Excitement mounted all day at school as the animals watched the clock ticking slowly away. This afternoon's game seemed like it would never come, they thought. When finally 2:30 came, everyone hurried to the gym to watch their team warm up.

 The opposing team arrived at 2:45 and worried looks crossed the faces of some in the bleachers. Their players were taller than the home team, and tallness was a real advantage when you wanted to slam dunk that ball into the net.

 Marcy Kitten bounced the ball, aimed for the backboard and watched it swish through the net. Her team-mates gave her high fives as they practiced their final shots. They might not be tall, but their aim was true as more dropped through the net than missed it. Defence would be the problem.

 The opposing team warmed up and even the home team's coach, Toby Lynx, could tell that his team would be in for a real challenge with this team. He gave the girls a pep talk; telling them to follow the rules, play clean, listen to the members of their squad, and most of all, have fun.

 "Having fun, he insisted, is the most important thing about the game."

 The kitten cheer-leaders came on to the floor to lead the fans in a rousing chorus of their school song and did a pyramid with Sadie Kitten on the top waving her pom-poms.

 The whistle blew and home team won the toss when an opposing player stumbles. Marcy charged down toward the opponent's net, only to be pushed by a player. The ball slipped from her fingers and into the waiting hands of the other side. Swiftly, they made their way to the other end to score the first goal. The push had gone undetected.

 Back and forth the game went in the first half with the home team putting on a valiant effort. The kittens ducked and dodged, scoring when they could. The pace was tiring and Marcy walked quickly to the sidelines during a time out.

 "We have to get ahead of them," urged the coach. "They must have a weakness."

 "It's like trying to get through a brick wall," panted Marcy.

 When half time came, the score was 32-31. No one could say that the home team wasn't giving it everything they had.

 The second half started and the points teetered back and forth. The challenger's team lost one of its players to a hamstring injury and the home team's centre received a check that left her breathless. A point was scored during the foul shot.

 As the final minutes ticked away, the opponent increased its defence, and it seemed as if the home team wouldn't be able to get another goal. Marcy got the ball and started for the other end. The opposing player was directly in front, ready to grab the ball, when Marcy dashed through her legs and threw the ball before her rival had time to turn. The ball sliced through the air as everyone held their breath.

 Swish! The whistle sounded to end the game with the home team winning.

 The players went over every detail later in the locker room. Suddenly, silence filled the air as Toby Lynx said, "It was a great game, but did you have fun?"

 "Wasn't winning the championship the important thing?" they asked, lifting the trophy.

 "No," he insisted. "Once the game is about winning, fun goes out of it. Everything you do should be for the joy of doing it."

 The players learned sport's valuable lesson.