The coaches took us through our second half offensive and defensive strategies, all of which would be useless if we didn't continue to play with more intensity, more determination than Stanford. Back on the court, the game moves quickly for the first five minutes of the half, but has slowed to a crawl now, with a ten-point lead and three minutes left to play. Seconds crawl by as Stanford throws a press at us, trying fluster Corrie, one of our unshakable freshmen point guards. The clock is ticking. Two minutes left.
Reality comes slowly to cautious minds.
We're only up by nine now. Forty seconds left. Thirty seconds left. Corrie throws the ball into the air as the clock winds to zero. We rush the court, faces contoured by euphoria, arms held triumphantly in the air.