Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never--in nothing, great or small, large or petty--never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.Over the weekend I got the privilege of spending time with our youngest son, Noah. His seventh grade basketball team played in their season ending tournament with area TAPPS JH teams. The Faith team went into the tourney as the number one seed and found themselves on the ropes in their semi-final game against Arlington Grace Prep.
I kept the book, which is usually good for me because it keeps my mouth from opening too much. It's not foolproof, but most everyone knows the best way to keep me from coaching is to give me so much to do during the game that I have little time to say much of anything.
The JH Lions' entered the 4th quarter down by 13 points, 29-16 and had been listless defensively and inept offensively. However, one thing I've learned watching this group compete over the last four years is this: they are relentless.
I'm not suggesting our JH'ers had Grace Prep where they wanted them, but in a span of three minutes they had erased the lead and tied things up at 31 with just over a minute to go. Early in the 4th, I was texting Cory, (who was in Midland with our oldest, Zachariah, as the JV and Varsity played out West.) about how we would probably be going home a bit early due to the result.
The JH Lions started pressing in the 4th and forced several turnovers and converted them into easy buckets, mixed in with a couple of big 3's. The tenacity with which they played those last six minutes was an absolute joy to watch. Not only did I see determination and grit upon the eyes of those young men, I also noticed joy as they whittled the lead down to nothing. The players on the bench rising in a crescendo of cheers, the parents cheering them on with guarded optimism and our two coaches spurring them on during the 15-2 run over a three and half minute span.
I saw joy.
That picture of Noah up top captures the essence of Noah in competition. It also captures the mindset of this team. Every one of the players on the basketball team played on the football team in the fall. The football team finished the season 9-0 and methodically dismantled teams with will, execution and passion.
They just love to compete. They have found joy in giving everything they are capable of giving. There may have been tears after the game if they had lost, but I think they would have also known they played like they had practiced; they played to their potential, perfectly for six glorious minutes.
They have created for themselves a culture where it is acceptable and expected to give their best. It is an anomaly and an anathema to them to see mediocre effort from each other. It is out of place and something doesn't mesh with them if someone isn't on the floor after loose balls, taking charges or getting a bloody nose in practice.
It's just what they do now...in seventh grade. Am I making a big deal about a bunch of JH boys? No, I'm making a big deal about young men learning about determination and exhibiting enough courage to see a task through to the very end. You think that might bear fruit for us and our culture somewhere in the future? Better yet, are the lessons they're learning right now going to help them to meet challenges with confidence and trust that God is indeed working all things out for their good?
This is why I love sports. Sure, there is a downside to all of this if perspective is lost. If we make sports all about the end without having the end in mind, it's pretty futile.
So, I saw joy manifest when the game ended, and yes, there was relief as well. They did what they were supposed to do and they did it in a way that put a stamp on their season.
A recognizable signature. It's just what we do, they think to themselves.
It wasn't a surprise for any parent who has watched this team play. I would say the common reaction was "it was just a matter of time" or "aha, there's the team I know!"
The championship game was anti-climatic. Any hope the other team had to catch this team in the let down phase of joy and excitement was soon put to rest. The JH Lions slowly and systematically pulled away and finished the season with a 35-20 victory. The game was representative of the way they've played since August (football). Together, with passion, skill and joy.
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| 7th Grade District League and Tournament Champions |
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