Member-only story
GENESIS of a BALLER
Road to a Championship
My Teammates and I are on our Carver Middle activity bus. We are on our way to the first game of the season against our cross-town rival, New Hope Middle. The bus is quiet, nervous energy fills the air. The only sounds: the noisy bus engine and the rattling of windows after each bump in the road.
I take this moment to reflect and think about my Spindale House Tiger teams that lost all our games the first year. We went undefeated 18–0 the next three years. I’m now a 7th grader, finally old enough to play at Carver after spending the entire 6th grade too young to play at the middle school but too old for the Spindale House.
I turn my pain to a gain by working day and night, night and day. The rain would come, the snow would fall, and the heat would swelter. Mother Nature brought all four seasons before I could finally try out, make the squad, become a starter and now ready to show the world my improved basketball skills.
I had dress rehearsals at the Playground and Projects of Forest City, The Hall in Rutherfordton and the Carver Ballfield in Spindale. Opening night is upon us. I’m representing the school from my Hood. Carver is located just off Ledbetter RD the games are official they all count. Cold chills tingles my spine tears fill my eyes, at playing with real refs, time and score keepers.
