Toadette's Big Free Throw Contest

(Special Guest: Danny Crawford)

It's a beautiful day at Mario Stadium where a huge basketball game is taking place. Everyone is cheering for these two teams as the Mario Fireballs and the Bowser Monsters finished the first half with a score of 50-50.

Just then, Lakitu came in and said, "All right, everyone! It's halftime and that means it's time for the Mario Stadium Million Coin Free Throw Contest!"

Everyone in the stadium cheered as Lakitu made his announcement. Then he said, "This is your chance to be a millionaire and all you have to do is to shoot some free throws. Now, one of you will be randomly selected from our scoreboard and if your number is chosen, then you'll shoot for the money. So let's find out who is our shooter for this afternoon by shuffling the numbers on our scoreboard. Ready?"

"YEAH!" The crowd agreed.

"Okay, then! Scoreboard... SHUFFLE!"

With that, the scoreboard began shuffling up the numbers on the screen as everyone in the stadium turned their attention at the board, waiting for a player to shoot some free throws. The process takes a few seconds.

After fifteen seconds of shuffling, the numbers begin to slow down. The stadium held their breath as the scoreboard is about to make an announcement. They watched the board, waited for the last time and then...

DING!

A number has appeared on the screen. Lakitu looked at the board and said, "Number 70! Who is sitting in seat #70?"

"That would be me," a voice replied as the spotlight shone on that seat, "The name's Toadette!"

"All right, then! It looks like Toadette will be shooting free throws this afternoon so, come on down and head to the court!"

Toadette smiled as she came out of her seat and ran down to the court, ready to shoot with the crowd cheering.

When she got there, Lakitu smiled at her and said, "Welcome to the contest, Toadette!"

"Thank you for having my name chosen, Lakitu," Toadette replied with a smile, "I'm so happy to be here today because basketball is one of my favorite sports to play with and after all, I'm an athlete."

"I see. Now if you win a lot of money today, what will you do with it?"

"Well, I would build a brand new stadium named after me, go on a nice vacation in Isle Delfino, and enjoy some Mario Kart racing with my very own go-kart."

Lakitu smiled and said, "Wow! That will be awesome and I hope you'll do great today! Well then, are you ready to play?"

"You bet," Toadette replied with a thumbs up.

"Okay! Now here's how the game works. You'll have five shots from behind the free throw line and you must stay behind the line at all times during the game," Lakitu said to Toadette as he explains the rules, "The amount of money you'll earn depends on how many free throws you'll make and if you can get all five, then I'll give you 1,000,000 coins!"

"Cool," Toadette said with a smile, "That's a lot of money."

"It sure is, Toadette. Now we have a very special guest referee with us today and he is from the NBA. From 1985-2017, he has officiated over 2,000 regular season games and over 300 playoff games. Ladies and gentlemen, making his Mushroom Kingdom debut is the legendary NBA referee. Please give a warm welcome to our special guest... DANNY CRAWFORD!"

Just then, Danny Crawford came in with the basketball in his hand as the entire stadium received a huge standing ovation for him. Toadette jumped for joy when she saw him for the first time. She came to him and said, "Welcome to the Mushroom Kingdom! I'm Toadette and this is our referee for today's basketball game, Lakitu. What's your name?"

"The name's Danny Crawford," Danny replied, "I'm a referee from the NBA and I did over 2,000 regular season games."

"Wow! That's amazing."

"Of course it is, Toadette. I've been doing this in the NBA for thirty-one seasons and I love my job. Well then, shall we proceed with the contest?"

"You bet, Danny," Toadette said with a thumbs up, "Let's go shoot some hoops!"

"Great! To the court," Danny agreed as they ran to the court.

When they got there, Danny said, "Now you know how the contest works, right?"

"That's right," Toadette replied as she stepped up to the free throw line, "I have to make free throws in order to win money and if I can get all five, I'll be a millionaire!"

"Wow! That's a lot of coins and I hope you'll do great. Well then, are you ready for your first shot?"

"Yes, please."

"Okay, then. Your first free throw is worth 10,000 coins. Good luck." Danny said as he passed the basketball to Toadette.

Toadette looked at the basket and after a few moments of aiming, she lets the ball fly straight into the net with a perfect swish. Danny saw it all and said, "Score!"

