Jayke's second time playing for the Royerton League went a little better but with the same end results. He did very well playing point guard and was a smothering defensive player. His offensive game needs some work but that will come as he continues to get more experience.
He had an exceptional game defensively to keep us going in the playoffs. He played the first, second, and fourth quarters. I was wondering why he wasn't playing during the third quarter but then saw the coaches' plan at the beginning of the fourth. He put Jayke, our best defensive player, on the opposing team's best offensive player, Landon, to shut him down and hope that the rest of our team could get us the lead offensively. It worked.
It was amazing watching that kid play defense the way he did! I had no idea he had that in him. He had Landon so covered up he couldn't even move when he had the ball. You could see and feel the frustration building in him as Jayke was there with every touch of the ball. The momentum began to swing our way. The coach was on the side line yelling, "This is your time, Jayke!!" and I felt like I was watching some movie about an underdog player in his shining moment!
We won the game and by the end of the fourth quarter poor Landon was laying on the floor exhausted, face beet red. My boy did that! He and Landon are friends so it was just an case of great defense facing great offense and this time, the defense prevailed. I have never been more proud of him than I was in that moment! I was ecstatic that all four of his grandparents were there to see it, especially my dad who loves watching him play basketball from all of his years going to high school basketball games as a teacher. I think Jayke was pretty proud of himself as well...and maybe a little surprised at what he just did. I only hope he can have many more games like this and feel that feeling of success the way he did tonight. Even though we went on to lose in the next round at least for one game, in one quarter, they did no wrong and excelled together as a team and my boy got to shine!
