The Last Game

Not an original title I know...but it tells the story.

Unless something miraculous and totally unexpected happens, this was Zack's last game at Valley Christian.  

Before the game started, they announced the team - something they have never done.  They started by announcing the 7th graders, then the non starting 8th graders, and then the starters.  They saved Zack for last...and the applause was amazing and just what he needed for his self-esteem.  Unfortunately, because of my awful camera, I was unable to get a good picture of him running through the line his teammates had formed.  I hate that camera.

Because coach started only the 8th graders and the boy who has been doing the opening tip off this year is a 7th grader, Zack was assigned to do the job.  

the other boy was at least 2 or 3 inches taller than Zack but never jumped for the ball so Zack won it easily

The game spiraled out of control quickly.  Zack had 8 points in the first quarter alone.  By halftime the lead was 31-2.  

Coach instituted the "no shooting until you have passed five times" rule for the third quarter...but even that was not working and the lead continued to build so they changed it to ten passes.

The scoreboard in the background is from the B team boys game...this was taken during warm-ups

Soon they were ahead by so much the other coach could have opted to institute the sympathy rule (down by 40 = forfeit) but after the refs explained that this was their last game and the team had many 8th graders on their team, the coach allowed the game to continue (which was nice). 

The ending score was 49-4 but they could very well have scored much more.

Yes, there were tears after the game...will post about that later.