Last Pick

Two seconds. Akisha went in for a layup. Jazz watched, her heart pounding so loud it sounded like thunder in her chest. One second. The ball left Akisha’s right hand. The horn sounded as the ball rose into the air. The ball gently touched the glass backboard in the middle of the black square, then fell cleanly through the hoop.

It took a second or two for most of the fans to understand what had just happened. But Jazz knew right away. The ball was in the air before the horn sounded. The shot was good. The Raven had won by a single point.

The Kelowna team knew what happened as well. Some dropped to their knees in disbelief. Some cried. Others just stood, frozen in place. Their fans on the other side of the arena, so loud and confident just seconds before, fell into a shocked silence. But not the Ravens’ supporters. The proof was on the game clock – 62-61 Ravens. All around Jazz, Ravens fans stood up, hugged each other and cheered. The Northside Ravens senior girls had won the most important game in the team’s history. And Akisha Sidhu, Jazz’s sister, had scored the winning basket.

“Five years from now,” Karin said, “that could be us winning the provincial championship.”

“Maybe,” Jazz replied. But inside she knew she would never play on a championship team – or any other team at all.