Fiesta Hoops Classic
There are three divisions including Open Men Division, Boys 17U and Open Women Division. The Open Division is for all the grown men but anybody can join if you have the skills. Benny will be playing in the 17U.
Open Women Division normally gets less attention but this year the host is naming it Baller Baddies. Marketing strategy if you look at it.
The tournament will be help in the weekend. Two games on Saturday and one playoff game on Sunday. On Sunday, it's win or go home.
Today is Wednesday and Benny Buckets is heading to practice with the big dogs. He spend all night polishing his basketball shoes and visualized the practice until he fall asleep. He imagined the moves he will
make and the shots he will knock down.
The tournament will be held in the city stadium on a hardwood court so the team will be practicing at a local gym. Benny hardly plays on hardwood so it was a real treat for him.
"I see you with the fresh kicks!!"
Gaspar was outside the gym chilling with the rest of the team when he saw Benny walk towards the group. They are waiting for the coach to open up the gym. Everyone was busy mingling with one another when a hooper said.
"Yo little homie! Those are the new Kobe shoes. We're going to have the freshest ball boy on the tournament."
Everyone laughed as the guy clowns Benny.
Benny wanted to clap back at this clown when Gaspar interrupted.
"That ball boy will give you buckets. That's my little bro and he's going to be latest addition to the team, Peralta. If you take him lightly he will end up starting over you. I groomed him so he won't fall for your mind games."
In hoops, you can gain unlimited advantage if you get in a player's head by trash talking. If you can back up your trash talk then you can make them play out of rhythm. All you need now is to take advantage of their weakness and you win the game. The most experienced ballers call it playing the game within the game.
Peralta walks up to Benny and he towers over him. He extended his hand and dab up Benny. "For sure. What is your name little homie?"
Peralta stood at 6-2 and plays the shooting guard position. He is the same age as Gaspar and he has been playing with Peralta on his travel team. They make a good 1-2 combo because they have been playing together for 3 years.
Benny also dab up Peralta and did not back down. If your opponent see an inkling of weakness they will exploit it.
"What's good?"
Peralta, "How old are you?"
Benny replies, "I'm 12."
Peralta, "Yo, are you even old enough to be by yourself. How did your mom let you out the house?"
Benny, "Good question. Same way yo momma let you out. Through the door."
"Haha, Gaspar I like this kid. He got jokes."
Benny walked towards the group and introduced himself. Everyone looks scary at first glance but once you get to know them they are cool guys.
Many hoopers are front runners. What is a front runner? They will try to get in your head in the beginning, play tricks to get under your skin and do all the little things to irritate you. Once you establish a strong presence then they will least likely to bother you. However, if you fall for their moves then it's going to be a long day for you.
Play the game within the game.