On Friday last week we played in Chake Chake against a team from Chake Chake. We started off strong, scoring 12-5 in the first quarter. But the remaining quarters kept us battling for victory. By the end of the third quarter we were tied at 19 up.

Taking us into the fourth quarter we rallied at the very end to finish 25-21. I even managed to score 10 points myself. Although it was a V for us, it was a poor victory. The team we played against was a young team, and we should have left with an easy win. Instead we struggled until the very end.

At the end both teams were hustling and playing extremely agressive. I was worked up from the close game and kept yelling at my teammates for stupid mistakes. People on the sidelines even told me to calm down.

In the last two minutes, when we were up by two baskets, I grabbed a board and turned around to pass, when... BOOM! A guy from the other team charges straight at me to get the ball, but instead lowers his shoulder and nails me right in the kisser. That pulled players from both benches onto the court. Some words were exchanged, and people were holding others back, but from what I've experienced here in Tanzania, most of these guys are all bark and very little bite. My lip bled for a little while and swelled up.

In the end though, we got the W. I then pulled the kid who knocked me to the side and told him there were no hard feelings. A lot of emotion goes into these tournament games.

-- Mike