Juggle

Chapter 3

Owen Stevens would be considered the best looking guy in our grade, and maybe even in the school. He is like the king of the jocks. I've never even had a full conversation with him, just small stuff whenever we get stuck in a group together. We are in history together and Owen is a true history buff. He defiantly going into the military.

What better than a good looking guy? A smart good looking guy. He been off and on with a pretty blond senior name Grace. Right now he on at least as far as I know. I've hear stories about him doing stuff that makes him "bad news", but I don't see it. When we are in history he seems so normal and his clothes don't look like he would be some kind of rebel. Maybe I'm just blind.

The bell rings and I head to my last class of the day.

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Finally school ends and go to the locker room to dress out for my game.

The first quarter of the game was a slump 36 to 43 and we are losing. I still haven't gotten in to the game. My substitution partner has scored all the points.

Finally the secound half roles around and the couch is forced to put me in.

So the five of us head out onto the court. Jenny a juior who is our point guard, and the best and quickest dribbiler.

Violet is our seinor shooting guard. She is pretty quick and is a great shot.

Samantha is our junior center player who is freakishly tall. She has a hudge arm length she could block anything. Although Samantha normally has a hot temper.

My final team mate is Jane. No more back story is need on Jane.

I am the small forward but don't let the name fool you. I have to be a well rounded athlete; have the skill, the quickness, and not too short.

The secound half starts and it is rough. Violet is getting a bit sloppy from fitieg of being in for three quarters. Samantha is about to start fight. Not to mention we are only making half our shots.

The score is 75 to 69 by the time the third quarter ends. The girls and I grab a drink before heading out for the final quarter.

The ball starts on our end but after a failed ettempt to make a basket, the other team rebonds and takes to their side.

The ball gets rolled out of bounds some how and we get to throw it in. Samantha goes to the base line and smacks the ball; letting it echo through the gym.

The rest of us scatter as we try to get an opening. Samantha does a few fake throws trying to confuse the other team as we run from side to side looking like a bunch of chickens with our heads cut off. Out of the corner of my eye I could see the ref counting the secounds passed.

Samantha eyed Jenny just befor she throws an over head pass to her.  After Samantha let go of the ball everything felt in slow motion. I watch the ref stop counting, Jenny reaching out for the ball, and an empire tall girl step out in front of her.

Luckly Samantha pass had too much power and the other girl  jumps too late causeing the ball to be tipped and spin down towards me.

The leathur in my grip felt good as the ball landed softly. I then turned and push the ball to the grown. The sound felt like it rebooted the etire room and time went into what felt like fast forward on a VCR tape.

Like my mucles had a mind and memory of there own, I dribbled down the court. I had a large burst of adreniline as I reach the basket and made my first lay up of the season.

I hear the crowd cheering for me for once, that I normally I don't listen. 71 to74.

It was a back and forth battle in the forth quarter. There were thirty seconds left and the score was 84 to 80 and our coach called a time out.

I could tell he was stressing and he was trying to contribet somthing to the team.

"Alright, ladies just get out there and scores some," he says looking around the circle at each of us, "Fight hard and do what you do best."

I always believed that all coaches are just retird and failed athletes. Exspechally our coach. He always complains that he wish he could coach boys, and how he wouldn't have to deal with girl's drama.

I watch the clock run down for time out and then the buzzer went off. The team break and then the herd of elephants ran back on to the court.

We stole a rebond off of the other team and Jenny took the ball down the court. A girl came up next to Jenny and try to steal the ball. Just as Jenny swiched hands to dribble on her left, the girl went sholder to sholder with my team mate and nonged her off balence.

There was no wistle blown after that foul and Jenny was on the floor as the standpeed ran pass her.

"Are you okay," I asked passing by her.

"Go get the ball," she yelled at me as she stands up.

I run and watch as Violet takes the ball back and does a hudge long shot from the other side of the court. The buzzer goes off and the ball makes a nice swoosh as it goes though the net.

There is a small cheer for Violet but we needed two more points.

The refery blows his wistle waking us all up from our daze.

He held his hand up to the other ref saying that there was a foul. He then held up Violet's jursy number and the room went crazy.

Violet went to the free throw line and the two team went to their benches. There was a good moment of silents wash over the attience and Violet dribble the ball at the free throw line. Violet held her breath and the soar through the air.

It went through and everyone breathe. 84 to 84 was the score and Violet had one more free throw.