Trentonian 3/20/07: Column on Trenton girls in TofC final
It hurt the heart to watch Trenton fall in TofC final
Column by Aaron Bracy
The Trentonian
Tuesday, March 20, 2007 3:00 AM EDT
EAST RUTHERFORD — Heartbreaking.
That’s how you felt watching the Trenton High girls struggle off the court after last night’s wildly entertaining 68-62 overtime loss to University in the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions girls basketball final at the Continental Airlines Arena.
The heart hurt watching those brave girls struggle through a postgame news conference, trying their best to answer reporters’ questions without streams of tears flowing out of them.
The five starters were there in the bowels of the arena, acting brave just like they did on the court last night.
There was Tracey Parsons, who played brilliantly in the face of foul trouble all game, finishing with 14 points — including some crucial ones late in the fourth quarter — before fouling out late in the overtime.
There was Leola Spotwood, a junior, trying to come to grips with the fact this was the last time she would play with her real sister, senior Cintella, and others, like senior Jacoby Ford, who had become like blood.
There was Ford, the little sister of Mykeema, whose heroics on this same floor in 2002 are legend to the Trenton faithful. Like Parsons, Ford had to watch the end of this one from the bench after fouling out. She wasn’t so much sad for herself as for the town, whose support of this team is sensational.
There was Cintella Spotwood, a senior like Ford, who played with passion and fire early on her way to 11 points. She didn’t have much to say, just taking it all in, perhaps wondering what her next step will be.
And there was Torrie Childs, the dominator inside who had her usual double-double, with 14 rebounds and 10 points. Her intimidation showed up in the postgame press conference as well when, while fighting back tears, she answered a query about the toughest part of losing by saying sitting in the press room and answering questions about it.
Just like so many shots this season, she blocked a question.
But the others — and even Childs — answered the questions, every last one of them, and then the five sat there after the questions were over – perhaps wanting to stay a team for a split second longer. Perhaps wanting the moment — even as tough as it was — to last longer, because it would be the last one they shared.
That’s the tough thing about sports, that there has to be a winner and loser. It seems so very unfair in times like this, especially after watching those five starters try to handle defeat last night.
Sure, they could’ve handled the ball better, those 25 turnovers didn’t help the cause, shot better, rebounded better, defended better and kept the intensity up after a fast start.
But losers? Anyone watching last night’s game would be foolish to call those Trenton girls anything but winners. They played their hearts out, which is why it hurt so much.
Actually, hurt doesn’t even begin to capture the feeling.
“Hurt doesn’t even describe how I feel, it’s a feeling I can’t describe,” Leola said, her already welling eyes filling up even more. “We fought all year for this ..Now I can’t play with my sister and Jacoby, who’s like my sister. It’s not a great feeling at all.
“We didn’t get what we wanted. What we wanted, they got.”
True, University got what they wanted — that beautiful TofC trophy and all of the accolades that come with it. But the Phoenix, even in the glory of victory, couldn’t get what Trenton now has — a valuable life lesson.
Those five girls will wake up this morning and realize what a wonderful season they had. You finish with 31 wins and two losses and a state title and no one can say otherwise.
Those five girls will wake up this morning and realize how special it was to be together for the last five months, how they made friendships that will remain forever.
Those five girls will wake up this morning and realize that, while it seems like there’s nothing worse, there is more to life than losing a basketball game — even the biggest game in the state that year.
Those five girls will wake up this morning and realize why they had those tears. It’s because they worked so hard, gave everything they had, and poured their hearts and souls into this game, this season, this goal.
And, for that, they can only be winners. Tears and all.
Contact Aaron Bracy at phillysportsbeat@gmail.com. Visit aaronswritingservice.com for information about his editing and writing services, and phillysportsbeat.com to read his blog on Philadelphia sports.
