"How a Pipe Learned To Be a Diamond" by Maezelle M

     Forty seconds left, the score is tied 56 to 56. As I dribbled up the court I took a
glance at my coach. His lips formed an O shape urging me to “Go!” and attack my defender
as the clock winded down in our first game of the season. I looked straight ahead to face the
basket, and saw the 6’2 player on the opposing team who had already stolen the ball from
me twice this game. I immediately remembered to put my arm up as I watched her
confidently squat in a defensive stance, preparing to swipe the ball from me once again. As
the point guard, I’m expected to take care of the ball while I set up our offense, but right
then and there, I felt like a quarterback seconds away from getting tackled. I tried to snap
myself out of it. I bent low until my eyes were at the same level as my opponent’s. Keeping
the ball on my right side and away from her scrappy hands, I threw my body to the right to
fake the defender, then made a crossover move to the left. It worked! I drove past her and
prepared to score. As I extended my hand to lay the ball up, one of the other players on the
opposing team attempted to block it, hitting my arm on the way. All three referees
simultaneously blew their whistles to make one collectively loud sound, signaling a foul. I
had a chance to give my team a twopoint a lead with 27 seconds left in the game. I slowly
walked to the free throw line as my teammates patted me on the back and gave me high
fives. They expressed their excitement, each yelling “Maezelle, you got this!” or “Put it in
Maez,” or “OHHH YEAAAH I SEE YOU BABY.” Words of encouragement filled my ear but
quickly turned into threats inside my head. They’re telling me I have to make it, I thought.
The crowd’s applause caused my heart to beat even faster as I stood still behind the free
throw line. The referee gently passed me the ball and the crowd instantly silenced. I
bounced it once, twice, and then stared at the basket in my shooting position. Then I shot
the ball. It trickled in and out of the rimc
lank, clankand
fell on the groundthug.

The opposing team’s fans cheered. But my teammates reassured me and again, spurred me on,
this time with a nervous tone. The ball was passed to me the second time, and again the
spectators ceased making noise. It was so quiet I could hear the sound of own heartbeat. I
tried to calm my mind, thinking to myself, you just have to make this one shot and you can
lead your t eam to a win. Just one shot. I went through my dribbling routine, squared up,
and shot the ball, hoping to hear a swish this time around. Every single person in the gym
stared at the ball as it floated in the air and hit the side of the basket. The opposite team
rebounded the ball and their coach immediately called a timeout.
My hands were shaking
as I ran to our team’s bench. I just blew not one, but two chances of winning the game. My
teammates and coaches released optimistic sounds from their mouths while their faces
evidently showed disappointment. I tried to remain confident throughout the rest of the
game until we eventually lost in overtime.
The following days were filled with various shooting drills, ceaselessly training my
body to make a free throw. I shot 200 shots a day, trying to regain my confidence. But the
irony was, if I was asked to do these drills before that first game, I would’ve made the same
amount. Free throws were a piece of cake even before, and I knew that. Yet, I kept shooting
my free throws to convince myself that if I can engrain the perfect motion into my shooting
form, I’ll make those game winning shots next time. However, as I kept on shooting, I
realized that making a shot at the end of a game isn’t about training my body, rather it’s
about training my mind. How come I make free throws almost 100% of the time in practice
and miss half of the time in games? It’s because in practice, I’m relaxed and confident. In
games, I’m tense and nervous. I allow the pressure to get to me, so I don’t shoot the same
way that I usually do. Missing those game clinching
free throws taught me that I succeed only when I have the right mentality. No matter the preparation, if I get intimidated byo utside factors, I will undoubtedly fail. But, if I instead take in that pressure, turn it into my b*tch, and still be my best in a situation, I will accomplish my goals. At that moment, I trulyunderstood the quote “Pressure can burst a pipe, or pressure can make a diamond.”