With 2.2 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Bishop High School’s boys basketball team from North Carolina needed a miracle.
They were down by 1 point, the scoreboard read 82-81, against their ultimate rivals. The other team was at the free throw line, two easy points. In that moment, the rivals missed their free throw, Bishop’s big man grabbed the rebound and passed it to junior guard Spencer Wilson who threw up a shot from behind the half-court line. The ball soared across the court and bounced off the backboard into the hoop for the game winner!
Some say this was not the doing of random luck. It was a miracle assist from an angel.
Snippets of the magic were brought together a few days before the exciting game. The game was against their arch-rival, Mount Airy High School. Coach Josh Thompson presented his team with an old ball and a gold sharpie. According to CBS News, he told each player to pick someone to dedicate the game to. One kid picked his grandpa, another his parents. They all chose a person who was dear to their heart. Game-closer Spencer Wilson dedicated the game to his friend, Josh Rominger.
Together, the two great friends had shared a journey one could only hope no young teen would have to go through, cancer. Spencer had beat his. Josh passed away 9 months ago.
Before the game, Spencer wrote a letter to Josh’s mother explaining why he had chosen to play for her son: “His joy illuminated the room, and it was always apparent to me that he was special. Just wanted to let you know the impact your son has on my life still to this day. I will never forget him. Play for Josh,” Spencer wrote. His words brought Josh’s mother Denna Rominger to tears.
In the huddle before the start of the game, the team circled around the ball decorated with all the names of each players’ loved one. Spencer shared with CBS News, “During timeouts when we touched the ball, I found where I wrote ‘Josh,’ and I looked for that. Put my hand on it every single time.” Spencer still thinks about Josh every day.
Which brings us back to the remarkable game. “Rebound comes down to Gardner, leads it ahead to Wilson, he’s going to lob it up from 3/4 court,” the announcer said according to CBS News. “That’s got a shot — it’s good! Oh my goodness! Spencer Wilson from 50 feet out wins the game for the Villains!” Spencer made the game winner shot but the team believes that Josh deserves the assist.
At the end of the day, after the game buzzer goes off, shoes are thrown to the side, jerseys hung to dry and heartbeats returned to normal, the moments you truly remember in sports are the relationships and bonds that are formed for a lifetime.
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