Tanner Morse Memorial Scholarship

My name is Isaac Sines and I am a senior in Washburn, Maine. I have played basketball seriously since the 8th grade. I love to play the game of basketball, for several reasons. Playing basketball is an amazing way to escape from life's troubles. It takes all of your focus to maneuver the ball from one end of the court to the other while also paying attention to the players on the court. Basketball also encourages you to set goals and to work hard to reach those goals. Seeing every shot you take in practice translate into games is an amazing feeling knowing that you are better because of the work that you've put in. It has also allowed me to connect with a lot of my friends and strengthened our bonds by pulling us together. I have met a lot of amazing people because of basketball, friends and mentors for whom I will always be grateful. Basketball has been such an important part of my life throughout my high school tenure. I have put hundreds of hours into the game, whether that being games, practice, or on my own time. One of my favorite things to do is go outside to my basketball hoop and just shoot around. It's just the best way to leave everything behind and do something I enjoy for a while. My playing career lasted from 8th grade until my senior year of high school. I was never the best player on my team but I worked hard and was always defense oriented. In the summer before my senior year, my team and I were playing in a summer tournament where I had to guard a nationally ranked player. After we won the game, I found out I held him to only 8 points. One of the other coaches watching the game told my coach, "That blonde kid can play defense." It was one of the best compliments I have ever received. This being said, my love of the game has definitely been tested. At the start of my sophomore year I went down in practice after accidentally tripping on my friend's foot and landing on my hand. When I got up I realized my pinkie finger on my right hand had gone numb. After inspecting it I realized that it was very crooked. My mother picked me up from practice and took me to the hospital and the doctors concluded it was shattered in 3 different places. I was devastated. We had only played 1 game that season and I was told I would have to sit out for almost the entire season as the fractures required surgery. I was lost and didn't know what to do with myself. I could have given up and called it quits for the year, but I decided that's not what I was going to do. Instead, I made it a goal to play again before the season ended. I showed up to every single practice to still be there for my team and learn the game. While my teammates were running and doing drills, I was dribbling with my left hand because my right was in a cast. After a couple months, I got cleared to play and suited up for the final game of the season, a pre-elimination game which we ended up losing but I was still so grateful for the opportunity to play in. Thank you for taking the time to read my response. I really appreciate it.