Making Diamonds (01-12-09)

I’ve heard it said that if you take a lump of coal, put it under enough pressure for enough time, what you end up with is a diamond.

That description came to my mind as I sat down to write a column about our junior high athletes, and more specifically, about our eighth grade girls’ basketball team.

It is with the start of organized sports in junior high that our athletic students really begin to feel pressure. It is hard enough just being 13 or 14, and dealing with all the physical and emotional changes. Add organized, competitive sports, and the pressure is intense.

This week, our eighth grade teams finished their basketball seasons in the MCEL tournament. Both teams felt the pressure of the moment. The boys were the seventh seed and knew that they would have to play their best basketball to have a chance to advance, and the girls were the fourth seed and knew that they had a good shot at advancing at least to the next round, and at least a fourth place finish.

Because of these expectations, I think the girls had to deal with more pressure. They were playing Plainville, a team they had easily beaten in the third game of the season. They knew that once they beat Plainville, they would have a chance for a little pay back against Smith Center, the best team in the league. Even if they lost to Smith Center, they would have a chance to medal with a third place finish.

The girls came out aggressive, tying-up the Plainville ball carrier on the very first possession, and it was obvious who had the better team early on.

Our defense swarmed and attacked, and Plainville had no easy shots and no real chance to score. However, the Cardinals returned the favor, playing hard, and contesting every shot.

With about thirty seconds left in the 1st quarter, the score was tied at two, when suddenly our shots began to fall. Thirty seconds of game clock later, we ended the quarter up 10-2, and in clear control. We expanded the lead to 17-8 by half time.

And then, the bottom fell out. During the third quarter, none of our shots fell. There was a proverbial lid over the basket, and no bounce ever went our way. Plainville continued to play hard, and luck was in their favor as they tied the score at 17 right before the end of the quarter.

Then we willed a couple of shots to finally go in, taking a 22-17 lead. The pressure in the gym reached a fever pitch. Plainville was able to convert one, then two, and finally three baskets to go up by one with less than a minute to play. One of our players ran the ball down the court, colliding with a Plainville defender, skidding painfully across the hard wood floor. The resulting floor burn opened several bleeding cuts, and the player had to limp to the bench. A reserve player had a chance to tie the game with a one and one at the free throw line.

The first shot missed, and Plainville got the rebound. They held on for the one point upset victory.

After the game, our girls were devastated. Many tears were shed, and the girl who missed the free throw blamed herself for losing the game. The parents and coaches did their best to console the girls. I told them to hold their heads up high. They played hard, left it all out on the court, but it just wasn’t their day.

I wanted to write about this game because it so painfully highlighted the amazing pressure these kids put on themselves during athletic competition. Most of them will continue with four more years of the pressure, most in multiple sports and activities. There will be some highs and lows, some celebrations, some injuries and set backs, and lots of blood, sweat, and tears.

I am glad that we have these competitions. The fact that everyone can get a chance to play, to feel the pressure, is probably the single biggest advantage of a small school. I believe that the pressure is crucial to help students learn about themselves and to reach their highest potential.

If you can handle the pressure of losing a close game, if you can get back up and try again, then you can handle other pressure the “real world” will eventually throw at you. Our students are our most valuable resource, and it takes pressure and time to turn them from unformed potential into sparkling gems.

I feel bad for our kids, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. After all, no one said it would be easy making diamonds.