Playoffs

It was time for the playoffs and we were all in the locker room. My family was already inside the stadium with Dave, Eric and Shekah. Even Moyo came for the game. How sweet of him. But I was feeling a bit sad. Kane was still in school and he's the one I really wanted to be here the most. He's always been by my side in any situation, bad or good.

Quick flashback.

″Remember sis. Always focus on the square of the rim″ spoke 10 year old Kane. He was already on the school team and he was the youngest member of the school team.

″But it's hard. I can't do it Kane.″ I said. I sat down on the floor of our home court. I put my head in between my legs. I started to cry cause I've been trying to shoot for the past two hours and I didn't get any one. Kane came towards me and sat beside me. He carried my face with my chin. He started wiping my tears off and spoke something that made me feel better.

″Lil sis, playing basketball is not just the competition or the prizes or the fame. It's a game where people from all over come to enjoy and have fun with each other. Remember Micheal Jordan. He didn't even make it on his high school team. But see now, he's known now as one the best players. Check out Kobe. Many people didn't him cause he was the youngest player in the NBA. Yeah he's dead now, but people still carry on his legacy. Let's not of course forget Candance Parker. She had three brothers and she still made to the WNBA.″

I smiled at him and said,″Thanks bro. You always know what to say to me.″ He smiled back at me. He then stood up and held out his hand to get me up saying,″Yeah. So let's shoot some hoops.″ He got the ball and we carried on with our training. As we continued. He said one more thing to me,″Always aim for the square.″

Flashback over.

″Alright girls listen up! The hawks are a very fierce team and they have always wanted us to lose. So let's get out there and show them who we are.″ spoke Coach.

I stood up and also gave them the same motivation Kane gave me,″Hey team, playing basketball is not just the competition or the prizes or the fame. It's a game where people from all over come to enjoy and have fun with each other. Remember Micheal Jordan. He didn't even make it on his high school team. But see now, he's known now as one the best players. Check out Kobe. Many people didn't him cause he was the youngest player in the NBA. Yeah he's dead now, but people still carry on his legacy. Let's not of course forget Candance Parker. She had three brothers and she still made to the WNBA.″ I still continued saying, ''Remember that. So who are we? ''PANTHERS'' the whole team shouted. We continued shouting it. I really wished Kane was here to see this.

Game time.

I didn't know what was happening what was happening but I knew we weren't doing great. We were on 89 points while the hawks were on 101. It was break time from the first two quarters so that we could ready for the next two quarters.

''WHAT THE HECK IS HAPPENING TO YOU GUYS OUT THERE! They are literally crushing you guys! spoke Coach with an angry ton in her voice. I didn't know what was going wrong with us but I sure wish Kane was here.

As she was still scolding, a deep voice from nowhere spoke saying,'' Your girl ain't doing well cause they are not doing the right thing.'' We all turned and guess who it was...

''KANE!!!'' I shouted. I immediately ran to him and jumped on him. Once I came down from him, he had grown up so much. He had finished his degree already and decided to be a coach too. He eventually married Dave's sister and was coaching the Toronto Raptors. My parents were so proud of him. I thought due to his job, he wouldn't have time for me again. Now I love my brother even more now.

''Your'e Coach Kane of the Toronto Raptors. I'm a big fan of your team and you.''spoke Betty. She was really a big fan of the Raptors. Her best player was Kevin Durant. ''Jay, you didn't tell us your brother was a coach.'' I just laughed at her and turned my attention to my brother.

''What brings you here? I thought the season wasn't over yet.'' I said with a questioning look. ''Well my team made it on the playoffs but we came third. So I decided to come check on you guys. You guys aren't really doing great as before. I always watched your games cause my sister is on the team but by way you guys are looking, I decided to come down from where I was sitting with my wife and parents to help out.'' We all were excited and we bent down to listen to the new strategy. The new game plan was for us to just be passing the ball to each other and make sure it doesn't touch the ground. My coach said that it won't be possible but when Kane showed us the a clip of the Toronto Raptors doing it, she was convinced.

''Alright ladies, get out there and show them what you can do!'' We all shouted our team name and began going out to return back for the last two quarters. Before my turn to leave, Kane dragged me back and told me something he said to me years back when we were kids. ''Aim for the square sis. Aim for the square.'' he whispered to me.

The commentator called out the teams and the players names. When it came to mine, I could hear my family and friends call my name the loudest. I turned back to wave at them and sent Dave a blow kiss. He captured it and kept it on his heart. I love this guy.

The whistle was blown by the referee and the game had started. The new game plan that Kane gave us was working and we were points ahead. We kept on playing on until we were a tie with the hawks, 119-119. As I was with the ball, a player from the other pushed down on the floor and it was fouled on her.

The referee gave me a free throw. As I was about to take it, I became nervous. I turned around to check for Kane and finally I saw him. Our eyes met and he whispered a sentence to me, ''AIM FOR THE SQUARE.'' At that moment I felt so stupid cause he told me that like how many minutes ago. But I took his advice anyway and right for it. I shot at the ball at the square and it started making a swirl round the hoop.

Everyone was in tension even my coach. Will it enter ? or will it not enter? Finally before the whistle went, the ball had entered. It was amazing. I scored the winning shot. All my team members came to carry me up and we were all cheering. The whole crowd was happy. After everything, it was time to announce the MVP for this year.

''And this year's MVP goes to....'''spoke the sponsor of the competition. I was really nervous and I mentally said to myself that I won't get this year's own. ''JANET SMITH!!! spoke the man.

Immediately, everyone started clapping for me and sponsor continued saying,''She is also the first black girl to ever win this award. Congratulations!'' I want up to him and received the award. I was so happy. First black girl to receive MVP, what an honor.

We all went home and had a victory party at my house. After the whole party, Kane said he would be going to meet his team with his wife. So they told us goodbye and left. It remained just Dave and I since my parents went out to do something.

''So what should we do? I asked him as we sat on the couch cuddling each other. ''We can finally have some alone." said Dave with a smile on his face while he was playing with my hair.

''Oh really.'' I said with smile. We both sat up and kissed each other. He held me by my waist while I held by his neck. The kissed deepened and I know what was coming next. I didn't want to have sex yet. Maybe in college but just after ''Please let's do this after high school.'' I said while we still kissing. He broke the kiss and said,''Of course. Anything for you Jay bear.'' with a wink.

I smiled and we went back to watching our movie.