Part 3
"Let's go!", Troy yelled from the other end of the court. There was only 17 seconds left of the first half of the championship game and we were losing by 19 points.
Troy dribbled the ball down the floor and passed it to me. I dribbled looking for someone open and quickly passed it to Chad.
Chad threw it to Zeke, but was stolen by the opposing team. The knights made it down to their end of the court and made a layup.
The buzzer went off and we were now down by 21 points. We're playing terrible, especially to be the previous champs.
The whole team made walked to the boys locker room. No one said anything. The only sound was from Troy slamming his locker shut.
He began wrapping tape around his slightly purple fingers. Coach came in soon after and looked between Troy, Chad and I leaning up against the lockers.
"Alright, no more x's and o's. Forget about the scoreboard, cause' here's the number that matters.", Coach paused for a second and looked at Troy, "16. There's 16 minutes left in this game guys."
"There's only 16 minutes left in this season. And for the seniors on this squad, you've only got 16 minutes left in a Wildcat uniform.", and I'm not ready for it. I'm not ready to give up this uniform.
I already know I'm going to play for the University of California, Berkeley, but it will never be the same as playing in high school. It will never top the people I'm playing with.
"So make these 16 minutes count. 16 minutes to be a team.", Coach said this then started to walk out of the locker room. "Seniors, he said while walking out.
Troy, Chad and I still stayed leaned against the lockers as everyone turned to look at us. "Alright, hey guys. Look you heard Coach, we're all going to remember these last 16 minutes until we leave East High. So it's now or never.", Troy said.
There was a silence before being broken by Chad, "What team?"
"Wildcats", the whole team said in unison after. We all ran back out onto the court, more hyped than ever.
[Team]
Sixteen, sixteen, sixteen minutes left, better get it done
Sixteen, sixteen, sixteen more minutes, get ready, game on!
Sixteen, sixteen, sixteen minutes left, running out of time
Sixteen, sixteen, sixteen more minutes till it's on the line
Sixteen, sixteen, sixteen minutes left, gotta get it done
Sixteen, sixteen, sixteen more minutes till we're number one!
We ran back out on the court and started warming up shooting layups. The crowd cheered and clapped like we were the ones winning.
[Coach:] Let's go team
We huddled up around Coach and all put our hands in the huddle, "1, 2, 3 team!", we called before walking back out on the court.
[Verse 1]
[Troy:] Got to get it together
Yeah, pull up and shoot
[Team:] SCORE!
[Troy:] Are you ready, are you with me?
[Team:] Team, team, team, team, team, yeah
[Troy:] Shake them with the crossover (Wildcats!)
Tell me what are we here for (To win!)
'Cause we know that we're the best team
[Coach:] Come on boys, come on boys, come on!
[Pre-Chorus]
[Troy:] The way we play tonight
Is what we leave behind (that's right)
It all comes down to right now, it's up to us (let's go)
[Troy & Team:] So what are we going to be (we're gonna be...)
T-E-A-M team!
[Troy:] Got to work it out, turn it on
[Team:] Come on!
[Chorus: Troy and Team]
This is the last time to get it right
This is the last chance to make it our night
We got to show what we're all about (Wildcats!)
Work together (Go)
This is the last chance to make our mark (Shoot!)
History will know who we are
This is the last game so make it count
It's now or never
[Verse 2]
[Wildcats Cheerleaders:] W-I-L-D
[Coach Bolton:] 'Atta boy
[Wildcats Cheerleaders:] Wildcats
You know you're on
W-I-L-D
Wildcats, come on come on
[West High Knight Cheerleaders:] West High Knights (yeah!)
Yeah, we're doing it right (oh yeah)
[Wildcat Cheerleaders:] W-I-L-D Wildcats
[Crowd:] Now's the time
[Troy:] Got to get it inside, down low
In the paint, now shoot
[Team:] SCORE!
[West High Knights:] Defense
[Troy:] We got to work it together
[Team:] Gimme the ball
Gimme the ball
Gimme the ball
[Troy:] Fast break, keep the ball in control
Let it fly from downtown...
