By Mairead Poulin ’13
Photos by Jay Grant
I am not what you would call a “sports fan”. I have never watched a game of any kind on TV, and have only been to a few live games of various sports, never of my own free will. I confuse quarters, periods, and innings and couldn’t tell you who my favorite player is on any team. Actually, I couldn’t tell you any player is on any team. So it is safe to say that writing an article about Boy’s Varsity Basketball at Williston is one of the last things I could ever imagine myself being able to do.
But on Saturday, January 8th, I found myself attending the first basketball game of 2011. I asked my close friend Mika Chmielewski to come with me for moral support. Arriving a mere five minutes before the game was to start, I was shocked at how packed the Williston stands were. We had to settle for standing in the back, pushed in where the Varsity Girls Squash team stood to watch their teammates play below on the opposite side of the gym.
To the best of my knowledge, we have no sports rivalry with the Millbrook School, so this wasn’t a big game. However, students, parents, grandparents, siblings and teachers came out to fill the Williston section to support the boys, and they never failed to show the Wildcat Spirit. Cheers and clapping took over when the team scored, and even when the game looked grim, the Wildcat supporters continued to smile and encourage the team from afar. A group of boys I recognized as the JV Basketball team stood together, taking in the game so seriously, they could have been watching brain surgery. However, whenever our team scored, they whooped and hollered, showing support for the older players.
Basketball, I quickly learned, is a fast paced game and, so, I have no idea which player actually did what. When the starting buzzer blared, the players ran out at full speed, and hardly ever stopped. Their focus was incredible. As the ball traveled up and down the court, the boys zoned in on it. When the game moved close to one of the baskets, the energy was kicked up to an even greater notch, and you could see how determined the team was to the get the ball into the basket, or keep it out, depending on which side they were on.
The Millbrook team, we learned, is good, and kept a steady lead of 8-12 points throughout the game, but Williston didn’t let this get them down. The Williston team is nothing if not persistent, and they scored almost as frequently, always exchanging a quick high five to celebrate. This camaraderie continued throughout the game. As exchanges over the ball became more brutal, and some of the players ended up on the floor, there was always a teammate there to help them up. This happened many times over the course of the game, especially as the match became more competitive. The sport is very physical, and, at one point, three players, one from our team and two from the opposing team, ended up sprawled on top of the ball, right in the middle of the court. I can’t imagine this felt very comfortable, but the players sprang back up after the whistle blew, and just kept going.
Millbrook gained a strong, early lead, but Williston fought back with perseverance. With 25 points, they were only 8 behind Millbrook’s 33 at halftime. (I believe that is the term). While the beginning of the second half started a little slowly, both teams quickly found their energy again. With five minutes and 30 seconds to go, Williston was able to tie the game. Unfortunately, Millbrook pulled ahead and ended the game with a score of 65, winning over Williston’s still impressive 54. However, the team and crowd never appeared disappointed with the loss. The audience still cheered, and the team still high fived as the final buzzer blew.
At the end of the exhilarating experience, I felt accomplished. I’d made it through something I thought was impossible for me, and I had been interested the entire time. I’d definitely attend another Williston basketball game, or see another team, to compare the experience. If you, like me, are a newbie to basketball, here’s what you need to know to attend a game.
1) The buzzer is loud and a little startling. Don’t take a sip of your water bottle right before the end of a period.
2) There are two sixteen-minute halves and one ten-minute halftime break. This was confusing as I tried to arrange my pickup time after the game. I ended up sending my mom home five minutes before the game actually ended. Oops.
3) Even though there is only forty-two minutes on the clock for the entire game, play will still go on for an hour and fifteen minutes. The rest of the time consists of timeouts, and foul shots.
4) There is no food vendor.
5) The games are incredibly fun and exciting, and you will enjoy yourself. Don’t forget to bring your Willy Pride.
Whether you don’t know the difference between a guard, a forward, or a center, or have been involved in sports since you were three, you’ll no doubt love watching a Williston basketball game. I know I did.
