At Immaculate Conception high school during Elmhurst, Illinois’ aging 1960s, girls basketball provided a glimpse into tomorrowland, if you are optimistic by nature.

Then, the rules were just like boys’ basketball except for dribbling. Girls could take three steps. Three steps only until passing was mandatory.

Girls did this pretty well, I think, considering how hard it is to notice everybody around you once you have the ball, see the lane, eye the basket and just know in your soul you can make the shot. But you pass anyway.

This had a sound effect that’s hard to forget, maybe shouldn’t be forgot; that is the sound of sneakers screeching to a stop on a varnished court.

Sometimes, it might be that screeching to a halt is the very best thing you can do to win the game.