Toadette smiled as the crowd cheered for her. Danny came in with the second basketball and said, "Great shot, Toadette. You've just won 10,000 coins! Now then, can you make this next one for 25,000 coins?"

"Of course I can do that, Danny," Toadette replied with a thumbs up.

"All right, then. Here you go."

Then Toadette did the same thing and it's another successful free throw for her as the ball made it through the net. Danny smiled and said, "You did it again, Toadette! That's your second free throw made and for that, you have won 25,000 coins. Now then, can we make it three in a row? I'll give you 50,000 coins if you do."

"Of course I'm going for it and after all, I'm an athlete."

"Very well, then. Here comes free throw number three."

Then the process repeats for shot number three and it's good. Danny Crawford jumped for joy and said, "You got it, Toadette! That's three! Two more and the grand prize is yours. Right now, you have 50,000 coins and this next free throw is worth 100,000 coins. Are you up for it?"

"Yes," Toadette replied, "I still have two more to go so, let's do it!"

"Okay!"

Then Danny passed the ball to Toadette and the process repeats again for her fourth made free throw. The entire stadium cheered for her as the scoreboard now shows 100,000 coins. Now it all comes down to this, the fifth and final free throw.

Danny came in with the final basketball and said, "Congratulations, Toadette!"

"Thank you," Toadette replied with a smile, "I'm so happy that I've made the fourth free throw."

"Of course you did, Toadette. You have done a great job so far and now, it all comes down to this. One final free throw separates you and the grand prize. If you can make this next shot, then you'll go home as a millionaire. If not, then you'll leave the game with 100,000 coins. Got it?"

"Got it, Danny."

"All right, then! The moment I give you this basketball, you'll take your final free throw. We're all rooting for you, Toadette! Now, step on up and let's do this!"

With that, Toadette stepped on up to the free throw line as she awaits her fifth and final free throw. Danny smiled and said to the crowd, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is it! Will Toadette go all the way and score the jackpot? We're about to find out right now! Drum roll, please!"

Just then, the drum roll began to play, the crowd grew silent and the lights dimmed all across the stadium as the spotlight shone on Danny and Toadette. Danny looked at her and said, "Toadette... ARE YOU READY?"

"YES!" Toadette replied.

"Okay, then! Here we go! For 1,000,000 coins, your final free throw starts... NOW!"

With that, Danny passed the ball to Toadette as she bounced the ball five times. Toadette looked at the net for a few moments and said, "All right, then. I'm going to shoot on the count of three. Here goes. Three, two, one..."

All over the stadium turned their attention at Toadette as she aimed for the basket. She bounced the ball for the last time, took a deep breath and then...

It is time.

"SHOOT!"

With the word shouted, Toadette released the ball from her hands as she lets it fly towards the basket. The fate of the game now rides on one final free throw.

And then, the ball made it to the rim and it started to spin around like a whirlpool. Everyone at the stadium turned their attention at the basket as the ball keeps on spinning across the rim. The process takes a few moments.

After a few moments, the ball begins to slow down. Toadette smiled as she is just moments away from scoring the basket. Everyone held their breath as the ball stopped near the rim. Toadette looked at the basket for the last time and then...

It happened.

SWISH!

The basketball made it through the net with a nice swish. The final free throw has been made.

Danny Crawford saw it all, looked at Toadette for a few seconds and then...

It's official.

"SCORE!"

With the word shouted, Toadette jumped for joy as the entire stadium cheered for her with confetti falling all across the stadium. Then she came to Danny and hugged him very tightly as the cheering continued on.

Danny smiled at her and said, "You did it, Toadette! You have made all five free throws and that means, you have just won... 1,000.000 COINS! Congratulations!"

"Thank you, Danny," Toadette replied with a big smile.

"So, how do you feel?"

"Fantastic! I'm so glad for this historic moment and after all of the excitement I've done today, I'm going to build a brand new stadium right now and I need you as the referee of this new stadium. Are you with me?"

"Of course and before we do that, I have this check for 1,000,000 coins with your name on it and it's all yours, Toadette," Danny said as he gave the check to Toadette, "Now let's build that stadium!"

"You got it, Danny." Toadette replied as they left the stadium with the crowd cheering for her. What a great day for Toadette.