Lobo Middle School Basketball

The second basketball game of the season for the Lobos, the girl’s team will be competing against the Rangers at six o’ clock. The game is being held at the opposing school. Though the middle school was made in the mid-twentieth century –made out of bricks-the gym is new. The outside resembles the gyms which were made with the grant a little less than a decade ago. Entering into the  Range’s gym  from the cold autumn evening , I encounter a young women- wearing a district name tag – charging for entry, Fifty cents for students and one dollar for adults, are the ticket prices.  I am supposing this is the standard fee , for the school . I pay the fee, and like last game I  get my hand stamped with mark of payment. Seeing not only does Lobo school , has to resort to this , I again assume that because the game is held on a weekday past students  have attempted to sneak in. 

Before the game starts I look around and notice that this truly is a new gym for the floors are wooden , the white paint of the walls are fresh , there is no visible damage to the walls or ceilings. There is a  heater in the gym. There are championship posters in basketball hanging from the rafters , and I notice a large painted colored butcher poster  cheering on the girls.  Like last week I notice the trend that these basketball games are drawing in a larger crowd. Again I ponder is this due to it being easier for student support since they were at the school already. Is it easier for parents to come right out of work? Again not many elderly participates but appears to be more parents present. Spanish , English and Spanglish are being spoken. I attribute the speaking of Spanish and Spanglish due the region and for the fact that this school is a feeder school more at least five elementary schools  and thus has a diverse population. Concessions are being sold in a built in snack bar. The prices of the cokes, chips , nachos and candy are the same price that Lobo School sells them for- due to same region thus same economic environment.

 Last week I pondered if the seventh grade coach’s inexperience would effect her team , but seeing as how they won last weeks game , it seems like the mistakes the coach made in volleyball- no promoting teamwork and equality – is not being repeated for as I watch the girls practice I don’t see any division amongst the girls.

The Ranger girls are relatively the same height as the Lobos- a little over five feet. Watching them run pre-game drills it appears that their middle aged coach has prepared them well , for they are making more of their free throws and shots.

The game begins.

Like I mentioned last week , the spectators appear to be more lively with their boisterous cheering. I assume that because this game is timed , and requires running the fans are affected by the energy and motion and thus are responding with more liveliness than compared to volleyball.

The Lobo girls have improved from last week , there is less bunching up, more shots are going in and defense is not as weak preventing easy points to be scored by the Rangers. The referee is playing it fair , for in the second quarter he does award a free throw shot to both teams. And though there is no animosity visible , the Lobos are losing.  They are still trying to win this game and are not giving up- a trend that I saw in the eight grade sport performances. Why is this I wonder ? Is this due to eight grade apathy that seems to effect individuals or is the team work due to the bond these girls carried from playing volleyball together.  The Rangers win 24 to 18.