Wood Mill Pre-K Dragons: 3
Ford Early Day School Titans: 2
The highly anticipated championship game between the juggernaut Dragons of Wood Mill Pre-K and the resilient Titans of Ford Early Day School did not disappoint the dozen in attendance.
Both teams started a combined 0-11 from the field before Wood Mill pulled ahead when their star point guard, Little Tommy Feigner, hit a one-foot jump shot from the left baseline. He immediately went to hug his best friend and shooting guard Jaden Miller, as their exasperated coach, Josh Feigner, implored them to stop hugging each other until after the game.
“Sorry Dad,” said Tommy as he ran down court.
The Titans were finally able to tie the game early in the second quarter when 3’4” power forward Donnell Woodward, who averages an impressive 0.3 points per game, made an accidentally beautiful layup that surprised everyone in attendance. His coach, Phil Glassner, was dumbfounded that a play worked.
“Absolutely shocked,” said Glassner.
Several hundred double dribble calls by the referees really slowed the pace of the game and the score remained deadlocked at two heading into the half.
Coach Feigner gathered his team together and told his players to have a seat on their balls, which made everyone laugh, including the parents. Feigner, feeling exasperated over his verbal mistake, requested that the team sit on their basketballs before giving an impassioned speech about teamwork. No one seemed to pay attention.
As the second half got underway, things took an ominous turn as Titans point guard Harold Barnsley dribbled to half court and held the ball there for roughly half of the third quarter. Everyone, including the referee, encouraged him to pass or shoot.
“Come on kid,” said the referee. Barnsley refused to do either until he was good and ready. He then passed the ball to his father in the second row, an obvious turnover.
The score remained tied at two into the latter stages of the fourth quarter when Feigner was fouled dribbling towards the basket. After he stopped crying, he made the first free throw, giving Wood Mill the lead. He airballed the second free throw and began crying again.
With minutes remaining, Ford Early Day School center, 3’6” Brad Backner, perhaps so surprised to find the ball in his hands, missed a go-ahead 60-foot jump shot that would’ve given the Titans the lead. Glassner called the shot “ill-advised” before congratulating the champion Dragons on a well-played game.
“I thought they were well prepared and executed their game plan to perfection,” said Glassner. “We look forward to a rematch with them next season.”
Feigner, the winning head coach, took the victory in stride. “We’re proud of the team for winning a tightly contested game and plan on celebrating this victory with pizza and eventual pink eye at Chuck E. Cheese.”
