CLAYTON COUNTY – The Clayton County 10 and under championship game was played the past weekend. Being a journalist there are few times that you can just sit back and enjoy the game, due to the fact that you have to take your notes and visualize the story that you are going to write in your head. Watching this game made me appreciate what happens on the court and also what happens off the court.

On the Court…

The Heat came out and showed why they were considered the best team in the 10U division. They dominated from the opening whistle, executing their offense and playing stifling defense. The Heat put a signature on their performance in the first half as #47 (Heat) drove to the basket went for a lay-up, was fouled, made the shot and sank his free throw. The fans for the Heat were jumping around, waving their signs as they could sense the championship for their players getting nearer.

There is a reason the old basketball purest always say “that’s why they play the entire game”. Whatever the Magic coach said to motivate his team got them focused to start the second half. The Magic came out to start the second half with a purpose. Looking out of sync the first half, in the second half the Magic were running on all cylinders. Facing a ten point deficit to the Heat, the Magic started to chip away at the lead. With the Magic crowd cheering them on and the coach directing his team the players led a massive comeback.

1:37 remained on the clock as the Magic had knocked that Heat lead down from 10 to 4. The Heat looked to inbound, as they did #8 (Magic) jumped in front of the pass. Racing down the sideline he made a beautiful bounce pass through two defenders to a player in the post who kicked it out to #6 (Magic) waiting at the three point line. The player knocked the shot down with no hesitation bringing the lead down to 1. The Magic stole the ball again this time making it to the free throw line. The player made both of his free throws giving the Magic their first lead in the game much to the delight of the crowd.

With his team facing a deficit for the first time in the game the Heat coach called a timeout. Coming out of the timeout the Heat fans and Magic fans were on their feet cheering on their teams. The ball was thrown in to #37 (Heat) he found #47 (Heat) at the top of the key. As he watched the clock tick down he took one big breath and drove to the basket. As he went in for the lay-up he was fouled. With seconds left in the game and facing a one point deficit #47 (Heat) stepped to the line. He dribbled the ball, shrugged his shoulders…swish. The game was tied, all the Heat needed was one more shot, one more score to capture the championship. #47 (Heat) stepped back to the line, the Magic crowd was doing the best they could to make sure the player could not concentrate with the deafening noise. #47 took a dribble, closed his eyes took a deep breathe as to seem like he was embracing the moment and then released the shot…swish. Giving the Heat the go ahead score and the victory.

Off the Court…

As the NBA playoffs approach you will hear teams talk about how important home court advantage is. Since youth athletes don’t have to travel halfway across the country, their equivalent to home court advantage is having their parents in the stands. I don’t mean just sitting there and clapping. I am talking about making signs, t-shirts, putting pennies in a bottle to create a noise maker and most importantly cheering their athletes on whether they are winning are losing.

The Heat parents brought signs, noise makers and a very loud voice. The Magic parents had their trademark shirts, noise makers and of course their cheer coordinator. Neither group sat down if only for a mere minute to pick something up or to rest their feet. The game could have resembled a college game on a small level with the enthusiasm of the crowd. When the Magic where facing a ten point deficit to the Heat coming out of halftime that is when the Magic parents showed there true colors. They didn’t yell at the referee or try to coach the game by telling the coach what to do. They simply started stomping on the bleacher, shaking their noise maker, and chanting. Anything they could do to get their team pumped up. Not to be out done by the Magic parents the Heat parents matched their intensity by doing the same thing while also waving their signs. As this is sports and in a perfect world everyone could be a winner but this is real life and their can only be one team that can go home with the championship. When the Heat took the lead in the final seconds of game and eventually won the Heat parents ran on the court celebrating with their players. The Magic parents in turn saw their young athletes with tears in their eyes after they had given all they had and they embraced them with hugs and smiles as they let them know how proud of them they were for their effort. One parent went as far as letting his player know that you can’t win every game but you can give your best effort every game and that is all I ask from you. It was great show of support for not only their team but for their children. I must say great job to the teams and parents, this are two class act organizations.