(AN: Ok I know like nothing about basketball so you’re gonna have to kinda bare with me.)
“Ok I don’t go in till the second half unless needed.” I said once we had gotten everybody in a circle. They nodded their heads. “Now Coach said that Liz, Becky, Kristy, Kelly, and Kasidy go in first. He pretty much said that for about the first half we were to act like we suck but not get anywhere near four points behind them. I don’t care how you do it just do it. Then coach is hoping that by then they’ll relax quite a bit because they think we suck then we’re to suddenly improve and run circles around ‘em. OK we all know each quarter of the game is 15 minutes long. You four pretty much know what you’re supposed to do and I guess if anything goes wrong I’ll figure it out. Sarah, Coach, and I studied some of the videos of some of their games so we kinda know what to expect.” I stated. God I was a nervous wreck. We quickly went over a couple plays before the buzzer sounded. We had 3 minutes till game started. “Girls get out there. Do a little more practicing and remember don’t show off too much and I’ll be out in a minute.” I said. They all nodded their heads and ran out on the court. “Brian I can’t do this.” I said turning around to face.
“Katie you’re doing great I’ve hardly said anything cause I didn’t have to. You said pretty much all of it.” He replied.
“No not that. I can coach, help coach whatever but I can’t figure out how I’m gonna make sure either Sarah or me is sitting on the bench with you at all times. It’s easy now cause I don’t have to play till the second half unless something really bad happens. After this half though I’m gonna be out there and Sarah’s gonna have to be out there for one of the last two quarters it’s the way we’ve always played. I can’t figure out a way to do it.” I said.
“That’s not good Katie. I mean I know the rules of basketball and how to coach and all I mean I helped Dad coach your team that one year when you were 8 but I can’t coach this when I’m not real sure what you’re used to and the plays you use and stuff. If you can’t figure out a way to do it, you’ve got to find somebody that knows the plays and everything as well as you and Sarah do or atleast somewhat close to it. If you can’t do either though I’ll still be here and I should be able to bare for 15 minutes with a little help from the other girls or atleast I hope so.” He stated.
“Wait wait, somebody that knows the plays as well as I do. Oh god please let him be here.” I said to myself.
“Who?” Brian asked.
“His name’s Cody Smith. He’s captain of the boys’ varsity team. I just hope he’s here.” I replied looking out at the crowd. *Holy crap that’s a lot of people* I thought looking at the very packed gym. Finally I found Cody sitting with the rest of the team. “I found him I’ll be right back.” I stated. I quickly jumped over our bench then ran up the stairs of the bleachers waving at my family who was sitting on the second row. Cody was sitting about 5 rows up so I didn’t have to go to awful far. “Cody!” I exclaimed once I got to where he was.
“What is it and where’s Coach Hayes?” He asked.
“Rachel went into labor so Coach had to leave. My brother’s coaching but he doesn’t know the plays well enough to actually coach without Sarah or I there because we’re the only ones that know what’s supposed to be going on tonight except for you. I can’t figure out a way to have one of us on that bench at all times. So I need you to help him. You know the plays as well as Sar and I do. Please help us?” I asked.
“Yea come on let’s go.” He stated grabbing my hand as we ran down the stairs. We hit the bottom step just in time for the buzzer to sound again. “Brian, Cody. Cody, Brian.” I said quickly introducing them.
“Captains!” I heard the referee yell. I quickly walked out to where he was. “Shake hands girls and let’s have a good and fair game.” He instructed. We shook hands and walked back to our own teams.
“Ok girls ready?” Brian and Cody both asked.
“Yea.” We all replied.
“OK good now ‘wildcats’ on three.” Cody said. (AN: I don’t know what Tates Creek’s mascot is so for now it’s the wildcats.) We all put a hand on top of his. “One, Two, Three.” He said.
“Wildcats!” We yelled throwing our hands in the air. Liz, Kristy, Kasidy, and Becky all ran out onto the court.
