Can't Stop the Questions

Chapter 22: Ballistae, Carriers and the Courland Basket

As the visitors for tonight, the Wildcats' girls basketball team leaves Livonia in a bus along with supporters drawn from players' families, which includes Aija's host family.

In Courland, sports played no role in social life at school. Here, especially given what I accomplished for the school in the past few days, I was the center of attention, because I was the Wildcats' best player in quiz bowl and, more importantly, in basketball. I guess, I wasn't prepared for this in the slightest, Aija reflects on how playing her best basketball game as a Wildcat during the first round of the state tournament made her grasp the differences between her school life in Pointe-Coupée Parish vs in her hometown in Courland.

"The Venomous Agendas appear to have a stronger front court than back court. It appears our only hope is to force the opponent to commit fouls because we can't take for granted that Aija will be able to repeat her performance of last Thursday" the Wildcats' coach harangues the players in the bus.

"That's easier said than done, coach; Aija can't do everything on this team!" the Wildcats' starting point guard retorts.

"Yeah, we must protect Aija when we are on the offense, and keep our passing, as well as shooting options open!" the Wildcats' second-string small forward adds.

"The Venomous Agendas crushed us in quiz bowl, we must prevent that from happening on the court!" a sibling of a Wildcats player adds.

"Don't need to remind me!" an irritated Aija yells in the direction of that supporter.

Meanwhile, in Jennings, as VA's band takes up positions in the fieldhouse, several early birds also get seated in the student section, including Nadine, Finn, Valter and, of course, Pablo. As well as George, Lilina and a handful of others, most of whom wear the purple-and-green. The student section is, simply put, packed.

In the VAs' locker room, however, the tension in the atmosphere increases as the players get dressed in white and purple as the home team.

"Let's show these Latvians that we mean business on the court tonight!" Carrie tries to encourage the VAs' players.

"Carrie, until proven otherwise, there's only one Latvian playing against us tonight; everyone else on the Wildcats is a bona fide Louisiana resident!" Audrey points out to her teammates.

"You were the one who told me about how Livonia was connected to Latvia to begin with! And you did so in some sort of question with seemingly obscure facts about Latvia!" Carrie shows her lack of understanding of quiz bowl.

"We're not talking about the same Livonia at all! Just because their best player, the one we need to always screen, is Latvian, doesn't mean the rest of the team is Latvian, too!"

"Our opponents will be hungry. And they will be the underdogs, but please... don't underestimate their other players! They will think that we act as if they are nothing without Aija!" Kent warns his players. "That line of thinking sank Minden!"

"Which means we'll have to force the other opposing players into shooting three-pointers!" Heather seems to have a flash.

But when the VAs emerge from the locker room, the band starts performing the fight song, and the crowd comes out in force. And the student section seems to be the noisiest part of the fieldhouse. The principal stands at center court, while the players are on their benches:

"Welcome to the second round of the 2030 Division II Non-Select LHSAA girls' basketball state tournament, pitting the twenty-seven seed Livonia Wildcats against the eleven seed Venomous Agendas!" the principal announces the contestants. "Now, for the national anthem, sung by Heather Campbell!"