SWISH!...Nothing But Net
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On the first day of practice, several players and coaches, standing at midcourt, were dressed in their casual clothing. Four players did not. Those players were the freshmen, dressed in their game day gear. A tank top, mesh shorts and gym shoes. The lettermen laughed at their new teammates and explained to them that it was an excellent way of relieving the jitterbug feeling in their stomachs preparing for their first practice with their new team. Coach Graves blew his whistle to receive the players attention, "Freshmen by now you should know who are the returning players from last year." Graves, his assistants and the players all chuckled for a few more seconds as Coach continued, "Next year the four of you will have a chance to do the same to the new recruits. But welcome to MadMuu State guys. I want each of you to introduce yourself by name, position, and height." "I’m Mickey Knight, guard, six foot two from Grenada, Mississippi." "I’m Eric Mell, power forward, six foot seven, two hundred and sixty pounds of pure muscles, from Greenville, Mississippi." The team clapped for Big Mell, for his profound description of himself. Next with a big grin on his face, "I’m Zion Shuemaker, six foot nine, shooting forward from Gassaway, West Virginia." The lettermen placed their hands up to their mouths and echoed through the gymnasium, "Shueeeeesssssss!" Zion smiled and looked at Lorenzo as he smiled back and spoke, "And I’m Lorenzo Lloyd, six foot seven, point guard, from Dunbar, Nebraska." The players and coaches clapped as they welcomed their new teammates. Coach Graves, Atkins, Gales, and Wise handed the players the team’s playbook. It’s the Mustangs' offensive and defensive plans, for the upcoming season. The team has four freshmen of course, four sophomores, two juniors and one lone senior. Coach Graves and his assistants let the team know that they need to be in excellent condition to run the Motion Offense. The Coaches explained that they want the ball to be passed around at least 5 times before taking a shot. This procedure will keep the five guys on the court alert and unselfish. They also want to fatigue their opponents, so that they could keep the game close or runaway with it by out hustling their opponents during the closing minutes of the game. Which should give the Mustangs more free throws attempt and it should open the lanes for a lay-up or a jump shot out on the perimeters. Coach Graves firmly lectured, "Our goal is to win the Mid Western Southern Conference, a NCAA Tournament Game and reaching the Final Four. Each one of you will depend on each other to learn your assigned areas on defense and offense. We have a projected starting five, but no one starts the beginning of the season until they earned it. Execution in our Game Plan is all we can ask for. We're not here to do what the pros do; we want to play our game, the MSU way. The Mustangs used to be a run and gun team. If you look up there." Coach Graves pointed at the rafters, "There are no championship banners for the highest scoring team. We will execute the plays like your class assignments. I hope. This is your full time job boys, school and basketball. Tomorrow Practice is at 3:00 p.m. sharp on the track field behind the gym. All you need is your jogging shoes, running shorts, long sleeve tee shirt, a towel and this." As the assistant coaches passed around white flex fitted hats for the players. Coach Graves put his on and said, "Welcome back lettermen, and freshmen, Welcome to MadMuu State. Charles, lets end our inaugural practice." Charles Clayton, the only senior, asked the players to form a circle and hold hands together. Zion and Lorenzo sandwich between Charles and Coach Graves held their hands as the senior asked the players to bow their heads and began to say, Our Daily Prayer.
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About the Book
Every year, near the end of winter, there is no other competition that is more captivating then the NCAA College Basketball Tournament. Even though majority of the teams that qualified in the brackets are from the major universities, there is one minor College that will make a huge impact in the Ultimate Spring Event. MadMuu State University recruited two highly talented players that will overlook the established programs, from the elite conferences to play for their head coach. Lorenzo Lloyd and Zion Shuemaker are the prime electives of Ricardo Graves' blueprint, but he recruits one more portion to his diagram. A former collegiate from the Cotton Fields of Mississippi to help give the Mustangs an authoritative presence, which surprisingly granted the underdogs an inspiration that they could only dream of. These no biological triplets spent countless hours, in treacherous conditions from the backyards of their native home state, to fulfill the Cinderella Story of a university, which will resurrect a reputable manner, relinquish a cupid's chokehold, and survive a devastating blow, during a Prelude to March Madness.
About the Author
Lester Sean Manning, a former Mississippian, will always love the Southern Region of the United States especially the Magnolia State. He never forgot many adventurous moments driving on the roads of Interstate 55 and 20, and the local highways of Route 61, 82, 49, 16, 35 and the Natchez Trace. With the top down in a vintage vehicle he would see the distant hills and the flat fields that possibly gave him the ability to dream and feel the sensation he has never lost when he crosses the southern border of the state of Tennessee. Lester is very proud to document a great young adult story about the state that has not been crown a champion in quite sometime. Please send him an Email, and share with him your wonderful critique about a place that he will always cherish to call home at 2plus2production@comcast.net, Thank You.