The Championship Shot

ROLES:

• NARRATOR: The voice of the gym, telling the story.
• HOLDEN: An 11-year-old guard for the Warriors. He is very determined.
• MATTEO: An 11-year-old forward. He is tall, smart, and helpful.
• DESMOND: An 11-year-old forward who plays very hard.
• COACH SHANNON: The helper coach. She holds a clipboard.
• COACH JORDAN: The head coach. He is calm and wise.

ACT I: THE DEFICIT

NARRATOR: The gym is very loud! The scoreboard shows a sad score for the Alston Ridge Warriors. They are losing by ten points late in the fourth quarter of the big game. The other team, the Panthers, seems impossible to beat.

HOLDEN: [Wiping sweat from his forehead and breathing hard] Keep your heads up! We worked too hard all year to give up now. We still have three minutes left on that clock!

MATTEO: [Nodding and looking determined] Holden is right. The other team thinks they already won. Their defense is getting lazy. If we run fast to the hoop, we can find open spots to score.

DESMOND: [Clapping his hands together] Let's guard them closely! We can steal the ball, score quickly, and change the game. Matteo, you and I will guard the basket. Holden, you guard the outside. Let's go!

NARRATOR: The Warriors run back onto the court with high energy. Holden guards his player tightly. Matteo jumps high and steals the ball!

MATTEO: Desmond, run!

NARRATOR: Matteo passes the ball to Desmond. Desmond catches it and makes an easy layup. Two points down, eight more to go!

ACT II: THE RALLY

NARRATOR: The crowd cheers loudly as the Warriors score again and again! They are catching up fast. Holden drives to the basket and passes to Matteo. Matteo scores!

HOLDEN: That's it! Keep playing hard! They are getting nervous!

DESMOND: Watch out, Matteo! I will help you guard!

NARRATOR: The Panthers struggle to pass the ball. With only ten seconds left, their player throws a wild pass out of bounds. It is the Warriors' ball!

COACH SHANNON: [Blows her whistle loudly and holds up her clipboard] Timeout! Come here, team! Bring it in right now!

ACT III: THE DECISION

NARRATOR: The Warriors run to the bench. They are tired but excited. Coach Shannon draws a special play on her clipboard.

COACH SHANNON: There are exactly ten seconds left on the clock. We are down by two points. We need a safe shot, or we can go for the win.

COACH JORDAN: [Stepping into the circle, looking calm] Listen up, team. I am very proud of you. But I know you want to win. We are going to run "Play Pizza."

HOLDEN: [With wide eyes] Play Pizza? But Coach, we only practiced that once or twice! It has to be perfect.

COACH JORDAN: And you can do it perfectly. Desmond, you throw the ball in. Matteo, set a strong screen to block the defender. Holden, get open, catch the ball, and shoot.

MATTEO: I will block them, Holden. You will have a clear shot.

DESMOND: I will pass it right to you, Holden. Just be ready.

HOLDEN: [Nodding with a smile] I am ready. Let's do this, Warriors!

ACT IV: THE SHOT

NARRATOR: The referee blows the whistle. The crowd stands up and screams. Desmond stands out of bounds with the basketball, waiting to pass.

DESMOND: [Shouting] Go, go!

NARRATOR: Matteo runs and blocks the defender. It is a perfect screen! Holden runs free toward the middle of the court.

DESMOND: [Passing the ball] Catch!

NARRATOR: Holden catches the ball. He takes one quick bounce to get ready. The last seconds of the game tick away in slow motion. Three... two... one...

HOLDEN: [Jumps high in the air and shoots] For the championship!

NARRATOR: The ball flies high through the air under the lights. The buzzer sounds! SWISH! The ball goes straight into the hoop!

COACH SHANNON: [Jumps up and drops her clipboard] It went in! We won!

COACH JORDAN: [Smiling and clapping] Great job! What a shot, Holden!

MATTEO and DESMOND: [Hugging Holden] We are the champions!

ACT V: THE CELEBRATION

NARRATOR: The next morning at school, everyone is excited. There are colorful decorations in the halls. Classmates clap loudly as the team walks by.

DESMOND: [Grinning] Look, Holden! Everyone is talking about your shot. You are famous!

MATTEO: And look at his shoes! He is wearing his lucky sneakers.

NARRATOR: Everyone looks at Holden's feet. He is wearing his special sneakers. People are calling them the "Air Holdens."

HOLDEN: [Smiling proudly at his friends] We won as a team, so we celebrate as a team. My shoes helped, but it took all of us to make them fly.