The Grand Final 1998
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The Grand Final 1998 |
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Firstly a little background, the previous week THC won its first final game in its short, but gut wrenching history. In a cliffhanger which was dripping in controversy and heart-stopping emotion and drama, THC managed to scrape out a two point win over the cruisers.
The controversy erupted after the umpires who were finding it hard to disrupt the natural flow of the game, as is their want, ruled that as our opposition, the cruisers, were not all wearing the same uniform, they should be penalised to the tune of one point! This took place during the second half when there was less than ten minutes remaining, the scores were very close, and the tension was running at an all time high.
In an outstanding show of sportsmanship and international diplomacy, which I believe we could all learn from, THC decided to decline the offer to have one point added to our score and opted to play on as is.
A corageous move.
In the end we were vindicated by that decision as we ended up winning by two points, not only winning the game and our first ever final, but also the hearts of the crowd as a result of our display of sportsmanship and fairplay.
The next weekend THC was pitted against their arch rivals the chargers, in what was shaping up as a real bone crunching, hard hitting, knuckle fight.
The game progressed smoothly, both sides dipping into foul trouble early in the first term. The sides were locked together with the scores even at half time, on the score board if not in spirit.
The second half began and due to some incredibly inept umpiring, it took no time before both sides were again in foul trouble, particularly THC, who as a result of some average foul shots by the opposition, were still in the game.
With seven seconds to go, THC was in front by one point and fouled the chargers giving them two shots. They converted one, equalling the scores and the crowd had their hearts in their mouths, and sweat in their jocks.
With two seconds to go B.Johnstowne (THC) was fouled and was afforded the game winning opportunity, as well as a chance to cover himself in glory.
He failed the first attempt.
Under more pressure than Monica Lewinski's tonsils, he managed to sink his second shot, which put THC one point ahead with two seconds remaining. But due to some budget umpiring, there was a problem with the clock, so the game was stopped and the clock was counted down to two seconds. Chargers were given the ball and the boys from THC, under strict instructions not to foul let them take the rushed shot. In a dramatic display of discipline no one fouled and the shot missed.
THC had one its first ever Grand Final.
Congratulations and commiserations flowed as the teams shook hands, in a display of sportsmanship which all young children could learn from.
As the two teams were leaving the arena for the presentations, we were informed that there had been a mistake, and that the final result was actually a draw!!
At first denial, followed closely by acceptance, and then anger, both sides cursed the umpires, then prepared for an extra period of five minutes overtime.
THC took an early butt fuck and was trailing by four points after a minute and a half. With both sides already in foul trouble from the actual game, and with THC missing two men due to Mutt Morshe and Tomb Goof being fouled off, we managed to catch up with less than a minute to go due to some good shooting by Warren Mills and some dirty scragging by Jenny LeFart.
There was blood sweat and tears in the air, with a stench of pain and from the crowd the sounds of hymens being streched to their limits. There was not a dry pair of pants in all of the Loftus recreation centre.
Both teams traded baskets, and it was looking as though it was going down to the wire, when with less that five seconds to go Mutt Phewitson made a gripping fade away jump shot from the base line under enormous pressure. It was akin to throwing an egg one hundred meters into the air and catching it in your teeth without it breaking while standing in the middle of a four lane free-way in peak hour traffic.
THC were in front, and looking as though they could win their first ever grand final for the second time in the same night.
Chargers had possession, and a quick pass to open player looked as though they could escape with a fast break. But superior defensive positioning meant that Ryanna Eyeslip was waiting to thwart his sortie to the basket.
The chargers player received the ball and turned blindly at full speed but what he met was not a basket ball court wider than Tori Spellings cleavage, but what must have felt like a brick wall six foot high, three feet wide and three feet thick.
The crowd stopped, as did time itself, as all waited for the call.
"Charge!"
The chargers player had been called for a charge. And he was not happy!
Jubilation on our side was equally weighed with disappointment and disbelief on theirs.
The game resumed with only two seconds to go, THC once again under strict instructions not to foul, with every man following the team discipline to the letter.
They put up the shot and missed.
THC had won again.
Before we started sucking each others dicks, the score was verified, and we were indeed the premiers.
The rest is history. Wait for the Movie!
RI 1998
