Basketball Game

Last night, we Rowes went to the long-awaited basketball game at the town High School, featuring teams made up of parents and teachers from our elementary school and one of the town's other schools.  This event happens yearly and the rivalry is fierce; at least, that is, among the students.  Those of us who are older and wiser know that the game deliberately ends in a tie every year, so that none of the students leave disappointed.  However, the students have yet to clue in on this fact.  Even when I told Julia that it would undoubtedly end in a tie again this year, she didn't believe me.

JULIA: No, I don't think so.  Last year we almost WON!
ME: But honey, they make it a tied game every year on purpose.
JULIA: No, they don't.  How could they even do that??  They can't MAKE it a tie.
ME: Well, we'll see if it's a tie again this year.  I bet it will be.
JULIA: I don't see how they can make it tied on purpose.  How would they even do that??


Well, if one had paid attention last year, one might have noticed one team scoring points for the other in their basket to make up for some lost points, or some very purposeful missed shots by the leading team, just to cite a few examples.

Madeleine was especially excited because her kindergarten teacher was playing in the game.  When this teacher scored her one - and only - basket, Madeleine stood up in the stands and roared with delight.  Every time our school scored, Madeleine pounded her feet against the bleachers and shook her hands in the air and cheered with all her might.  I honestly can't believe how TOTALLY INTO IT she was.  I guess I shouldn't be so surprised; this is the kid, after all, who was sad that I was in a "really losing place" when I ran my half marathon PR.  It's ALL ABOUT coming out on top in her book.  You're either a winner, or you're a LOSER.

Julia was equally enthusiastic, despite her slight inkling that the teams would tie again.  She spent time with some of her third grade buddies, holding up signs and shaking pom-poms, cheering for her school team.  The child who is too shy to loudly cheer on her swim relay team-mates was, surprisingly, not afraid to shout along with the team chants as she watched the game.  I guess there's strength in numbers.

Speaking of, during half-time, I encouraged Julia to go and say hello to one of her swim team members, with whom Julia swam a relay at Districts, among other meets.  This girl, from the opposing school, has been in Julia's swim group for the last two years, so saying hello should be no biggie, right?  Wrong.  Julia was so crippled with shyness that she not only needed one of her friends to accompany her, but she felt the need to turn and look pleadingly back at me with every step closer she got to her swim-mate, until I coaxed her on, step by step.  Thankfully, the hellos were made and the girls seemed happy to see each other, despite being on rival basketball sides.

The tied ending was almost blown, as an accidental wipe-out occurred while two players vied for the basketball in the last two minutes of the game.  The opposing team was given a foul shot, and the player got a basket, making the score 76-77.  Before I knew it, the score-keeper simply added an extraneous point to our team's score, and the game ended at 77-77.  Tied yet again!  TOLD ya so, Julia!

Afterwards, Madeleine went to find her teacher and give her a hug. 

ME: (to the kindergarten teacher) Madeleine was cheering her head off for you every time you were on the court!
MADELEINE: (to her teacher) Yeah, but I really wanted you to get a BASKET!
TEACHER: Yeah, I only got one basket.  One and done.
MADELEINE: Well, I know what we can do.  In the summer, we can go to the basketball court, and I'll TEACH you how to do a better job getting baskets.

She is going to be a basketball teacher, after all.  Might as well start now.

As we walked to the car, I told Julia about the mystery point awarded to our team to tie things up.  That turned out to be a big mistake.

JULIA: Wait.  So...you mean we really LOST?
ME: No.  It was a tie. 
JULIA: Yeah, but if they just GAVE us an extra point, that means we really LOST.
ME: No, it doesn't.  Did you see how slowly every one was bouncing the ball towards the basket near the end of the game?  They were all trying not to score more points so it could stay tied. 

My explanation didn't soothe her.  As we drove home, Julia lamented our loss from the back seat.

JULIA: I'm sad that we LOST the game.
ME: We didn't lose.  We tied.
JULIA: Yeah, but we really LOST.

My kids are super harsh critics.  Sheesh.  It's a completely rigged game, guys.  Calm the heck down.

Despite the "loss," the girls had an absolute BLAST cheering on their school, so all in all the evening was a success!  Go Eagles!  Way to tie it up yet again, for the umpteenth year in a row!!