I ran back to the centre, my teammates patting me on the back. Unfortunately, my first half wasn’t as successful as those first few hot seconds. But Mum and Nana were there cheering along with the other parents. The world seemed right and we were leading by six points at half-time.

As our opposition hit the lead in the second half, Caitlin walked into the stadium and made her way to the seats. I saw her give a little wave to Mum and Nana, but she sat a good five metres away from them. And then I don’t know how it happened, we were suddenly seven points behind midway through the half and Suzy called timeout so we could discuss strategy.

‘All right,’ she said, ‘if we’re going to win this game, we’re going to have to do something different. Ashley, Caroline and Matilda when you’re around the basket, if you don’t have a clear shot, I need you to pass to Phoebe, block, and let her make the shot. And Hayley, drop beneath the basket for the rebound. Phoebe, if you have a clear shot, we want to see that hot hand of yours.’

It had been a while since I’d shot a three in a game and I didn’t know if I had any hot in my hand. For all I knew it was ice-cold. But there was nothing that got the blood up more than being told by your coach that you had free rein to shoot whenever you got the ball.

Within seconds of resuming the game, Ashley passed to me, blocked and I put up a jump shot from a tight angle. I wasn’t outside of the three-pointer line, but it still felt good when I scored.

The opposition responded with their point guard going coast-to-coast and putting up an easy lay-up.

I drew my player beneath the basket and then took off to my spot outside of the three-point line. Hayley passed to me and I was right in the clear with no defence within metres of me. Please, please, please, I said to myself as the ball sailed through the air, and then swish, a three-pointer.

There were pats on the back all around as we ran back into defence and I was pumped, which maybe explained my leap over two of the opposition to get the rebounds. I pulled the ball in tight and then literally handed it to Hayley who took the ball down to our basket with confidence.

Again, I ran my player beneath the basket and while I was there Caroline threw the ball to me. It was unexpected, but I had the ball right beneath the basket so I put it up for an easy two.