Shooting Hoops

Chapter 1

Two minutes is all that is left of the game. The score board reads 30 – 28. Somehow, I had to get my team to score another two points so we can win the game. Coach Sanders is standing on the sidelines. With his hands on his hips, concentrating hard on the game.

The visiting team has the ball and I scan the court to see how my team was going to gain control of the ball. Brodie Wheeler, the tallest in our team is standing near the hoop. As one of the players in the other team is in shooting range and throws the ball, Brodie jumps into the air, blocking the ball with one hand.

The ball heads in my direction and I catch it before someone else does. I dribble it to the other end of the court in the progress. I almost trip on my own feet where the laces have come undone. I throw the ball to another team mate, then move aside out of the way so I could kneel down and tie my laces.

I get off the floor just in time to see a team mate score. The crowd breaks out into a cheer. I glance over at the cheerleaders where they were jumping up and down excitedly, waving their green and purple pom-poms in the air. Tylar smiles proudly at me and I blow her a quick kiss before joining my team.

There's now a minute and fifteen seconds to go. We are now tied.

The referee waves me and the other team's captain to the centre of the court. I keep my eye on the orange ball that's sitting in the palm of the referee. Blowing his whistle, he throws the ball in the air. The captain of the visiting team and I both leap into the air, but being a few inches taller than him, my palm hits the ball first, sending it across the court. Billy Pines from my team catches the ball, dribbling it down the court.

I run to catch the team. I need to get to the other end so I can shoot and bring my team to victory. I call out to Billy to pass me the ball, He passes it to me, but its grabbed by the other team. There's a minute and eight seconds now.

The other player dribbles the ball down the court, but Connor Rogers manages to steal the ball. He passes it to Billy, who then dribbles down the other way. As I get closer to the hoop, I call to Billy to pass the ball. There's now less than a minute to the final buzzer. I need to make this shot now.

Billy throws the ball in my direction. I grab it before the other team can steal it. I dribble closer to the hoop. I can hear the crowd counting down from ten seconds. That's when I threw my arms in the air, the ball leaving my hands as it flies towards the hoop. As it nears the hoop, about to hit the rim, Brodie grabs the ball and throws it into the basket just as the buzzer goes off.

The crowd then breaks into a deafening cheer as our team wins by two points. My team mates and I hug each other. The visiting team shakes our hands and congratulates us on winning even though you can see it in their faces that they aren't happy they didn't win for their school.

"I'm so happy for you, Logan!" Tylar says, her arms flying around my neck. I almost didn't even see her when she ran over to me. Her actions catch me off guard when she embraced me the way she does, almost knocking me off my feet.

I want to kiss her, but I'm sure Coach Sanders or even the principal wouldn't be too please with me for making out with my girlfriend on the court after the game. Instead I return the hug, wrapping my arms tightly around her waist.

"You played a great game," she goes on, pulling away.

I smile brightly at her. "Thanks, Ty."

The team mascot, a meerkat, came over to me, sweeping me into a hug. I forgotten who is inside the costume, but whoever they were they are definitely proud of how I led the team to victory tonight. He (or she?) then drops me to my feet and goes to the next player.