COLONY The highlight of the Lancer girls 43-29 win over the Chetopa Hornets occurred in the games final seconds when Crest freshman Vivian Noah went to the foul line to shoot two.
Noah isnt the best player on the team. In fact, most games she rarely plays. She hasnt scored a point all year. But if a team can be said to have a beating heart, shes it.
After the Chetopa foul, when it became clear that Noah was heading to the line with a chance at her first high-school bucket, the crowd erupted. Her teammates shouted encouragements. Her coach cheered.
Noah, who is all frizzly hair and wide smiles in normal times, was positively beaming now.
Her first attempt was high way high nearly sailing over the top of the backboard. But she had one more shot. The crowd, who had been cheering Noah on since she first entered the game a minute earlier, went silent. They watched and waited. Alone among the Crest fans, her dad remained standing in his spot on the back bleacher.
The referee handed the ball to the freshman. She turned it over in her hands. Then she lifted her gaze, narrowed her focus on the rim, bent through the knees, then rose up, up, and released the ball followed a high arc, then splashed down through the net, a textbook swish.
Noah clapped her hands and jumped up in joy. The crowd jumped for joy. Her teammates swarmed her, and they jumped for joy, too. A toddler in the first row of bleachers clamped his hands over his ears.
For the scorebook, that single point was a meaningless drop in the bucket of an already convincing Crest win. But for Vivian Noah whose joy really is infectious the meaning was immense.
It was so exciting, gushed Noah after the game. Ive never been that happy in a sport in my life. Ive never felt such adrenaline or such just pure I did it! I mean, no one ever told me I couldnt do it; but, still, it just felt like I was proving something.
Noah played basketball in middle school but there, too, she never saw much action. And she doesnt get much playing time this year, either. But every time I do get in, said Noah, I love it more than anything. I really like basketball.
Just then Noahs dad rounded the corner. Shes a crowd favorite because every time she gets in there, she hustles like nobodys business.
I mean, I cant do much, said Noah. But I can run!
You did great, said Noahs father. You did great.
Thanks, dad. The two embraced, then Noahs dad headed back into the stands.
Immediately following Friday nights game, Crest head coach Megan Mason reflected on the influence Noahs personality exerts on her Lancer squad. Vivian is pretty incredible, said Mason. Her drive and her positivity have been so amazing for our team.
