Crunch Time

         The sound of the crowd was little more than a low rumble in his ears as Omar lowered his head, pivoted to his right and held the ball away from his body out of the defender's reach, then stood straight up and took a quick jab step to his left; the defender mirrored his movement but over played the feint, creating distance between them, giving him time to glance at the game clock and see the time go from six seconds to five.  He began his dribble with his right hand moving quickly in that direction, not allowing the defender to close on him...one one-thousand - four seconds. The defender, who had subbed in after the time out, had fresh legs and was quick sought to trap him against the sideline as another defender rushed up from the bottom of the key.  Omar saw him coming and was ready to make the pass to Terry who was planted on the bottom right block, his hand up calling for the ball momentarily unguarded, the entire gym seeing him open too, saw Omar’s eyes get big, then saw the rotating defender flash in front of Terry cutting off the passing lane…three one thousand…two seconds.  He planted hard with his right foot, cutting back to his left, crossing his dribble over from right to left beneath his left leg, just out of reach of the quick defender’s reaching right hand, he saw Mr. Quick stumble, his fresh legs working against him now as he tried to stop and change direction all at once, felt his Mr. Quick's fingertips graze his knee...four one thousand – one second left or maybe less, the near trap and steal attempt making him unsure of his internal clock.  There wasn't enough time now.  No time to drive to the corner and lob to Big Terry when the double team came at him like coach had drawn up, no time to drive to the basket and dump it off to Rip or Derrick when the defense collapsed on him, no time kick it out to Jay for the wide open jumper, no time to lay it up, no time to try to draw contact and get to the free throw line, no time to do anything but take two more quick dribbles, gather his legs beneath him and launch a high arching jumper toward the basket…five one thousand…zero.  It was a few inches out of his hand when the horn went off, he saw the arm of the referee nearest him shoot straight up to signal the shot had been in time, he saw the other players turn to watch the flight of the ball, he saw the fans lean in their seats and on their feet, he saw the cheerleaders yelling and he saw the ball rotating as it began its downward arc toward the basket and hit nothing but net...game.