5, 4, 3, 2, 1,..... Every kid that has ever played basketball has dreamed of this moment. The clock is running out, your team is behind, and you take the shot that potentially could win the game. Everyone dreams, but not everyone has the chance to see that dream come true. Last night, on his Senior Night at BBC, the last regular season home game of his career, my son Bobby had the chance to be the hero. It's not like he hasn't had the chance to carry his team to victory on his shoulders before, he is a 6'9" All-American who averages 19 points per game and 8.7 rebounds per game, but last night was something special. This has been a difficult season. His team, which won 20 games last season, has not lived up to its potential this season and the frustration level has mounted as the end of this, his senior year has approached. Their opponent last night, Ecclesia, is an NCCAA Div I school that had beaten BBC by 23 in Springdale less than a month ago. This game was nip and tuck all the way. BBC got out to an early lead, but by halftime, they had let it slip away. The second half proved to be even tougher as Ecclesia seemed to be pulling away, stretching their lead to eight at one point. With 23 seconds to go, a BBC layup rolled around the rim and dropped out leaving the Patriots 5 points down without the ball. It seemed that BBC was destined to another frustrating loss. It was then that lightning struck. The Patriots stole the ball in the front court, passed to Bobby at the top of the key and he launched a three pointer, just as he was being fouled by Ecclesia's post. When the ball fell through the hoop, the clock said 16.8 seconds, and hope flooded back into the Patriot team. Bobby sank his free throw, making the score 83-82, Ecclesia. BBC then applied the pressure, almost getting a five second call and then coming agonizingly close to a steal on the sideline before having to foul the Ecclesia guard with 10.3 seconds left. Under the pressure of the moment, the guard missed the front end of the 1&1 and Bobby secured the rebound and called timeout. The last ten seconds were agonizing, as BBC brought the ball into the frontcourt and Johnny Golden made a handoff to Bobby at the top of the key. During a moment of confusion between the two defenders, Bobby was left open so he rose up and launched a three-pointer that rattled in with 1.3 seconds remaining to give BBC an 85-83 lead. The W.E. Dowell fieldhouse erupted, but the game wasn't over yet. After a long pass that was almost intercepted, Ecclesia had an inbound play infront of their own bench with one second left. Their player raced into the corner and put up a hook shot three pointer that bounced twice on the rim and then fell off giving BBC the victory. It was one of the most exciting Senior Nights for any BBC player in recent memory. Bobby ended up with 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists and a memory that he will be able to keep forever.
As a father, it is rewarding to see your son living out his dreams. The kind words of the coach during the ceremony before the game meant a lot. He said, "Bobby is an All-American. He has won all kinds of awards for his play on the court. But he is also the kind of young man that people want to be around. He is a great young man that God is going to use." Bobby has at least three games left in his career, two road games at the end of this week, then the first round of regionals. If the Patriots are able to pull off two wins at regionals, then they will make it to Nationals in early March. I am excited to see what God is going to do in Bobby's life after basketball is over. I have no doubt that he will be a hero in whatever God calls him to.
