“Work together,” Sasha calls out next.
“Hands in. Team on three,” Brene yells. “One, two, three.”
“Team.”
We head to center court, and I take just a moment to soak all this in—my first college game. And then I push it all aside and focus. Sasha lines up for the jump ball. I end up close to Angeline. “Have a good game, Angeline,” I tell her, putting my hand out. She ignores it, and I drop my hand. I refuse to let it bother me; she’s going to have to figure it out. The court is no place for emotion and drama. I face the center of the court and prepare for what happens next. Sasha outjumps their player and tips the ball to Brene, and just like that, the game’s begun. I run to my position under the hoop and lock in, pushing every other distraction aside. I watch Brene bring it up the court. Star cuts cross the middle, and Angeline moves over to take her spot. Sasha moves up to the free throw line, and Brene hits her with a pass. Sasha passes it back out to Angeline who sends it right back to Sasha. Sasha turns and shoots and scores. I let the ball drop and run back to the other end for defense. Their point guard dribbles down, and they pass the ball around several times before their shooting guard dribbles in. Sasha’s there, but the girl makes it anyway. I grab the ball and jump out of bounds and pass it in to Brene, and we head down to our end. We go back and forth. Both teams are pretty evenly matched, and we keep a close game. I get a few looks at the basket but don’t take many shots, which Coach yells at me for during the break between the first and second quarter. “Blackwood, we only win games with shots made. Put some points on the board, or you’ll be sitting on the bench.”
I take her words seriously. The next time we’re under our hoop, Sasha passes it to me. I don’t stop to think. I spinand shoot, knocking the ball off the glass and into the hoop. “Finally,” Star says with a grin when I run past her.
I just shake my head and move to my spot under the hoop. I get two rebounds, a few assists, and two more points before we head in at halftime. Coach Parella points out the things we did wrong and what she wants changed.
Chapter 34
Riley
Just before we head back out, Coach puts the lid on her marker that she used to write on the whiteboard. “We’re making a change as we head back out.” She looks at me. “Blackwood, you’ll play at left shooting guard for the second half. Star, you’re on the right side.” Only years of discipline keep me from letting my jaw drop. “Tamara, you’re under the hoop, left forward.”
I don’t dare look over at Angeline, who’s just been benched. I don’t really know what to make of it. I haven’t played right shooting guard at all since we started practice. I mean, it was my position all throughout high school, but I haven’t played that position with this team. Nobody questions her advice, and I stand with the rest of the team. We head back out to shoot around for our halftime warm-up. I grab a ball, ready to step onto the court and warm up. “Riley.” Coach Parella waves me over. “The sign of a good player is not just that they can play the position they know to play. It’s that they can adapt, learn to play a new position, master a new move.” She gives me a meaningful look. “It’s that they can be coached. You’ve shown me that. Now, show me what you can do as a guard.” Shock and something stronger than shock rolls through me.
“Thank you,” I finally manage to say.
That stern look she’s known for comes over her face. “Don’t thank me. Go show me I made the right decision.”
“Blackwood,” Brene says, stepping up next to me. “You good in that position?”
I nod. “That’s what I used to play; I’ll be fine. I know the plays.”
She grins. “You’ll find Coach loves to throw everybody for a loop now and then.”
When the refs blow the whistle to start, I run over to join Star and Brene at the other end. “I’m sorry you got moved to the other side,” I apologize to Star.
“Don’t be,” she says with a grin. “Show everybody it’s the right move.” It takes me exactly two times down at our end for me to get the feel of my old position. The next time down, Brene passes to me; and I pass it down low to Sasha. She feeds it to me, and I go right in for a layup and add two points to my total. “Thanks for the assist,” I call out to Sasha as we head back to the other end.
“Nice shot.”
And then we’re back on defense. They score down low, a three pointer. I jump out of bounds with the ball and throw it into Brene. At the other end, the ball circles around to Star, down to Tamara. Tamara dribbles in but can’t get a clear shot. She kicks it out to Star, and Star gets it to me. I take the open shot and watch in satisfaction as it goes right in. Star grins and high-fives me as we run back for defense. At the other end, I see the pass coming and intercept it, pushing it ahead of me all the way down the court. It’s an uncontested layup, and I make it. At the other end, we keep them out of the middle. They take a long shot and miss. Sasha comes up with the rebound and kicks it out to Brene. Star and I race ahead. Brene passes it to me, and I bounce pass it to Star who makes a layup. At the other end, they try several shots but just can’t get it in. Tamara rebounds it and sends it out to me. I dribble down, looking for an opening. I get one at the corner of the free throw line, and I don’t waste the opportunity.Swish! Nothing but net.And just like that, we’re up by ten points.
The ref blows the whistle and signals timeout for the other team. Our fans cheer as we head to the bench, and we gather around Coach Parella. “Good job, girls. Keep the pressure up. Star, take more shots. Tamara, force those long shots; keep them out of the middle.” The refs blow their whistles, signaling the end of the timeout. “Go!”
We head back out to the court. We keep our momentum going right into the fourth quarter. Star finally finds her rhythm and puts up a three, and I can’t help my grin. I follow after hers and hit two threes from my side. We close out the game with the starters on the bench and a win by fifteen points. We head into the locker room celebrating. Coach Parella follows us in. “We’ll take that. First game. First win.”
We cheer, and she says a few things. “Good job. Hit the showers and head out. Please look respectable when you leave. And whatever you do, no socks and crocs or socks and sandals. Please.” Her face shows exactly how she feels about that look. She leaves, and we continue celebrating. I gather my belongings and head to the shower. I shower quickly, anxious to see Reid and the rest of my family and friends. I quickly dress in my black athletic pants and team windbreaker and throw my hair into a wet braid. I pass Star as she heads into the showers.
“Whoa, somebody’s in a hurry.”
I grin. “Yep.”
She gives me a quick hug. “Sorry, I’m still sweaty.”
“No worries. Great job out there today.”
She grins. “Me? You were the star of the show.”
I shake my head and head towards the exit. Before I can get there, Angeline comes in the door. I really don’t want a confrontation with her. “Good game, Angeline.” She put up at least ten points, I think. She doesn’t say a word and just walks past me. I don’t let it bother me; it was a great game. I’m not going to let her bad attitude bring me down. I leave the lockerroom and make my way out. As soon as I enter the gym, fans cheer. And by fans, I mean my family and friends. I smile as I walk over to them. “Yeah, Sis, that’s how we Blackwoods do it,” Zane says, punching me lightly in the shoulder.
Evie pushes him away from me, laughing. “Awesome game, Riley.”
Slate fist bumps me. “Good game, Riley.”
