Literary Spotlight: Got It! At the Buzzer!

This was it. This moment was the one that would make his career, and the National Championship. His Radford Highlanders had overcome all of the odds to make it here. They beat number one Kentucky in the first round, becoming the first number 16 seed to do that, but they didn't just stop there. Many exciting moments and upsets had built up to this, 74-75 with 12.4 seconds remaining. If Radford scores, they beat Duke and make history. If they miss, Duke wins, and their journey would mean nothing.  With each dribble up the floor, the anticipation grew, as Joshua Thompson was trying to win it all. Many thoughts were running through his head during the biggest moment of his career. "If I score here, I could go to the draft, and be in the first round, but what if I miss? Everybody expects me to score, but what if I miss?" These thoughts were about to drive him insane, as he crossed half-court with 8.6 remaining. He went right, as everybody knew that Josh would take the shot. "Do I go for the two, or the stepback three?" he thought, as he stared down his defender. Six, five, four, three seconds remaining in the game, as he made his decision. Three, two, one. Josh drove right, then shot a stepback jumper in the corner. When it left his fingertips, he knew it was in, as it felt so sweet. The buzzer sounded, and the ball was in the air. AT&T Stadium erupted as the ball went in with a swish, and history was complete. The Radford Highlanders, led the whole way by Joshua Thompson, had just won the National Championship, becoming the first 16 seed ever to do so. Josh was tackled by his teammates at halfcourt, and the crowd started to storm the court. When the trophy came out to be given to them, Josh won the Final Four MVP. He eventually went on to be drafted in the first round of the NBA draft. After everything was said and done, he was humble, because after all, he was a small town guy out of Radford, Virginia, who happened to somehow hit it big.

-Blake Holmes