Colin and his Hitchhikers
By:
Jon Stewart
(© 2019 by the author)
The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's
consent. Comments are appreciated at...
jstewart@tickiestories.us
Chapter 10
The Tournament
Basketball season was winding down at the
end of March. For the first time ever, both Pine Hill teams were invited to the
regional grammar school tournament. It was held in the Albany field house of NYU
University. Compared to the gym IN Pine Hill it was huge. Pops did the Houser's
trick and had them measure the height of the basket, then the width of the
floor.
"Just like our gym back home eh boys."
The eight best teams throughout the region were chosen. Little Pine Hill with
Jimmy leading the way rolled into the final on a 15 game winning streak. The
opposition was hated Platsburg with a school 4 times the size of little Pine
Hill. What Colin, Jimmy, Tommy and coach knew was that they had beat them once
and all sword they could do it again. Jimmy was on fire; he like Josh had his
dad's warrior heart. He rose to the occasion like never before hitting 3
pointers from all over the court. Tommy added a couple too off of passes from
Jimmy. Halfway through the 4th quarter Pine Hill was up by 12 points; Platsburg
was demoralized and the game was about to become a rout. Jimmy was bringing the
ball up court when the biggest and fattest kid on either side deliberately ran
into Jimmy and knocked him down. The refs blew their whistles and called a foul
on the big kid. Then as the fat boy got up he deliberately stepped on Jimmy's
ankle and kind of jumped on it. More Whistles but the damage had been done. As
Jimmy went to get up he immediately fell back down. Colin, Coach and Doc
Elsberry rushed out to him. Doc took his time examining Jimmy's foot.
"Without xrays it's hard to be certain but I think it is just a bad sprain. I'm
sorry Jimmy, no more basketball for you today. Let's get you to the bench and
wrap it in ice."
The Platsburg coach was irate, he went up to the offending player and demanded
his Jersey. Shouting at the top of his lungs for the whole assembly to hear,
"Hennesy, you will never play another sport at Platsburg as long as I am coach.
That was despicable. If we have to win that way; we don't win."
The game continued 2 free throws for Pine Hill and they got the ball. Tommy made
one and missed one and then Platsburg stole the ball. So, Pine Hill up by 13
with half the quarter to go. It quickly became 11 as the boy who stole the boy
scored on his layup. Coach called time out.
"Ok so you guys we have to win one for Jimmy, now slow down offense, tight
defense, get the rebounds and you'll be regional champions."
The Platsburg coach was upset with Hennesy but it energized the rest of the
team. Tommy was now the best player for Pine Hill and he was only a little above
average. Pine Hill was dejected with Jimmy on the bench, They couldn't make a
shot. Platsburg taking a page out of Pine Hill's book went to a fast break
offense and all of a sudden with 10 seconds left Platsburg had a 2 point lead.
Pine Hill called time out.
Colin and Coach decided it was going to be win or lose on a 3 pointer by Tommy.
Jimmy was sitting next to Tommy on the bench.
"Just relax think of being out on the play ground at school. You made tons of 3
pointers there. Let me have you glasses."
"Why are you taking my glasses, Jimmy?"
"Hmm, just as I thought all kinds of sweat and dirt. Get a towel."
Tommy rushed back with one. "There now clean as a whistle, go win us a
championship, specs."
Tommy looked back at Jimmy's smiling confident face. Jimmy nodded his head like
"go on do it."
The horn to resume play sounded. The play was simple, they had run it a thousand
times that year, of course, then it was to Jimmy. The ball was brought up court
by Tommy, Platsburg was staying back in their zone. Tommy passed to Kevin,
Platsburg converged on him. He passed back to Tommy. 3 seconds, 2 seconds, no
one was close to Tommy he shot the ball, one second the final horn sounded. The
ball was bouncing around on the rim for an eternity. Then it circled around the
rim and dropped though. The thousand Platsburg fans groaned, the couple hundred
Pine Hill fans let out a roar.
Tommy jumped 5 feet into the air. All his team was there to mob him. They
pounded his back, he ran to the bench. Jimmy was there smiling.
"Nice shot, it took a while for it to fall though but it was beautiful."
"Hey, thanks for cleaning the glasses. I never would have done it. But from now
on you take those shots, I was scared shitless." Tommy turned around and showed
Jimmy his backside. "Is anything showing through."
"Nah, you're all good. You're the hero of the game."
The team went into the locker room. Tommy helped Jimmy undress and he was there
for Jimmy to lean on as they went to shower. Afterward he helped Jimmy get
dressed.
Tommy's brother, John came in and said, "Coach wants you to dress for the 7th
and 8th grade game. That was a big clutch basket you made."
"Yeah well part of the credit goes to Jimmy. He cleaned my glasses. They were
filthy with sweat. I never would have thought of it."
Jimmy piped up, "Yeah just us O'Shea's always thinking."
Tommy and John just smiled.
"Hey, ya gotta be good out there tonight John. Ya gotta help Josh, I wish I
could but I can't so, you gotta."
John was quiet for a moment, kind of thinking if he had it in him. "I'll do my
best, you can be sure of it Jimmy."
The 7th & 8th grade championship game was a war, real hard nose basketball.
