons "won" the game 111-110 in triple overtime, there were really two winners that night. It's just such a shame that we didn't play a triple overtime to decide the game; why end it with free throws man? I have a friend (Aaron Mahl) who feels the same way about soccer (why end a team sport like soccer with individuals deciding the outcome in a shootout?) Anyway, it's all good because I got a chance to play again with my old friends. Not only that but we put together an amazing performance. Wade and I actually ended up with around 20 points! Each of us only played for roughly half of the game too. Imagine what the final stats could have shown!

Well, I reckon that my story has finally reached its end. To be honest, I never intended to write nearly this much! If you've somehow managed to read everything, I salute you! You deserve a gold star! :) I hope that you have received some inspiration from my story and that you found it intriguing. I sure never get tired of telling it. It just goes to show you that if you rely on the Lord in the tough times, no obstacle will be too great to overcome. Always remember that my friend; no matter what others think, you can defy the odds and prove them wrong someday. After all, if Jesus is your strength, how can you possibly lose in the end?

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