The Raiders
by Levi Koelmel
It was nine o’clock. Game time. The
crowd cheered, spirits soared, and the feeling overall was one of
complete euphoria. The Raiders were the first on the court in their
customary style, a tunnel walk through the cheerleaders. The east
stands stood and cheered, proud to claim themselves as members of
this sidewall of red. The opposing crowd stood in silence, paying
respect to their one-day rivals. Then for a moment, all was silent
as the Palmer Tigers began to enter the floor. This was the only
time during game that there was no sound to be heard from either
crowd, as the rest of the morning was to be filled with the
occasional booing of the referees and the unyielding applause from
both teams’ stands. The teams met and spoke briefly, both anxious
to begin this game. Then the whistle blew. This was state
basketball at its greatest.
Both teams played hard as if they were
equally matched. At the end of the first quarter the score was 7-6
Palmer. It was a slow start but then the game seemed to accelerate
to another gear for the Raiders. They played well scoring 16 points
in the second half to give them a 22-21 lead going into halftime.
The third quarter did nothing for either team since both amassed
only 11 points, giving the Raiders a 33-32 lead for the fourth and
final quarter. This was by far the most energetic quarter of the
game. The Raiders defense played flawlessly. The same though cannot
be said for the Tigers. One could feel the desperation emanating
from the Tigers’ bench; it was over, and they knew it. Foul after
foul after foul, the last sixty seconds lasted a lifetime. And
then, when the game clock struck zero, it was over. Mead had won.
The crowd stood and cheered. The roaring sound of hands clapping
seemed to last for hours. It shook the building to its very
foundations. And then, slowly, the applause dwindled and died. The
fans filed out, each one with a smile on their face. Game one was
over.
Game two, however, was not to be as
spectacular. The Bergan Knights began their assault straight away
scoring nine points in the first quarter as compared to Raiders’
measly two points. The second quarter looked much more favorable
for the Raiders with their scoring twelve points and holding the
Knights to only fourteen points. But it was not to last. After the
second half, the Raiders’ defense began to crumble. Play after play
after play the Knights scored. They scored so often in fact that
their total amount of points for the third quarter almost doubled
that of the Raiders. When the final whistle blew, the Raiders, in
single file, marched through the congratulatory line, shaking hands
and giving their opponents their final respects. And then it was
done. The Raiders’ hopes of becoming the first state champions for
their school in seventy-three years, had vanished.
The Raiders did not give up hope, however.
There was still one final game to be played. The consolation game
for the title of becoming third place finishers. They were to play
Hayes Center. The crowd started off strong and continued to yell
encouragement to their team. But the Raiders were beat and they
knew it. All in all there is not much to say about that final game.
When it was over, the fans in red left the building dejected and
fatigued after three days of excitement. The players were glad for
it to be over; and yet, they missed it. The fascination of playing
for the ultimate prize; to be picked to compete in this glory
filled tournament made the pain of loss almost worthwhile.
Indeed, the Raiders gave what some would
say, “A star effort.” What the Raiders accomplished is so
meaningful and glorious that no common saying can ever hope to sum
up. The Raiders done what had not been accomplished in over half a
century; they played for a high spot in the state tournament. What
the Raiders did can only be described in one singular word; not
exceptional or even unprecedented. The Raiders accomplished
something even deeper. They were valiant.