Defense and rebounding were key. Platsburg had a big advantage they could
shuffle in 10 12 players and still play the same game with no fall off in the
quality of their game. Pine Hine was not so lucky, they had 5 quality players
and the subs were way less of a team. John true to his word did his best to help
Josh. Except, he was a little too aggressive. When a Platsburg player pushed him
to get a rebound, John pushed back and got called for a foul. Josh told him to
calm down relax we are gonna win this. Going into the 4th quarter John had 4
fouls. The Platsburb player again pushed John and there was no whistle. John
lost it and pushed him back. 5 fouls and John was out of the game. Josh had been
a demon getting rebounds, starting the break and racing down the court for the
trailer play. In the half court he was relentless rebounding and getting put
back basket after put back. Platsburg tried double teaming him all over the
court Josh beat that with deadly passes to Jacky or John for easy layin baskets.
The score was 40 to 40 when John got the 5th foul. Josh had 20 of the Pine hill
points. John hung his head as he walked off knowing he never should have pushed
the kid back. He was just too hyped up and trying to do too much. One of the 8th
graders went in for him. The conditioning of Pops had kept Pine Hill in the game
but it was obvious they were tired and Platsburg was mostly very fresh from
rotating players in and out.
The Platsburg player made both foul shots. On offense it was Josh again getting
a screen from Jacky for a little jump shot from the side of the key. Tie game.
Again Plastburg scored; Billy put up a 3 pointer and missed but Josh was there
to rebound and put it back in. Time after time as the clock wound down Platsburg
scored and was answered by Josh. At the one minute mark Platsburg called time to
set up a play and after the time out Platsburg scored. They lead 54 to Pine
Hill's 52 - 20 seconds left in the game. Time out Pine Hill. Coach inserted
Tommy into the game everyone thought is was a 3 point shot to win. The Platsburg
coach was going crazy trying to get his guys to cover little Tommy. Except Pine
Hill swung the ball from Tommy to Billy to Jacky to a wide open Josh for his
side jumper. Tie game. The buzzer sounded and into overtime they went. Every
Platsburg basket was answered by Josh throughout the first, second and third
overtimes. At the direction of Doc Elsberry cold water was being poured on the
Pine Hill players to keep them from heat exhaustion. The game little school
especially Josh had no quit in them. At the end of every time out before going
back on the court, he would quietly say,
" we are going to win this, keep playing hard."
The Platsburg team was grumbling on their bench "that kid has to be dead tired
he has played the entire game. Still he always answers every time we score. How
are we gonna stop him coach."
"I don't know that we can; for sure he has the heart of a champion. We just
gotta keep playing our game."
The 4th overtime was a repeat of the other 3 Platsburg scored Josh answered on a
rebound put back or the fast break trailer play. The whole field house started
to cheer each basket no matter which team made it. Again the last minute, and
again Platsburg scored and was up by 2 points. 18 seconds left; time out Pine
Hill. Jimmy was going crazy on the bench. He was hopping around on his one good
leg. Pops and Doc told him to sit down.
"Let me in Pops. I can do it, I can shoot it. Please coach, please Pops, Josh is
dying out there let me help. I'll make it; I swear I'll make it."
Coach looked at Pops; Pops looked at Doc. Doc put his head on his chest and took
a minute, then looked back at Pops and shook his head no. As much as he wanted,
he could not let Jimmy jeopardize doing a major injury to that ankle. Jimmy saw
the progression and hopped over to Doc. Tears in his eyes, "please Doc." Doc
hugged him and kissed the top of his head, "Oh I want to Jimmy but you are gonna
play a lot of basketball maybe even make the NBA. I can't let you risk all that
for this one game. I want to say yes but the chance of you breaking that ankle
the way it is and never walking straight or running straight or being able to
jump the way you do. I can't let you risk it."
Coach immediately looked to Tommy. Jimmy hopped over and cleaned his glasses.
"Ok we are gonna fake the play were we swing it around to Josh. They'll all rush
to you Josh but Jacky you pass it back to Tommy so we can end this. Ok." There
was silence, Josh got up, he was drenched with sweat. His jersey needed to be
rung out there was so much perspiration in it. "I'll back you up, Tommy you all
ready made one game winning shot, why not 2. Come on lets win this I'm getting
hungry." The little Pine Hill team laughed.
The play worked to perfection. Tommy put the shot up it bounced around and fell
off the rim Josh was a mad man rebounding the ball between 3 Platsburg players.
He grabbed it moved away from the crowd of Platsburg players. The horn sounded,
the ball left his hand, up to the basket and in, tie game everyone thought. The
ref came running in blowing his whistle and waving his hands in front of himself
in a crossing motion. Josh fell to the floor. The ref said "sorry son you sure
as heck didn't lose but time did run out on you. You are a champion even if the
score doesn't say it." He extended his hand and helped Josh up. The whole field
house was on their feet giving a standing ovation to the little team from Pine
Hill and their leader. Pops went over to Josh. "Don't hang your head boy, no one
could have done more. Hear those cheers they are for you. You are gonna hear
them a lot in your life wave to them."
Josh looked up into the stands and found Maggie and waved to her. The field
house erupted with its approval. "Way to go Josh, Great game" was heard to
reverberate off the field house rafters.
The teams lined up for the congratulatory hand shake. The Platsburg coach shook
Josh's hand and whispered "we were lucky, if your brother hadn't got hurt I
don't think we win."
"I know it coach, but your guys played hard. There has to be a winner but next
year you are gonna be dead meat."
"Maybe so, Josh maybe so."
Platsburg grammar school was the second place regional finisher for the next 3
years. Pine Hill was champions.
To be continued...
Posted: 08/20/2021