The worst half … it didn’t use to hurt this bad …

The half-time score read, “Home=9, Visitors=16”; without out a doubt one of the ugliest halves of basketball in which I have participated in my life. The season is played for seeding the league tournament. We sit in the three slot. Our record for the season – 6-3. Steve, the league “commissioner,” graciously set our schedule to open and close with the reigning league champions for the past few years. These fellows hit 3-pointers like they were layups. Against Graceway we stand 0-2 (and the only team to play them twice during the season). Against the rest of the league that leaves us 6-1. Not bad. On to last night’s game.

We were minus two of our better players. I believe we had only scored three points in the first 10 minutes of the game. Everything rattled in and out. We felt fortunate to be down only 7 at half-time. I had announced a recent Tuttle High School game with Seminole where Tuttle managed only 8 points in the first half. It was painful to watch. But, with tiger-like resilience Tuttle came away victor in an exciting second half of play. I recalled that game and thought we might be able to pull this one off. We beat the same team we were playing by 8 earlier in the season. However, our shooting percentage resembled rain chances here in Oklahoma for the past few months – near 0%. We took stock of the situation at half time and believed we could only improve. Twenty minutes later we left the gym with a 9-point victory, 47-38. We play the 2 see Saturday for an opportunity to go 0-3 versus the reigning champs.

So, why the reference to pain? As I rolled over to get out of bed early this morning I felt the effects of last night’s game. In college we would play several nights a week for hours. Our bodies could handle the rigor. Despite the fact that I work out several times a week and play with a group of guys every Friday morning, I often find my body failing to bounce back so quickly. I will be fine tomorrow and if not then Friday, and if not … you get the picture. The game is still too enjoyable to quit … but I am sure that day looms closer than I like to think.

About the Author
Husband to Patty. Daddy to Kimberly and Tommie. Grandpa Doc to Cohen, Max, Fox, and Marlee. Pastor to Snow Hill Baptist Church. Graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Reading. Photography. Golf. Colorado. Jeeping. Friend. The views and opinions expressed here are my own and should not be construed as representing the corporate views of the church I pastor.

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