Chapter 16 - The Final Shot

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The locker room buzzed with a mixture of tension and anticipation. The sharp scent of sweat and polished floors clung to the air, mixing with the soft sound of sneakers shuffling across the tile. BINI University's basketball team sat in silence, each player caught in their own world as the pressure of this one game weighed heavily on their shoulders. This was it—the last game of the season. Win, and they would secure their spot in the postseason, a dream the team had been chasing for years. Lose, and history would repeat itself.

Colet sat on the edge of the bench, staring at the floor, her fingers absentmindedly tightening the laces on her shoes. Despite the noise of the locker room around her, all she could hear was the echo of last season—the missed shot, the crushing disappointment, the feeling that she had let everyone down. The memory lingered, replaying in her mind like a bad dream she couldn't shake, made worse by the nightmare that haunted her the night before. She had missed the shot then, and now, standing on the cusp of another critical game, she couldn't help but feel the suffocating weight of expectation.

Her heart raced, and for a brief moment, she wondered if it would happen again.

"Colet, you alright?" Aiah's voice broke through her spiraling thoughts, soft and gentle, yet grounding. Colet looked up, meeting Aiah's gaze. Her calm, steady eyes were enough to pull her out of the storm in her mind. Aiah didn't say much, but she didn't need to. She was there, a silent reassurance, an anchor in the chaos.

Colet nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. "Yeah... yeah, I'm good," she lied, trying to force a confident smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. Aiah's presence, however, was enough to keep her from unraveling completely. She didn't need words; just knowing Aiah believed in her helped.

Coach Emerson clapped his hands loudly, calling everyone's attention. The players all turned to face him, their focus snapping back to the game ahead.

"Alright, ladies, listen up," Coach began, pacing in front of the group. His voice was calm but carried the weight of what this moment meant. "You all know what's at stake here. I don't need to remind you of how much you've worked for this, how many hours you've spent preparing, and how far we've come. This game is not just another game. This game is our ticket to the postseason. This game is a shot at redemption."

Colet clenched her fists, her heartbeat quickening. The word 'redemption' struck a chord, and she fought to keep her composure.

"I won't sugarcoat it," Coach continued, his eyes sweeping over the team. "DOH University is a tough opponent. We're in their territory, and their crowd is going to be loud, violent even. They'll try to get into your heads. But remember this—you've played harder teams. You've overcome bigger obstacles. And right now, there's no one in this room who can't handle what's about to come."

The girls nodded in unison, the tension in the room shifting as Coach's words began to settle in. The energy felt different now, more focused, more determined.

"I want you to go out there and play like you know how to play. Stick to the fundamentals, trust your instincts, and above all—trust each other. You win this game as a team, not as individuals." Coach's eyes lingered on Colet for a moment, as if silently speaking to her. She held his gaze, feeling the unspoken challenge.

The locker room was still for a moment, the gravity of his words hanging in the air. Then, with one final clap of his hands, Coach Emerson said, "Now go out there and show them what we're made of!"

The players stood, gathering their gear and mentally preparing themselves for the battle ahead. The faint roar of the crowd could be heard through the walls of the locker room, a reminder that they were stepping into enemy territory.

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