The Sound of Her Smile by Sara Scott

Author:Sara Scott [Scott, Sara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: lesbian romance novel
Goodreads: 123023001
Publisher: Word Craft, LLC
Published: 2023-03-07T23:00:00+00:00

Sixteen

Our first basketball game after the holidays found us short-handed. Hit by a round of flu that ran rampant through the team, we fielded only eight players for the away game. But that didn’t matter; it was a blowout from the very beginning. No matter who I put on the court, everyone scored at will. At half time we were ahead by almost thirty points.

The huge lead, combined with our shortage of players, put me in a difficult situation. I wanted my bench players to get maximum game experience, yet I needed to keep rotating my starters into the game to give everyone a break. Nor could I tell the players who typically rode the bench to let up and stop scoring, but the drubbing we were handing our opponent bothered me. I instructed my players to take their time and run the offense until perfect scoring opportunities presented themselves.

Late in the game, due to foul trouble, I had to insert Andie and Joanie back into the lineup. With three minutes left in the game, the two players created a fast break opportunity. Andie dribbled toward the undefended basket, and at the last possible moment passed the ball backward between her legs to Joanie, who had been trailing behind. With a dramatic flourish Joanie took the ball and gently laid it over the front of the rim.

The opposing coach stood with his hands on his hips, glaring at me. Our opponents’ shoulders slumped as they stared at the floor. Turning to my bench, I watched in dismay as my girls clapped and hooted. I glanced at Molly, and she shook her head. I had watched Joanie and Andie work on that play after practice, imitating a play they had seen on television. I never thought they would use it in a game. I called a time out.

As a coach, I’d always been aware of the danger point where confidence could become cockiness, and sportsmanship might become showmanship. In its execution, the play was a thing of beauty; but there was nothing beautiful about its emotional impact on our opponents. I sent in two replacements and told Andie and Joanie to take seats at the end of the bench. Leaving Molly in charge, I climbed onto the bleacher behind the two girls and positioned myself between them. They tensed and sat up ramrod straight.

“You’re my captains,” I said, keeping my voice low and conversational. “My leaders on the floor and in the locker room.”

They both nodded.

“I watch how you treat players on other teams. I see you shake hands after a game. I know you don’t talk trash. You have always displayed sportsmanship and good judgment.”

Joanie turned her head and glanced at me, then quickly looked away. Andie, unmoving, stared straight ahead.

“Tonight, you are trouncing that team. On their court, in front of their friends and family, who are really hurting at the sight of them getting thrashed. That play — your little show — just rubbed their noses in this blowout,” I admonished them.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.