[Team:] 3 more
[Chad:] Show 'em we can do it better
[West High Knight Cheerleaders:] No way
[Team & Coach:] Go, go, go
[Coach:] Come on boys
[Crowd:] Wildcats!
[Pre-Chorus]
[Troy & Chad:] The way we play tonight
Is what we leave behind (That's right)
It all comes down to right now, it's up to us (Let's go)
So what are we going to be?
(We're gonna be)
[Team:] T-E-A-M team!
[Troy:] Got to work it out, turn it on
[Team:] Come on!
[Chorus]
[Troy:] This is the last time to get it right
This is the last chance to make it our night
We got to show what we're all about
[Team:] Wildcats!
[Troy:] Work together (Go!)
This is the last chance to make our mark
[Team:] Hoop!
[Troy:] History will know who we are
This is the last game so make it count
It's now or never
[Coach:] Come on Troy, come on Troy!
Troy pulled up to shoot, but was immediately fouled. He fell to the floor, landing on his side. I stood over him with an outstretched hand.
[Verse 3]
[McKenna:] Troy!
[Troy:] Right now I can hardly breathe
[McKenna:] Oh, we can do it, just know that I believe
[Troy:] And that's all I really need
[McKenna:] Then come on
[Troy:] Make me strong
[Troy & Team:] It's time to turn it up, game on!
Troy walked to the free throw line and made both shots. Everyone ran to the other end of the floor to play defense.
[Wildcat Cheerleaders]
Wildcats, gonna tear up
Go Wildcats, yeah, we're number one
Hey Wildcats, we're the champions
Go go go go go go team oh
[West High Knights Cheerleaders]
West High Knights, hey
Yeah we're putting up a fight
[Wildcat Cheerleaders]
Wildcats
We never quit it (what)
Gonna win it (what)
Let me hear you say
Hey hey hey hey hey
Wildcats
[West High Knight Cheerleaders:] Go West High, yeah
[Wildcat Cheerleaders:] Hey! Gonna win!
[Troy & Team:] Got to show them how we do it
[Team & wildcat Cheerleaders:] Game on!
The other team called a time out and we all ran to Coach. "I'm being double teamed. I can't get a shot off.", Troy said, breathing heavily.
"What do you want to do captain?", Coach asked. I was curious about Troy's answer. They were double teaming Troy and I've had a man on me the entire game. No one else is hitting tonight.
"Let's put in Rocket Man.", Troy pointed to the end of the bench where Jimmy Zara sat, still in his pants and jacket.
"Rocket Man?", Coach questioned. Rocket Man hasn't been in a game all year. "Troy, are you sure about that? We're only 2 points away.", I said, moving in front of him.
"I'm sure, just get me the ball.", he said with assurance. "Rocket Man, come on you're up.", Coach called to the end of the bench.
Rocket Man excitedly jumped off the bench, tripping over himself as he got his travel gear off. When he got to the huddle he started dancing in excitement.
"Hey, calm down. Alright, keep your eyes on me.", Troy said, leaning farther into the huddle.
[Outro: Troy & Team]
This is the last time to get it right (oh)
This is the last chance to make it our night (yeah)
We got to show what we're all about (Team Wildcats!)
Work together
This is the last chance to make our mark
History will know who we are!
This is the last game so make it count
It's now or never
With 11 seconds on the clock, Troy dribbled around the defense and started to drive to the basket with it. As soon as he got there, he jumped sideways and passed it to Rocket Man, who was wide open on the block.
This is the last time to get it right
This is the last chance to make it our night (yeah)
We got to show what we're all about (Team Wildcats!)
Work together
This is the last chance to make our mark
History will know who we are!
This is the last game so make it count
It's now or never, yeah!
Rocket Man stood there staring at the ball in his hands. "Shoot it!", I yelled. The clock was running down and we didn't have much time left.
He shot the ball. As soon as it fell through the basket the buzzer went off. We won! The Wildcats were back-to-back states champions!
I ran towards Troy and jumped into his arms. The whole crowd was ecstatic. "We did it!", I yelled.
Chad ran over and wrapped his arms around the both of us. You couldn't have wiped the smiles off of any of our faces.
They were definitely there to stay.