To the Point by Patrick Jones

Author:Patrick Jones [Jones, Patrick]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Athlete, Athletes, Athletics, Basketball, Basketball Fiction, Bounce, Diverse, Diversity, Family & Relationships, Friendship, High School, High School Athlete, High School Relationships, Love, Multicultural, Sport, Sports, Sports and Activities, Sports Fiction, Sports Stories, Sports Story, Teen, Teens, Sports, Sports & Recreation, Basketball, Social Themes, Values, Virtues, Values & Virtues, Athlete, Athletes, Basketball Player, Basketball Players, Captain, Cheating, Integrity, Patrick Jones, Point, Sport, Sports Stories, Sports Story, Team Captain, To the Point
ISBN: 9781512419320
Publisher: Lerner Publishing Group
Published: 2016-10-01T00:00:00+00:00

13

Show tumbles to the court clutching his side but twisting his ankle as he falls. Everybody on the team looks concerned, except me because I’m busy glaring at the Lee High player—number 47—who elbowed Show in the ribs. It was a blow that felled Show like a sick tree.

Coach and I run out onto the court: Coach to check out Show, me to put 47 on notice. “You try that crap again and I’ll take you out,” I threaten the much bigger player. He laughs at me.

Coach and I help Show to his feet, but he can’t place any weight on his left ankle so we help him hop off the court. When we get to the bench, we ease him down. Coach checks on Show’s pain. I turn toward Prof. “It’s on you, Prof.” Together we stare at the scoreboard above to see the uncommon sight: the Hueytown home side with fewer points than the visiting team.

Prof goes in and plays strong defense, but 47 manhandles him. The refs let it go. Even though it goes against the captain’s code of sportsmanship, I yell at the refs to make the call. With Show out, the pressure falls upon Yo. He tries to do too much. He shoots when he should pass. He takes chances on defense instead of playing it safe. When Yo commits his final foul—on 47, no less—it sends him to the showers, 47 to the line, and me into the game. Maybe Fresh was right, he blew his one chance. Coach might want to punish me, but he wants to win more.

I run onto the court, but rather than heading for my position, I get in the face of 47 at the line. “You’re going to miss these two, and then we’re going to win this game.”

He laughs again. But he’s not laughing when he misses the first and then the second foul shot. Prof gathers the rebound and moves it down court. I glance at the score. A quick pass, a cut, a pick, and we crawl back. I put pressure on D, force a turnover, and pass to Reg, our shooting forward. Another two. And another. And another. Their coach calls time out. We head to our bench.

Coach gives us a pep talk, while Connie tries getting the crowd into it. I do my “Go-pher” bit as I walk back onto the court. We’ve got one minute to get three points. They inbound and pass to 47, who barrels hard into Prof. Prof stands his ground, so it’s a charge. We get the ball back and, even with the clock pressing, I calmly bring the ball up court. I make a quick pass and then sprint for the basket. Prof screens out 47. The ball comes back to the point, and then I put it through the net. One down with forty left. Everybody on our bench stands, even Show. His big mitts slam together, our fans stomp their feet, Connie leads the cheers. The gym feels like it is shaking.

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