Editor’s Note: While visiting Wilson Basketball Coach Grant Proctor this week and photographing his players during practice, a young man sat silently alongside the sidelines intently watching the team and keeping an eye on me as I filmed an outstanding group of young men eager for a return to the State Tournament. During my visits to Wilson Schools in the last couple of years, this student always says hello and gives me a smile when I see him.
That young man had a moment of his own this week during the Wilson Tiger Classic, and I wanted to share this post from George Tiger and photos by A. Mosco Photography about his moment in the spotlight and the support and encouragement from the Wilson community: – In all of the years I’ve broadcast and watched sports there are a number of highlights that stands out. It’s usually an outstanding performance by someone or a team on the college or professional level. There are moments captured in sports that involve a “special” player that teams rally around to make sure they score a touchdown or drain a three pointer.
Tonight, I was able to witness such a memorable and emotion- al moment in person by a “special” player on the Wilson high school basketball team. In the nightcap of the first day of the Wilson Classic Basketball Tournament, the game was decided in the early second quarter. There were a number of outstanding plays and shots made during the game. However, it was the last ninety seconds of the ballgame and the final six points made by someone “special” that mattered the most to the crowd on hand.
Coach Grant Proctor called timeout and put in Zane Whitmire. For some reason, you just knew something special was about to happen as soon Zane stepped on the court. He got the ball on the inbounds and dribbled some before he attempted a three pointer. The ball glanced off the rim but a Wilson player grabbed a rebound and threw it back to Zane. He shot again and missed but an opposing player got the rebound and passed it back out to Zane to shoot.
His shot was close again but missed. By this time, the entire gym and crowd was into it. Both teams were passing him the ball so he could score. The clock is running with under a minute left and he hits a three pointer and the crowd erupts. On the inbound by the opposing team, the ball is thrown out of bounds so Wilson takes over with less than twenty seconds left in the ball game.
A pass is thrown to Zane and he shoots from the wing and misses but once again the rebound is sent back out to him and he dribbles to the corner to put up another three point attempt with less than two seconds left and it drops through the net as time runs out. Once again, the crowd roared and gives Zane a standing ovation as he rides the shoulders of his teammates off the court.
A Rudy moment took place in Wilson tonight and a special player made it a special night.
To many in the crowd, they went to their vehicles misty eyed or with full fledged tears streaming down their faces in an emotional moment.
Sports brings people together and at times we rally around the special player who reminds us you don’t have to be a star to make a sports memory that lasts forever.
