Under Pressure
657 Words
Wednesday's practice was harder than usual.
Coach Daniels wasted no time getting the team onto the court. There was barely a pause between drills, and whenever someone made a mistake, she stopped the play and made them run it again.
The tournament was getting closer, and everyone could feel it.
Marian was halfway through a defensive drill when Coach Daniels blew the whistle.
"Switch!"
Marian changed direction, but Emerald moved at the same time and they nearly collided.
"Sorry," Emerald said.
"I'm fine."
Coach Daniels looked at both of them.
"Communicate. You can't assume the other person knows what you're doing."
Marian nodded.
They reset and tried again.
This time, Emerald called out before moving, and Marian responded immediately. The drill went smoothly.
"Better," Coach Daniels said before letting them continue.
By the time practice reached the scrimmage, everyone was tired.
Coach Daniels made the rules simple.
"Eight minutes. No substitutions. Play through the fatigue."
Marian took a deep breath as she moved into position.
The scrimmage started well, but the opposing team quickly changed their strategy. They put pressure on Marian whenever she had the ball and forced her to make decisions before she was ready.
She tried to stay calm.
Then one bad pass turned into a fast break.
The other team scored.
Marian clenched her jaw.
"Reset," Coach Daniels called.
The next possession wasn't much better. Marian lost control of the ball, and the opposing team scored again.
Two mistakes in less than a minute.
She could feel the frustration building.
Emerald ran past her.
"Forget it."
Marian looked at her.
"We've got time."
Marian nodded and moved back into position.
The next time she received the ball, she didn't force the play. She waited for the defense to move, then passed to Emerald.
Emerald drove toward the basket but pulled the ball back when another defender stepped in front of her.
She passed it to Tessa.
Tessa scored.
"Good!" Coach Daniels called.
The game tightened.
With less than a minute left, Marian's team was down by one.
The pressure in the gym had changed. Everyone was tired, and every player knew the next possession mattered.
Marian brought the ball forward.
A defender stepped toward her.
She looked for an opening.
Nothing.
Then Emerald cut across the court.
Marian passed.
Emerald caught the ball and immediately found Tessa, who was open near the basket.
Tessa scored.
"Marian's side edged ahead in the scrimmage."
The whistle blew before the other team could complete another possession.
"Time!"
Everyone stopped.
Coach Daniels walked onto the court.
"That's the response I wanted."
Marian looked around at her teammates.
No one had tried to be the hero.
They had simply made the right plays.
Coach Daniels folded her arms.
"When you're tired, frustrated, or under pressure, that's when your habits show. Today, I saw some good ones."
Her eyes settled on Marian.
"Especially from you."
Marian smiled slightly.
"I almost lost my head."
"But you didn't."
After practice, Marian sat on the bench, unlacing her shoes.
Emerald dropped onto the seat beside her.
"You looked like you wanted to throw the ball at someone earlier."
Marian laughed.
"I was frustrated."
"I noticed."
"You didn't make it easier."
"I wasn't trying to."
Marian looked at her.
Emerald smiled.
"But you came back."
"So did you."
They sat quietly for a moment.
Then Emerald nudged her shoulder against Marian's.
"You're getting better."
Marian raised an eyebrow.
"At basketball?"
"At trusting people."
Marian smiled.
"Don't get used to complimenting me."
"No promises."
Tessa called from the locker room.
"Are you two coming or what?"
Emerald stood.
"We're coming."
Marian followed, but before leaving the court, she looked back at the basket.
A few weeks ago, she would have thought the answer to every difficult moment was to work harder and take more responsibility.
Now she was beginning to understand something different.
Sometimes, playing well meant knowing when not to do everything yourself.
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