Our coach called us up to the bench to explain the game plan. We were to keep our force in the defensive, since they had a strong offensive. I would stay back, waiting to get a pass if we got the ball. We broke up when the referee came up, and we took our places on the court. I went up to the perimeter of the court, taking my place as the point guard. I mentally cheered as our center girl got the ball on our side. I got the pass and simply dribbled there, waiting for the girls to get on me and try to steal the ball, but nothing happened.
With this team, I would’ve probably already lost the ball in only seconds of just standing there, but all the good players were standing back. I passed the ball and ran across the court, seeing the other team’s offense fail to steal the ball. I nervously looked at the coach; I wasn’t supposed to do that. He nodded at me to stay there, and signaled to the girls to move in offensively. I knew what he was thinking; the other team had also put all their best players on defense. We had to get offensive. I got the ball again and this time, the girls closed in on me, trying to stop me from shooting.
I looked around, searching for someone open, and well placed to shoot. Finally, I passed it to our shooting guard, a small girl with a long pony tail of jet-black hair. She jumped and got it in easily, smiling her thousand WATS smile as our side of the gym exploded in cheers.
“Good job girls!” I cheered them as we got in place for the throw-in. Around us, the other team was also gathering up. I caught some of them exchanging dark looks, they were taken aback by the sudden change in our tactics. Frustration was clearly visible in their grim faces. This was war.
We moved in again on defensive as the other team moved toward our basket but we reclaimed possession and then lost it again. After 4 long minutes they finally scored and the other side of the gym cheered and hooted loudly.
It was time to spice things up.
I stayed close as we prepared for the throw-in and sprinted back to the center just as the girl lifted the ball to throw it. The other girls saw me coming and prepared to block me but I had another plan. I caught the pass, pivoted and shot, scoring an easy 3-pointer swish. After that, we did another score and by the time the clock rung for the end of the quarter, not long after, we had a 5 point advance.
I went to the bench with the rest of the team and drank half of my water bottle. The coach explained a new strategy, where we would get more offensive, but still keep a great defense. Together we decided that I was to stay on the bench, to regain some energy, and that I would come back at the other half.
I cheered with everyone when we scored another 3 shots. Ashbury wasn’t very far behind though... and they were getting closer and closer every minute. We took the half period break laughing at our guy cheerleaders’ attempt at dancing. I stayed serious, sitting beside the coach, thinking of how, possibly, we could stay in the lead. We were still safe, for now, but I knew it wouldn’t last all that long, not with this team. They were known to get their secret power in at the last, possible moment.
The coach decided to keep me on the bench for a while until he really had to put me in. I didn’t say anything, it would permit me to be at my maximum, and score a lot when we most likely needed it. It went pretty well at first, we were close but still leading. It was when a girl, with long curvy legs that seemed to go on for miles, got on, that we really started to get behind.
At first she didn’t look that tough, she scored some hoops―most of them actually, but when we started to double guard her, she became really aggressive. Two girls had fallen down and hurt themselves but the referee never called on her. It was my time to get in. I stood up, rolling my head side to side to relax my muscles. Our side of the gym, which had been pretty silent, cheered up when they saw I was getting in. I took my place silently, I was there to do my job and win this game, nothing else. I went in front of the girl to help guard her and she gave me a dangerous, don’t-get-in-my-way look. She got the ball when the referee whistled, and turned out very easy to steal. In the next 2 minutes I had scored another three-pointer, and it was officially war between me and the girl. I dribbled across the court, keeping an eye on her, behind me, trying to catch up, and on the clock. I passed to Chelsea, who laid it up for me. I jumped, feeling the muscles in my legs contract to get me that extra bounce. I dunked the ball easily and held on to the rim as the clock buzzed.
I closed my eyes for half a second, in the silence of the gym, the only sound the light thump as I fell back down on my feet. The adrenaline was pumping in my blood. Everything was in slow motion, like in the movies. Everyone from our school cheered loudly and everyone from Ashbury looked incredulous.
This chapter had very little mistakes which made it easy to read, I am still not sure if the mistakes I pointed out are right or wrong 