The Game They Couldn't Lose
583 Words
The gym was louder than Marian remembered.
Northside's students had filled most of the bleachers, their voices rising every time one of their players touched the ball during warmups. Westbridge had brought its own supporters, but Marian barely noticed them.
Her attention was on the court.
On Northside.
On the team that had ended Westbridge's championship run last season.
She stood near the free-throw line, watching their point guard move through warmups. Marian remembered guarding her in that game. She remembered how close Westbridge had been and how quickly everything had fallen apart in the final minutes.
This time, she wasn't letting herself think that far ahead.
“Marian.”
She turned.
Emerald was standing beside her, spinning the ball slowly between her hands.
“You good?”
“Yeah.”
Emerald studied her face for a second.
“You don't look good.”
Marian gave her a look. “I'm fine.”
“You're doing that thing again.”
“What thing?”
“Thinking about everything except the game in front of you.”
Marian almost argued, but the referee called both teams toward center court.
“Later,” she said.
Emerald nodded.
They took their positions.
The referee raised the ball.
The whistle sounded.
Northside won the tip-off.
Their point guard caught the ball and immediately pushed forward.
Marian stayed with her.
The girl tried to drive left.
Marian cut her off.
She changed direction and tried the other side, but Marian stayed in front of her.
“Not today,” Marian muttered.
The Northside player passed to the wing.
Westbridge rotated.
Marian moved with the play, calling out instructions to her teammates.
For several possessions, neither team could pull ahead.
Northside scored.
Westbridge answered.
A Westbridge shot bounced off the rim, and Northside grabbed the rebound.
“Back!” Marian shouted.
The Northside point guard sprinted down the court.
Marian chased her.
She caught up just before the basket and forced her to change direction.
The girl passed.
Marian reached for the ball but missed by inches.
Northside scored.
Marian clenched her jaw.
She hated the feeling of being one step behind.
The game continued at a relentless pace.
Every possession felt like a response to the one before it.
Then Emerald intercepted a pass near half court.
She caught the ball cleanly and immediately looked toward Marian.
“Run!”
Marian didn't hesitate.
She sprinted down the court.
Emerald followed, dribbling quickly as a Northside defender closed in.
Marian reached the three-point line and turned.
Emerald had two defenders on her.
Marian was open.
For half a second, their eyes met.
Emerald passed.
Marian caught the ball.
A defender rushed toward her.
She took one step back and shot.
The ball hit the rim.
For a moment, the entire gym seemed to hold its breath.
Then it dropped through the net.
Westbridge's bench erupted.
Marian turned toward Emerald.
Emerald was already smiling.
“Nice shot!”
Marian grinned. “Nice pass.”
They ran back on defense.
As Marian took her position, Emerald moved beside her.
“See?”
Marian looked at her.
“What?”
“We work well together.”
Marian shook her head, but she was smiling.
“Don't get too confident.”
“Too late.”
The scoreboard showed Northside still had the lead.
There was plenty of time left.
But Marian could feel the game changing.
For the first time, Northside wasn't playing against one determined point guard.
They were playing against two.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD