“This has always been my biggest
dream, I just did not think it would come this fast… My senior year, playing
for a state championship! I have been dreaming of this day since I was a little
kid, now it is time to make it a reality!” That is what I wrote on my Facebook
status on February 18, 2012, the day the Holbrook Lady Roadrunners took on the
Window Rock Scouts.
The game took place at the N.A.U.
Skydome in Flagstaff, Arizona at noon. It has been awhile since high school
basketball teams played at N.A.U., way back to the year of 2007. When my sister, Kristin Ayze, was a senior
and it was also the year the boy’s basketball team made it to the Final Four
that season. Walking into the dome, waiting anxiously and butterflies running
through my stomach was surprisingly an amazing feeling. It was awesome to see
teams with their fans there to support them, and it made the crowd have such an
amazing atmosphere.
It was halftime of the Winslow and
Many Farms girl’s game, and it was our turn to go and get ready for our game. Walking
into the locker room I had my earphones in, jamming out to Nicki Minaj trying
to calm down my nerves. I was ready to go…my hair tied up, jersey tucked in
with my warm-up over it, ankle braces on tight, and my shoelaces triple
knotted. I took a deep breath and sat there with my teammates by my side; I looked
at each and every one of them and believed they would play amazing no matter
what the outcome of the game would be.
Before any game I have I take a
second to myself and pray…which usually gets me excited during the warm-ups but
I was too nervous. I mean, it is okay to be nervous for something you waited
your whole life for. I spotted my family in the crowd there to support me along
with my boyfriend’s family too; it was amazing to see people, “family” there
for me.
“Introducing the starting line-up
for the Holbrook Roadrunners! At guard, a senior, number eleven, Aaren La Rose!”
I walked down to shake the other coach’s hand as well as our cheerleaders as
they formed a tunnel for us to run through; I could hear the crowd going wild.
Holding our positions, the ball
goes up…and the game began. All the thoughts that ran through my head was “hard
work, defense, come on A.B. you got to be stronger, no stupid or lazy passes,
and have fun!” I came out of the game with under two minutes left in the 4th
quarter, I had left the court giving everything I had in the game, and sat down
with tears rolling down my cheeks.
Sadly, my dream did not become a
reality…we lost by fourteen, the final score: 64-50. Even though my teammates and I did not win the
game, we also did not give up on playing. We kept pushing to play stronger
defense until the time went out. We went to go shake our opponent’s hands and
most of our opponents were my friends. They all gave me hugs and told me I did
great, good game! Of course it made me cry more, I ran straight to the locker
room so no one else would see me.
It is hard to lose a game like
that, knowing it was your last year to play high school basketball, or even for
me…knowing that was my last time wearing that jersey since I was a freshman. I cried
my eyes out coming out of the locker room to see my families their waiting for
me. The best thing they said was “There is only one winner at the end of this
tournament but YOU are the winner in our hearts!” No matter if I win or lose, I
am so thankful to have family that will always be there for me.
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