Hello Basketball world, It’s “Young One” checking in..
The beginning of my week went well, Monday I prepared for the ISEE test by staying for the weekly class my school provides in preparation for the test. For those that don’t know what the ISEE test is, it’s a test that you must pass in order to be accepted into all the private high schools. Tuesday and Wednesday I worked on strength and conditioning while studying for up coming tests at school. Thursday I played with one of the high schools that I am considering in their high school fall league. I had 11 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds in our two-point victory.
This Thursday league is great help in getting ready for high school because I get to play against varsity teams while I’m still in 8th grade. I also enjoy it because I get to play alongside some of my Gym Ratz teammates that I have been with for years. Playing AAU together benefits us because the chemistry needed to win games is already there. Friday after school I rushed home to play, the new NBA 2K10, which is a great game to play while relaxing at home with the Family.
On Saturday I woke up early to watch my younger brother Xavier, play in the Gauchos Roundball tournament. I enjoy watching his team (The Riverside Hawks) play because it’s amazing what they can do at such an early age. At the end of the game they pulled out a 25-19 victory, making them 2 and 0. Later in the day I left to Massachusetts to play with Team Scan in the Basketbull tournament in Springfield.
Our first two games were not very competitive. We won the first two games by more than 50 points. We then went back to the hotel to rest for our next two games. We had a good time at the hotel seeing two of our teammates (Kevin Seymour and Neeko Zeno) that had been away at prep school near by. Our first game on Sunday we played a team from Rhode Island. We came out flat and they were knocking down shots on the perimeter. Going into half time we only had a two-point lead. Our Coach Munch ripped into us and we came out more focused in the 2nd half and ended up winning by more than 30 points. We then headed to the Basketball Hall of Fame for the championship game against Team Underrated. It was an honor to play at the Basketball Hall of fame where all the greatest players are enshrined.
Team Underrated came out fired up having wanted to play us in the past, this was our first meeting, and they were physical and athletic. At the end of the first half we were down 2. In the 2nd half we broke down as a team and played as individuals, while they continued to play as a team. This led them to pull away and beat us by ten. Nonetheless, hats off to Team Underrated because they wanted it more than us and got the win. Losing this Championship was a humbling experience for us, proving that we need to work harder, and always play as a team.
Young One out..
