The Final Buzzer and the Long Road Back
Friday, November 12th
I am writing this because I don’t know what else to do. My hands are still shaking, and every time I close my eyes, I see it happening all over again. There were five seconds left on the clock. We were down by one point in the regional championship. The crowd was so loud it felt like the gym floor was vibrating. Coach Miller called a timeout and looked me right in the eyes. 'Leo,' he said, 'get the ball, drive to the hoop, and finish it.'
I did exactly what he said. I dribbled past two defenders. The lane opened up like it was meant to be. I jumped for the layup, the ball left my fingertips, and... it rattled around the rim and fell out. The buzzer sounded while the ball was still bouncing on the floor. We lost.
- Regional:
- Relating to a specific area or district of a country.
- Timeout:
- A short break in a sports game for players to rest or discuss strategy.
- Disorganized:
- Not planned or structured in an orderly way.
- vibrating:
- Shaking rapidly back and forth with small, quick movements.
- disappointment:
- The feeling of sadness or letdown when things do not turn out the way one hoped.
- courage:
- The bravery or inner strength to face something difficult, painful, or scary.
Educational example text · Diary Entry
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What specific instructions did Coach Miller give Leo during the final timeout?
- 2How much time was remaining on the clock when the final play began?
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About this diary entry passage for Upper Elementary
“The Final Buzzer and the Long Road Back” is a diary entry reading passage about Resilience, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 5 minutes to read (693 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.