The Final Whistle…

The Final Whistle…..

By Clifford Oluoch.

It was an ordinary game of basketball. Or was it? The game was a mismatch in many ways, but who could match the indomitable St. Austin’s basketball team of that year (1997). They had the towering and muscular centreman, Reha. He was a joy to watch: humble, graceful, tenacious yet not aggressive.

On this particular Saturday, St.Austins was taking part in a basketball tournament at Rosslyn Academy. It was at the quarter finals stage and St.Austins was up against a combative French School who tried their best to give a good show.

The scores were predictable: the last few minutes and St. Austins were leading by a massive 40 points (82 – 42). Everyone knew who the winner was at this point, but for entertainment’s sake, all watched.
With less than two minutes to the end, the game took a dramatic turn that no one had anticipated. Suddenly St.Austins seemed rejuvenated and more in a hurry to make more points. They were already winning so why the urgency?

Reha, the gigantic centreman, took control of the game by abandoning his traditional post and turn game. He switched to an unusual 3 point shooting. The first 3 pointer that he made drew moderate applause from the crowd. Then he made a second one, then a third one. When he made the fourth consecutive 3 pointer, the crowd not only applauded but rose to its feet to cheer him. It is then that it dawned all who were watching that the game had moved to another level: St.Austins were chasing double digits (100 points ).

In less than 2 minutes to go, the game had changed from ‘the obvious winner’ to ‘will they hit 100 points’. The crowd read the mood and became animated, though divided. One section noisily urged St. Austins to go for the record while another section urged the French boys to fight on. Both teams heeded the crowd’s sentiments: the French School boys tightened their defence, played with more purpose, hustled more by double teaming the destroyer-in-chief Reha. St. Austins, on the other hand, changed tact and swung the ball to other dependable players who, after reading the game, decided to go for the more damaging 3 pointers!

With less than a minute to go, St.Austins was 5 points away form making the century. They resorted to man to man full court press, hence denying the French boys space to manouvre. It paid as a sudden turnover, a quick swing of the ball and another damaging 3 pointer! Scores 98 – 50! The crowd was literally wild, screaming all manners of encouraging words to both sides not to relent from their quest.

A couple of seconds away and as the game resumed, the deafening noise did not seem to distract the players. Same strategy from St. Austins and again they stole the ball, kept their cool as they worked their strategy. They needed one basket (2 points) to achieve their target. Some furious defending from the opponents made it difficult for St. Austins to sink the decisive points. But it came. Some non verbal communication from St. Austins saw Reha screen and roll, followed by a high pass (alley oops). Reha met the well weighted pass up in the air and slammed the decisive 2 points into the net. He literally brought the house down.

The reaction from the St.Austin’s players astounded everyone. They went wild, celebrated raucously and did not hear the final buzzer ending the game. High fives, chest and back thumping characterized the end of the game. A section of the crowd reacted in the same manner. As emotions cooled down, the St. Austins players turned and went to shake the hands of their worthy opponents. The French School boys had their heads up. They had fought gallantly.

It is more than 10 years since I witnessed that extraordinary encounter. That game has always been a motivating factor in many aspects of my life.

In Reha, St.Austins had a leader who was a risk taker. He turned the game around when his team was merely contented with winning. He wanted to win big. Raise the bar and better your record, seemed to be Reha’s motto. Not only was he out to win, but somewhere along the game, the target changed from just winning to setting a record.

Don’t give in easily, was the motto adapted by the French School boys. Knowing that they had already lost the game, the French school boys fought tooth and nail to deny their worthy opponents of any record setting precedent. In the end, honour is all that you may play for.

Scare your rival was the message that St.Austins sent to their remaining opponents. We play to win!
Play till the final whistle, is what both teams did. The game did not end until the last whistle, the last move of the game. Both teams gave in their best, and at times, that is what counts.
Play to win but win clean.