(continued)

He brought the ball down and called a time out so coach could set up a play. The clock showed 22.3 seconds left in the game, and they were down by three. Coach called a play for Ryan to come around a high screen. The center would kick the ball out. If Ryan was open he could take the shot but more likely they would collapse on him. Ben Steere, a senior walk-on would position down in the corner. Ben was a cool-headed customer with a sweet stroke. He played less than 4 minutes per game but Coach knew he would not panic and he had the best set shot on the team. The idea would be for Ryan to draw the defense, since they would almost certainly think he would be taking the shot. Especially since the Jayhawks needed a three to tie. Then Ryan would dribble, if necessary, to open up a passing lane and dish off to Ben in the corner for what will hopefully be an open shot. Ryan liked the plan. Despite his lifetime dreams of shooting a buzzer beater to win the National Championship he didn’t even think about it now. He was totally focused on making sure he made an accurate pass to Ben. As the buzzer sounded and they walked back on the court Ryan walked over to Ben, winked and gave him a pat on the butt.

The ball came in to Ryan. He held the ball until 12 seconds to go. He dribbled left to open up a passing lane and drilled a perfect pass inside to Todd, the center. Ryan immediately cut back to the middle going around the screen set by his backcourt partner. Meanwhile Ben was racing across the baseline around a beautiful screen set their power forward. Everyhting was developing exactly like coach worked it up. Ryan was opening up, and the defense was taking the bait. Three defender collapsed toward Ryan off the screen. Ben was approaching his corner position virtually ignored by Florida. Four…..three…. The center lets it fly. A perfect chest high pass to Ryan. Oh no!!! Ryan had been so focused on passing the ball to Ben he took his eyes off the ball for just a second. Two……. The ball glances off of Ryan’s fingertips. He reaches down to grab the ball. One……. Ben stands all alone in the corner but Ryan had lost those precious seconds. Instinct took over. Ryan wheels around, squares up, jumps and lets it fly. Buzzzzzzzzzz!!!! The buzzer sounds. Sieverling, who changed his path when he saw Ryan drop the ball had decided to go for the ball. Ryan was just a little quicker and manged to get the ball, turn and shoot. But Sieverling had committed and now there was nothing he could do. Just as the ball left Ryan’s hand, Sieverling’s momentum carried him straight into Ryan. The crescendo of the buzzer harmonizing with the referee’s whistle was either a dirge or the sweet sound of victory. Whichever, time seemed to stand still. The ball approached the basket in slow motion. The crowd was on its feet and all eyes were focused on the “rock.” In a beautiful hyperbolic arc the ball traveled the 21 feet and wished through the basket. Bedlam broke out on the Jayhawk bench. Coach was grabbing his players because he new better than anyone that this game was not over. Last years double overtime loss to this very team was all to fresh in his memory. Especially considering the Jayhawks missed 4 of 5 free throws in the first overtime to allow the Gators to send it into the second overtime. No, Coach was not going to count his chickens until they were in the coop. Predictably, Florida called a timeout. After the 90 second eternity they took the court and Ryan found his place on the free throw line. Florida now used their last time out.

As hard as Ryan tried to focus, this wait and pressure was starting to make him nervous. He had played this very situation out in his driveway thousands of times, yet this was the real thing. 23,000 people were standing with eyes glued on him. Millions more were watching on TV. This was seriously a different situation than having his little sister and her friends watch as he made-believe in the driveway.

They took the court. Ryan stood alone on the free throw line. The Florida players approached as close as the refs would let them, but they had to stay behind Ryan. If he made the shot, all his dreams would come true. If he missed.... Why would he even think that? He had never thought that in his life. Why would he pick a time like this to think about missing? He was an 85% free throw shooter. All those hours of training were not for naught. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He opened his eyes and bounced the ball three times and spun it in his hand just like he had done with every other free throw for the last 6 years. He shoots. Swwwwwwwwish!!!! He did it. Ryan White and the Jayhawks had won the NCAA National Basketball Championship. It was truly a dream.

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