Agony of defeat

"As celebration begins, St. Vincent Pallotti guard Leon Porter hides his emotion after his team was defeated by St. Mary's, 62-60, in the final seconds of the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association B Conference basketball championship at UMBC's RAC Arena on Sunday."

In my last post I talked about showing up early and witnessing one of the greatest high school basketball celebrations I've ever seen.

With that, I also managed to shoot the dejection of St. Vincent Pallotti.

After the buzzer sounded and the crowd rushed the court, my initial aim was at St. Vincent Pallotti guard Leon Porter. As players walked off the court, heads hanging low, and his opposition cheered and hugged one another, he collapsed in the middle of the court.

Behind him, St.Mary's players went crazy. But I kept focusing on him. I've been there, feeling like the loss is all your fault.

I still remember a travel soccer game when I was about 11-years-old and we made it to the playoffs. Overtime had expired and we were in a shootout. I am up and drilled the ball right into the keepers chest. He didn't even have to move. Man, did I feel the pain.

Well, I was clicking away until St.Mary's players ran him over and I saw the jube.

Two frames that have nothing to do with what I was suppose to shoot, and all for what? Being early. Got to love it.