If you need tips on how to describe a basketball game in a story, this post will provide you with 10 words to inspire your writing. Read on to learn more!
1. Intramural
Definition
- Taking place within the walls of a place of education (such as a school or college).
- Including students, staff, or faculty associated with a place of education (such as a school or college).
Examples
“The town flocked to watch the intramural basketball games at the university gymnasium.”
“I was more excited watching tonight’s intramural basketball game than I was when I saw the professionals play last week.”
How it Adds Description
Describing the basketball game as intramural tells the reader that the players are good but are playing secondary to their education. The players may be young (depending on the level of education the team plays from) and play the game mostly as a hobby, not as their job.
2. Pickup
Definition
Consisting of local people joined together in an informal manner.
Examples
“When he caught sight of the pickup basketball game at the playground, he took off his shirt and joined a team.”
“We couldn’t believe how seriously the other team took that pickup game of basketball; we were all just playing for fun.”
How it Adds Description
Pickup is colloquial word for those playground basketball games that happen because different people just want to play at the same time. Using pickup to describe a basketball game in your story suggests that it isn’t a formalized game and the outcome of it isn’t that serious or necessary to the plot.
3. Decisive
Definition
- Deciding one way or another.
- Obvious or clear.
Examples
“This was the decisive basketball game of the season; whoever won this took home the title.”
“With a third quarter score of 320 to 80, the result of this basketball game was pretty decisive.”
How it Adds Description
If you’re using decisive to describe a basketball game, consider whether the game itself is decisive or the result is decisive. If the game itself is decisive, then you are conveying that something relies on the outcome of the game. People are likely really excited and invested in watching it, so the environment at the game is charged and exciting. If you are saying the result is decisive, then one team has probably dominated the other team and the atmosphere in the audience is likely a bit deflated or bored.
4. Championship
Definition
A game or contest to determine the winner or title holder.
Examples
“We couldn’t believe we had tickets to the championship basketball game next week and would get to see who finally took home the cup!”
“It had taken hundreds of hours of training but the basketball team finally made it to the championship.”
How it Adds Description
If you’re writing about a basketball team fighting for a title, then describing the game as a championship game shows that this game matters towards earning that title. This adds a level of intensity and suspense to the game itself because the reader knows a lot relies on the outcome of this game, one way or another.
5. Gripping
Definition
Strong hold on a person’s attention or feelings.
Examples
“The stadium was silent as they watched the gripping basketball game play out.”
“The basketball game was gripping; as the teams made basket for basket, nobody knew which team would break the tie in those final seconds.”
How it Adds Description
A gripping basketball game is one that has lots of surprise moves or is so close in score that either team could win. Gripping adds suspense and intrigue as your reader can imagine an audience on the edge of their seats as they keep a close eye on which team scores and how many minutes are left.
6. Washout
Definition
An unsuccessful or failed attempt.
Examples
“Last night’s basketball game was a complete washout.”
“I could no longer watch as my home team half-heartedly played out the washout of a basketball game in front of me; I left before the end of half time.”
How it Adds Description
Calling a basketball game a washout suggests that one team has completely dominated the other one. The losing team is likely feeling or looking defeated. Fans are probably leaving their seats out of embarrassment. The atmosphere is one of pity and sadness.
7. Intense
Definition
Extreme in passion, energy, purpose, or concentration.
Examples
“I have never seen a game so intense; the basketball players were concentrating so hard that I don’t think they even knew how much time had passed.”
“The constant back-and-forth kept up the intensity of the basketball game; if even one player slipped up, the whole thing would fall apart.”
How it Adds Description
Sometimes sports players get so wrapped up in the competition that they forget to have fun while they are playing. Use intense to describe a basketball game where the players have become really serious about how their playing in order to ensure a win. This seriousness likely brings the fans down and makes them stare intently at the play, as well, so that the whole atmosphere is one of intensity and determination.
8. Impromptu
Definition
Done on a whim or without proper preparation.
Examples
“We were in no way prepared for an impromptu basketball game in the middle of summer; I almost fell over from heatstroke by the time it was done.”
“The boy threw him a basketball as a not-so-subtle challenge to an impromptu game of basketball.”
How it Adds Description
Impromptu shows that the basketball game likely being played by untrained players on a recreational court. The players themselves are probably not familiar with each other or the other team, so they will likely make mistakes or seem quite clumsy. The atmosphere around the game is uncertain because there’s no way to know who will win or how.
9. Rowdy
Definition
Wild, uncivilized, or animated in behavior.
Examples
“Last night’s basketball game was particularly rowdy; a few people even got thrown out by security.”
“I hate that they sell alcohol at the stadium as it always makes the basketball game way rowdier than it needs to be.”
How it Adds Description
Sports often attracts extreme behavior from its more devoted fans, especially if they’ve been drinking alcohol during the game. Describe a basketball game as rowdy if you want the reader to imagine fans that are yelling insults or are, at the very least, quite vocal about their opinions on what is happening in the game.
10. Amateur
Definition
An enthusiast or hobbyist rather than someone paid to perform or practice the skill professionally or as part of an organization.
Examples
“We love watching my husband play in the amateur basketball games on Saturdays.”
“The local recreation center holds amateur basketball games for anybody who likes to play.”
How it Adds Description
Describing a basketball game as amateur tells the reader that these players likely haven’t or don’t go to any type of formalized training for basketball playing. Amateur games are usually made up of older players who just want to play a game for fun or as a hobby, which means the atmosphere around the game is more relaxed and fun.