Beyond the Final Score

A Shift In The Game

Monday's practice started differently.

Coach Daniels didn't begin with the usual warm-up drills. Instead, she gathered everyone around the bench and placed a clipboard on the seat beside her.

"We have two weeks before the tournament," she said. "From this point forward, we're going to practice like every game matters."

The players exchanged looks.

Marian already knew what that meant.

Coach Daniels had been preparing them for pressure, but now she was going to make sure they could handle it when things stopped going their way.

"We're going to run different lineups today," Coach Daniels continued. "I want to see how you respond when the game doesn't look the way you expected."

Marian glanced at Emerald.

Emerald caught her looking and raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You were staring."

"I was thinking."

"That's dangerous."

Marian laughed. "Just get ready."

The first scrimmage began a few minutes later.

This time, Marian and Emerald were placed on opposite teams.

Marian felt the change immediately.

She had gotten used to knowing where Emerald would be on the court, anticipating her cuts and trusting her to make the right decision. Now she had to defend against the same player she'd spent the past few practices learning to work with.

The whistle blew.

Emerald brought the ball up.

Marian stepped in front of her.

For a second, neither moved.

Then Emerald smiled.

"Ready?"

Marian returned the smile. "Always."

Emerald drove left.

Marian stayed with her.

She tried to change direction, but Marian anticipated the move and forced her toward the sideline. Emerald stopped just before stepping out of bounds and passed the ball to a teammate.

Marian turned and followed the play.

"Good defense!" Tessa called.

The scrimmage continued.

It was harder than Marian expected.

Emerald knew her habits now. She knew when Marian liked to drive, when she would pull back, and when she was most likely to pass. Marian had learned plenty about Emerald too, which made every possession feel like a battle of who could predict the other first.

Neither of them gave an inch.

Late in the scrimmage, Marian's team was down by two.

She brought the ball across half court and immediately saw Emerald waiting for her.

Marian slowed down.

The obvious move would have been to challenge her.

Instead, Marian looked toward the corner.

Tessa was open.

Marian passed.

Tessa took the shot and scored.

"That's what I'm talking about!" Coach Daniels shouted.

Marian turned toward her teammates as they moved back on defense.

She didn't need to be the one taking the shot.

That realization no longer bothered her.

A few minutes later, the whistle ended the scrimmage.

Coach Daniels gathered them again.

"Better," she said. "But I saw something I don't like."

Everyone became quiet.

"You started playing as individuals when the pressure increased. I need you to trust the system, especially when you're tired or frustrated."

Her eyes moved across the team before settling briefly on Marian and Emerald.

"You're going to face teams that will try to separate you from each other. Don't let them."

Marian nodded.

After the meeting, the players began packing their things.

Emerald walked over to Marian.

"You passed to Tessa."

Marian looked at her. "She was open."

"I know."

"Then why do you sound surprised?"

Emerald shrugged. "You've changed."

Marian considered that.

"Is that a bad thing?"

"No."

Emerald smiled.

"I think it's a good thing."

Marian smiled back, but before she could answer, Tessa called from across the locker room.

"You two coming or are you planning to stay here all evening?"

Emerald grabbed her bag.

"We're coming."

Marian followed her toward the doors.

As they stepped into the hallway, Emerald slowed down.

"You know what I realized today?"

"What?"

"I actually like playing against you."

Marian laughed.

"That's because you haven't beaten me yet."

Emerald looked at her with a competitive smile.

"Maybe that's about to change."

Marian shook her head.

"Keep dreaming."

They continued down the hallway together, their conversation fading into the noise of the school around them.

Neither noticed how naturally they had fallen into step beside each other.

For Marian, that was becoming the strange part.

Not the competition.

Not the tournament.

It was how quickly having Emerald beside her had started to feel normal.