In the echoing gymnasium of the Theodore D. Young Community Center in White Plains, New York, something special is happening. The Ardsley boys’ basketball team—a dynamic group of 7th graders with two ambitious 6th graders in the mix—are proving that great teams come in all sizes.
Led by the dedicated Coach Mark and Coach Beba, this Winter basketball league squad embodies versatility. Two tall players anchor the team, while the rest make up for their smaller stature with lightning-fast speed across the court. Most impressively, these young athletes aren't just basketball specialists—they're multi-sport competitors who bring diverse athletic experiences to every game.
SOMETIMES THE BALL DOESN'T BOUNCE YOUR WAY
The final scoreboard of the youth basketball team’s season opener read Ardsley 39, Jr. Huguenots 43. It was a tough loss but also encouraging for a diverse group wearing hand-me-down uniforms from a team with a different name. The following week brought brand new Ardsley team basketball uniforms but no relief on the court. Facing the Huguenots’ varsity squad, Ardsley found themselves outmatched all four quarters in a game that ended in a discouraging 30-55 defeat.
THE TEAM SHOWS ITS TRUE COLORS
Two games, two losses to start the season. You don’t always get to choose how your story begins but you absolutely get to decide how to respond. And respond Ardsley did, with a team-defining moment in their game against Woodlands.
The scoreboard flashed Ardsley 26, Woodlands 12 at halftime. By the third quarter, the lead had ballooned to 42-13. A comfortable win was taking shape, but Coach Beba lasered in on something beyond the score. “Everyone has scored in this game except you two,” he said to Matt and Evan during a timeout. “I’d love to see you both score before the game is over.”
The fourth quarter continued with Ardsley dominating. With less than a minute left on the clock, Matt caught a pass at the top of the key, hesitated, then drove toward the basket. His shot passed through the net. The Ardsley bench was buzzing as Coach Beba turned to Evan. “Did you score yet?” Even shook his head. “Get ready to go in!”
A BIG WIN FOR EVERYONE
With 26 seconds remaining, a foul stopped the clock and Coach Beba sent Evan to the scorer’s table. “Everything goes to Evan!” he shouted loud enough for every player on the court to hear. The opposing team controlled the ball, passing around as precious seconds ticked away. With less than seven seconds left, Ardsley regained control of the ball.
“Everything to Evan! EVERYTHING TO EVAN!” Coach Beba’s voice echoed through the gym. Just 7 seconds left on the clock and Evan gets the ball. He shoots and swishes!! In that last second it was as exciting as if they’d won a championship game with Ardsley defeating Woodlands 51-27.
In the victory huddle that followed, Coach Mark gathered the team and Coach Beba delivered his game-closing words. “We had fun, and we enjoyed seeing each other’s success and that’s a big part of a good team,” he said, his voice carrying the weight of an important lesson. “We didn’t feel complete until Evan got that bucket. Everyone won when Evan got that bucket.”
The boys understood a truth about basketball—and life—that transcended any scoreboard. It wasn’t just about winning games. It was about winning as a team.
That’s the #StuffTeamIsMadeOf
TEAM TALK: JOIN THE CONVERSTATION
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