THE FIRST GAME
The basketball competition was presently one week away.
The group was all the while putting forth great attempts to improve during training. They rehearsed considerably more enthusiastically and carried out every single time they had for it. It was like nothing else had any significance at that time if not basketball.
The rundown for the names and numbers of orphanages taking part in the competition was out and posted on the orphanage's notification board, and the groups in the league were; The Rehem's basketball group, The Hebrews,
The Summer Sun basketball team, The Great Holme, the Colne orphans group, The Pendle basketball association, The Ribble basketball group, The Calder team, The Thames orphanage team, and finally The Grove House team. The competition comprised only 10 groups in addition to the Rose Hills orphanage team making it 11.
According to Mich, the set of teams they would play with would be tough because he had played with pretty much every group that was on the rundown. The group they would confront first was The summer Sun basketball team. The rundown of the group didn't simply make them more serious it made them terrified of losing and gave no space for it.
Indeed, the court was held under great circumstances. The basket and the basket poles were repainted, and the markings and arcs on the floor of the court were carved out appropriately and painted
Every other preparation was put in place. The tickets for the game had already begun to sell, all the other orphanages participating in the competition had proactively paid the enrollment fee and in conclusion, a spot where betting would be done had previously been organized.
The games were presently two days away. Furthermore, the closeness has now begun screwing with Rio's feelings.
he began feeling worried from all the preparation, and most terrible of everything was that the pressure from being the captain of the group was getting to him. While they were
Training Rio attempted to play out a get-over spill and he likewise attempted to end it with a 3-pointer shot, yet in his endeavor, he fizzled. This added up to the pressure in his mind and it made him run out from the court. Mich realized something was wrong so he went to meet him and give him comfort.
Mich left the court and found Rio crying under the shades of a tree, he strolled towards him and asked
Mich: What's the problem bro?
Rio : (admiring him with a melancholy face) Why can't I be perfect?
Mich : (stunned ) Who said you must be perfect?
Rio: Nobody, however, I simply realize I need to. I'm the captain of this team so I truly must be perfect
Mich: No you don't, you don't need to be perfect before you can be our captain
Rio : (gazes sadly) I don't?
Mich: yes u don't. You simply need to do the best that you can and expect a decent outcome
Rio : (admires Mich and grin) I love you, bro
Mich: I love you as well. Come on now, we have to return to our training, the competition begins tomorrow.
It was now the day of the first game, the opening match between the Rose Hills orphanage team and the Summer Sun basketball team. The match was scheduled to begin at two in the afternoon that Monday. Additionally, all seats for the match had already been taken before it even started. The long line at the betting location was as long as the Nile.
Both teams had already entered the court at two in the afternoon. The preparations of game officials were being rounded up. The crew chief, the first referee, approached the players and inquired about their captains. They both left and were informed of severe game rules and restrictions. After that, a coin was flipped, and the first check was given to the Summer Sun basketball team.
The referee blew the first whistle, and each player took their place. With the possession of the ball now in play, the summer sun was shining. They played well and tried to score a basket, but Tony grabbed the ball and quickly passed it to Jake, who in turn passed it to Patrick. They played well and tried to score a basket. Patrick attempted to hoop the ball after dribbling the ball up to the basket, but it was blocked, and went outside the court.
they carried on playing, but neither team managed to score a goal.
Rio was replaced by Jimmy with fifteen minutes remaining in the game. When Rio got the ball, he dribbled for a while before passing it to Tony. Tony then turns and passes the ball back to Rio. And in the blink of an eye, Rio jumped and landed a three-pointer in a split second. The crowd went wild and Mr. Johnson almost fell to the ground as a result of his overexcitement. The game was now only five minutes long. Noah tackles a player from the Summer Sun team quickly, and he immediately sends the ball down to Rio. He jumps as he surprisingly lands one more three-pointer before the game was called and the whistle blew.
Rio jumped to his knees to celebrate immediately, and his entire team rushed to join him.
He is quickly picked up by Mr. Johnson, and everyone started yelling "Rio the basketball player." As they carried him to the courtyard, they kept shouting his name. Lucas then said, "Rio the basketball player is a long name," and everyone shouted, "Yes, it is." You are now Rio the Basketteur",lucas said. Rio was included in the acceptance of the name. He was overjoyed to have scored two win goals, giving him six points. He was content with himself, and the team as a whole and the orphanage were also content with him.
Meanwhile, people at the betting spot were shocked because they had no idea that Summer Suns would lose. Everyone in the stadium placed bets on the summer sun, and almost everyone lost all of their money.
Some people even refused to pay the bet winners because they believed they had been conned. but they paid after receiving serious threats from the orphanage owner.
Rio's love for basketball grew even more after that first game, and he was thrilled to even have a nickname as a player. "Basketteur, what a lovely name," he thought to himself.
After thanking and praising each player, Mr. Johnson sent them off to rest and invited them back the following day for training.