This is the story of my brother's homeschool basketball team's last game of the 2001-02 season....
The outlook wasn't brilliant for Healy-Murphy's six;
They averaged only five-foot and had had a few licks.
The titanic squad of Panthers rolled laughing at the sight
Of those six tiny men against their undefeated might.
This last game of the season, Panthers had yet to be beat;
Zack was six-foot-four, Darryl the wing was made of concrete.
Ross was quick on the dribble, and Dave, he was just good.
Jon and Eric, they were fast; their feet hardly touched wood.
The rest were pretty decent, but these were the main men.
The Panthers knew this was a cinch, they knew who would win.
Their warm-up was lazy, it felt good to be on home court.
They knew they had speed, talent, and torque.
Eric said, "At last, I get to guard guys my own size!"
The Panther coach just sat, grinned wide, and adjusted his tie.
The bleachers were packed for this last game of Panther skill,
With fans hungry for a final spectacular kill.
Healy-Murphy sent their tallest man out to the middle;
At six-foot even, facing Dave, he seemed kinda little.
The ref tossed up the ball, Dave tipped it right to Jon.
Jon slammed it for two and the crowd cheered for the blond.
Before you knew it, the Panthers were ahead six to oh.
Yes, it looked like a cake-walk to lay Healy-Murphy low.
The Panthers were relaxed and casual as Friday.
This squad of Hispanic midgets? Beat them? No way.
Healy-Murphy's four-foot-eight point-guard dribbled it down,
The Panthers set up their zone, and the ball swung around.
Then - WHAM! Out of the clear blue, a shot from the outside;
With three points, Healy-Murphy began to turn the tide.
"Not bad," Ross said, as the Healy-Murphy boys slapped skin;
He thought it wouldn't make any difference in the end.
But it soon became clear the Panthers weren't doin' so hot;
Healy could steal a ball, they could nail those outside shots.
The second quarter of the game was pretty exciting;
The ball took a beating, the teams were fouling and fighting.
The crowd didn't really believe that Panthers could lose;
But the action Midgetville gave them left them bemused.
Seven seconds to half-time, the Panthers were down by eight.
Healy-Murphy defense snagged the ball and made a fast break;
Alas, the Panthers were too slow - the point-guard laid it up.
Far down the street you could hear that unhappy crowd erupt.
As half-time was called, the Panthers' coach seemed rather grim.
He said, "I ain't got nothin' to say to you gentlemen."
While the subdued crowd murmured, the boys sat still and depressed;
Their teamwork had been shabby, even Zack had to confess.
Never had their zone defense been so badly gutted,
Nor their sharp offense so effectively rebutted.
Undisputed All-State Champions, mighty and proud,
Losing to elbow-high guys and watched by a home crowd.
But the Panthers hung on to their pride and dug in their heels;
This game wasn't over, they could still win by a good deal.
Beginning of the fourth, they picked up some spirit;
Healy-Murphy's high score, they began to creep near it.
Fans in the bleachers pounded and shouted at each shot,
Our Panthers lose their final game? What a pile of rot!
But the clock kept ticking on, and with two tight minutes to go
The fans and their team realized they were still twenty below.
You've been told the story of mighty Casey at bat;
And how a small iceberg sunk the Titanic, true dat.
Now you know the story of the Panthers' one defeat;
Who only lost from assuming they couldn't be beat.
age = 17-18
Amy is a homeschool graduate