*20 min. later 2nd quarter is about to begin*
“Ok girls I forgot that Ali quit the team so there’s four of you that are going to three quarters. Those four are Katie, Sarah, Liz, and Kristy. Oh and just to let you know I picked them that way not Brian that way it doesn’t seem like he was picking favorites or anything” Cody said.
“We know he wouldn’t pick favorites. Besides Katie, Sarah, Liz, and Kristy are the best players on the team.” Jen said.
“Ok well we don’t have much time left so Kelly, Becky, and Kasidy you guys come out and Katie, Sarah, and Jen go in.” Brian said.
“Ok.” We stated either standing up or sitting down depending on if we were going in or coming out. *This plan is working perfectly* I thought to myself standing they’re waiting for the buzzer to sound. The team was actually falling for it. They had started playing easier already and we were only two points behind making the score 10-12, the other team. The buzzer sounded a couple seconds later. We ran out onto the court.
“Katie?” Cody said before I ran out onto the court.
“What?” I exclaimed.
“Where’s your brace?” He quickly asked.
“In the locker room.” I replied getting out there and the game had started once again.
*20 min. later 3rd quarter is about to begin*
“Ok um Kelly, Kasidy, and Jen come out. Liz, Becky, Kristy you guys go in.” Brian said.
“Finally time to show them what we’re made of.” Kristy said.
“I know tell me about it. It’s hard to pretend we suck.” Sarah agreed.
“Katie, here put it on.” Cody said handing me my knee brace just as the buzzer sounded again.
“I’m fine without it. Just don’t worry ok?” I said running back out onto the court.
*Cody’s POV*
I sat the brace back down on the ground then sat down. I put my head in my hands gently shaking my head.
“You ok?” I heard Brian ask.
“Yea I’m fine. It’s Katie I’m worried about.” I stated.
“Why? What about her?” He asked.
“Her not wearing that brace puts her in a lot of danger. She could really hurt her knee in just one small fall if she lands on it wrong. Of course Katie is a little stubborn and doesn’t want to accept that she’s hurt.” I replied.
“Oh ok. Maybe I should call time out make her put it on.” Brian said worriedly.
“Don’t do that we may need all the time outs we can get. That other team is pretty good. She’ll be ok, atleast I hope she will be.” I stated. I watched Brian just simply nod his head and we turned out attention back to the game.
Little did they all know what was soon to happen. The second test was to come. Would they stand together? Would he be there when she needed him the most?
*Awhile Later the game is about over and there’s only 2 minutes left in the game The score is 40-36 Tates Creek*
(AN: this is third person POV till otherwise stated.)
Katie was about to make a shot, when suddenly somebody ran into her making her fall from the sudden impact. One of the girls from the other team quickly stole the ball.
“You ok?” Liz asked helping Katie up.
“Thanks, I’m fine. Let’s go.” She replied taking off running with Liz right behind her. But Katie had felt the pain when she fell hitting her left knee, her bad knee, but it soon faded and she was back on her feet just seconds after falling. So she got back up and kept playing relieving her family and friends but she wasn’t as fine as she thought even though the pain hadn’t lasted long.
The ball was shot up towards the net and Sarah jumped to block it but she wasn’t quick enough. The ball bounced off the backboard straight into the net making the score 40-38. Becky quickly rebounded the ball caring it to the other end of the court but before she knew it, it had been stolen right out of her hands. Once again the same thing happened. The ball went up, Kristy tried to block it, it bounced off the backboard straight into the net. Katie grabbed it before it could go out of bounds. There was only 20 seconds left on the clock. She quickly ran down to the other side of the court but could only make it to the 3-point line. She was looking to see if one of the other girls was open but time was ticking only 10 seconds left.
“Shoot it Katie!” She heard Brian and Cody yell but she didn’t think she could make it.
“Katie Shoot!” She heard them and the rest of her teammates that were on the bench yell. *Well I guess we either win or tie either way it’s been a great game* she thought. She brought her hands up into position then jumped up throwing the ball towards the net. 3…2…Swwiish…BUZZ. Tates Creek had won by three points.