Summer League

Chapter 1- Gym rules

Our school wasn't small, but by no means was it large. Both the girls and guys basketball teams shared the gym for this reason. We weren't big enough to have a second gym built, and the middle school was too far from the highschool to drive to for practice. In years before, the teams would alternate driving to the middle school every other week, but after players constantly being late for practice and a car crash on the drive there, that changed. Our coaches had decided to share the gym, and the result of that was one team practice from 4:00 to 6:00, and the other team from 6:00 to 8:00. Every week the teams would switch practice times, and it worked similarly with the games we had.
Our coach, Mr. Kallswerth (we just called him Mr. K) had given us the last weekend off, and because of this Mr. K was opening the weight room till 8:00 after our practice ended at 6:00.
I pulled open the school door that led to the gym, tucking my practice jersey in while trying to juggle my powerade, water, and basketball shoes. It was 3:45, but I could already hear some girls talking and Mr. K joking about how many lines we would be running today. Well, I say joking, but you can never really tell till after practice. I walked around the corner and through the lobby area before finally reaching the gym. As soon as I was inside the gym, I was greeted with yells and a couple hugs.
"Are you ready Jay?" My best friend Sally asked as she bounded up to me. I suppose I should introduce myself before I get too far. My name is Jaylynn, but since that was way to hard to pronounce in the middle of a game, everyone just calls me Jay. I'm about 6', with light blue eyes that contradict my olive skin tone and auburn hair, I just finished my Junior year of highschool, so I was now officially a Senior.
"Totally. You staying after to work out?" I asked her, sitting down, pulling off my slides, and tying on my basketball shoes. She plopped down beside me with a grin.
"Of course I am, who do you think you're talking to?" She laughed as she finished tying her own shoes. Sally was about 5'6", and had blonde hair and brown eyes, she was one of our starting wings. We'd met about three years ago when she moved to my school freshmen year, she had moved to our small Utah city from a Midwestern town, and because of that she had a southern accent that fit her perfectly.
"Quit lolly gaggin you two!" Mr. K called out. Mr. K was a tall man about 30 years old, and he was a great coach. He was my favorite coach because, on top of knowing the sport and being able to teach us well, he was constantly joking, and kept practice from being repetitive.
"Yes coach," me and Sally chorused. Despite practice not starting for another ten minutes, nearly the entire team was already here. We jumped up and ran over to the cart of basketballs, falling into relaxed conversation about the team we would be playing on Wednesday.
The practice began soon after we were warmed up. We started with running two laps around the gym, dribbling with our weak hands. I was right handed, as was the majority of the team, but Sally was a lefty, which made her even harder to guard. After those we did our daily passing drills. Sally and me grabbed a ball and quickly led the team through the drills and stretches following.
Practice seemed to fly by, we went through plays, defensive skills, and some offensive as well. At 5:45 Mr. K blew his whistle, drawing our attention from free throws that we were completing.
"Alrght girls, time for a little scrimmaging." He pronounced, walking into the storage room and pulling out a small score clock. "Everyone line up on the baseline." We ran and jostled each other into a line quickly. I glanced at Sally, who was a couple people down from me. We both wore excited expressions, as scrimmaging was our favorite thing to do besides playing in an actual game. Then I glanced the other way at my friend Marge, who was a post like me. She gave me a grin then focused her attention back on Mr. K, as did I.
There were 10 girls at practice today, as the jv didn't have games for another week, and only the varsity had practice this week. Anyways, there was the perfect number of girls to split into 2 teams. Mr. K quickly assigned teams, I high fived Raya, Tani, Beth, and Julia, who were the girls on my team. I turned and grinned evily at Sally.
"Bring it on," she taunted as she walked past me. I laughed, and with that we got set up for the game, my team turning our jerseys inside out so we were red while the other team remained white. We jumped for the ball, my team quickly gaining possession and pushing it down the court towards our hoop.
"Blue, Blue!" Beth, the point guard for my team, called out. The play was quickly ran, ending in Raya knocking down a shot fron the free throw line. I held out my hand and fist bumped her as we ran back on defense.
The game went on, each team scoring point after point. There were 20 seconds left, and our team was down by 4. We got the ball, Tani took the ball out of bounds and gave it to Beth. The other team was pressing, trying to keep us from making any more points, I cut to the middle as Beth was trapped in one corner. She saw me, and threw the ball to me, I caught it, turned and saw Raya running down the sideline towards the block. I took a dribble, ducked around a defender, and passed it to her, and she made a neat little lay-in. We ran and set up our own press, me getting in front of Willow, who was throwing the ball in for the other team.
She slapped the ball and yelled 'go!', I started doing jumping jacks and yelling to keep her from passing the ball in. She bounced it around my feet and I lurched for the ball, desperate to gain possession and score a quick basket. Raya jumped in the path of the ball but only got a hand on it, I dove and swatted it away from the out of bounds line back towards Raya and my teammates. After I swatted the ball back in I was unable to regain my feet and toppled unceremoniously into someone standing nearby.
I slammed into their legs, which caused them to fall in turn and land on me. I let out a gasp as the air was slammed out of me, and I could hear the person let out a curse as he fell.

Authors note-
Ok, I know it's not the longest chapter, but it's a start :) please let me know what you guys think!!