Junior narrates the final basketball game with Rowdy.
“Rowdy and I played one-on-one for hours.” (Alexie 230)Read in the chapter
Week 16 · A related practice question
Why does the final basketball game matter even without a winner?
The final basketball game matters because Junior and Rowdy choose shared time without needing one friend to defeat the other. Rowdy has described Junior as a nomad, a person who keeps moving from place to place, and accepted the possibility that his friend will travel. They cannot settle every question about their future. However, they can decide what to do together now. Junior reports, “Rowdy and I played one-on-one for hours” (Alexie 230). This says that both boys keep participating in the same game for a long time. It shows commitment through their time and actions, even without a promise about their whole lives. Their tolerance for different futures allows a shared present. Junior then adds, “We didn’t keep score” (Alexie 230). This says that neither player records who is winning. It shows a change from the earlier importance of defeating and humiliating each other. Although both boys can make scintillating plays, this ending does not celebrate a spectacular shot. The unrecorded score, a missing measure of victory, directs attention to the friendship instead. Because being together becomes more important than proving superiority, the game suggests renewed trust. It does not guarantee that they will never disagree again; it gives them a way to enjoy each other now.
Use these four words for this model exercise. The review words are drawn from earlier lessons; they are not additional Words of the Day assigned this week. For your weekly Aim Response, use the words your teacher assigns.
See the exact vocabulary groups for your Aim Response →
Practice-only review words: commitment — Week 7, tolerance — Week 12
Where this model’s evidence came from
Reader note 13: The boys spend a long time together. Their shared activity gives us evidence of renewed closeness, even though the final conversation leaves questions about the future.
Junior describes the final basketball game with Rowdy.
“We didn’t keep score.” (Alexie 230)Read in the chapter
Reader note 12: Their final game is about being together instead of defeating each other. This supports a reading in which the friendship can survive Junior’s leaving.
Notice how the model develops the observation into an explanation. Borrow that writing move; choose evidence for your own question.
See how the argument builds
- Answer the question
The game values shared time more than defeating a friend.
- Explain the first quote
Both boys choose to keep playing together.
- Identify the limit
They cannot promise what their whole future will hold.
- Explain the second quote
They remove the usual record of winning and losing.
- Build the ending
The game suggests renewed trust without promising perfect agreement.
Try one writing move
Although ___ and ___ may ___, they can still ___.
Fill each blank with a person, action, or reason that fits the sentence. This is a thinking frame, not a vocabulary matching exercise.
Compare with an example
Although Junior and Rowdy may have different futures, they can still choose to spend time together.