Entangled Hearts

Chapter 7

The auditorium of the high school building, for it served as a gymnasium, was crowded with spectators who had paid admission to see the Basketball game. The big clock on the was told that it was just five minutes to eight. The students of the Oakdale High School were at one end of the hall fairly raising the roof with their pep yells. If their team could only win this game, they would be almost sure of winning the cup for that year for Placerville High School was their strongest opponent in the League. In the opposite end of the hall were the students from Placerville, who had been able to accompany their team to cheer them during the game.

The boys of both teams had been "warming up" in their respective end of the hall. Around and around they went, passing the ball and trying for the basket. The hands on the clock had moved until they were on the dot, eight o'clock. The whistle blew! Each man took his place on the field and shook hands with his opponent. There was a tense silence which was broken only as the referee tossed up the ball and blew the whistle again. The game was in full swing. First, the ball was in the hands of the Oakdale players, then in the hands of the Placerville boys, being rushed toward the basket of their end of the floor. Back and forth they played until the whistle blew again. A goal for Placerville. There was a piercing yell and a "Rah! Rah! Rah!" from the end of the hall where the small group of Placerville students welcomed the play. Then came a deafening- "We want a basket! We want a basket! We want a basket! Oakdale!" The whistle again. At the end of the first half of the game, the score was six to four in favor of Placerville. The teams were well matched in size and in the teamwork they displayed. Phil Dreyer was usually such a splendid forward, but he seemed unable to make a basket. His attention was divided between playing the game and searching for someone in the group of Oakdale students. He wanted to see Laura Mae and know that she was watching him play. On the sideline sat Gene and two other Oakdale boys with their athletic blankets around them, ready to go into the game if they were needed.

The ball was thrown to a Placerville husky, who snatched it and started for his goal, charging like mad. Was he blind to everything? Thud! Crash! His full weight plunged into Phil, who seemed unable to check the advance of his opponent and unable to get out of his way. The blow lifted Phil and threw him against a heavy bench outside of the line that marked the field. He fell to the floor unconscious just as the gong sounded, announcing the end of the third quarter in the game. A crowd immediately began to gather around Phil. Gene was near him. Laura Mae and two of her girlfriends rushed into the crown, their faces pale with fear.

"Keep the crowd back! He'll be alright!" thundered the coach of the Oakdale team.

Laura Mae turned and looked squarely into Gene's deep blue eyes as if to say, "What will I do? I came here with him and now he's hurt." She heard Mr. Talbot, the coach speaking again.

"Maybe we better get the fastest team and rush him over to old Doctor Wenks. He may have some bones broken." They began wrapping him in warm blankets. Two of the men picked Phil up and carried him out to a sleigh.

"May I see you home if Phil isn't able to come back?" Gene turned to Laura ae and asked. She reached out her hand to his and gave him a sad but grateful smile and nodded.

The whistle sounded to clear the floor ready for the last quarter of the game, which must go on regardless of Phil's accident. Gene was named to take Phil's place in the game. He went into it with all his might for he was stimulated by the thought that Laura Mae was still his after all. Again, the players were fighting to win. The ball went from one team to the other. Out of bounds, the whistle, the toss-up, and back into play again. Gene caught the ball at center, then he jumped into the air, he sent it flying toward the Oakdale basket. The "long shot" made it; as if by magic the ball balanced on the rim, the fell through, making two points for Gene's side.

The house was in an uproar, cheering the wonderful play Gene had made. A tie! And only a few minutes to go. The whistle! The ball was into play again. Back and forth it went, but neither team was able to make a basket. Tick! Tick! The watch in the time keeper's hand told that it was almost time for the final gong. The whistle! A personal foul on Placerville. The ball was given to Gene to make a free throw at the basket. The players all took their places ready to snatch the ball if it should miss its mark. A deathlike stillness gripped the air as Gene stood on the line, his feet wide apart, He turned the ball slightly in his fingers as he measured the distance with his eyes, then he pitched for the basket. Again, the ball rolled around on the rim, balancing there, perfectly then it fell on the inside of the basket as it had done when Gene had thrown it from center. The cheering and yelling were deafening! The gong clanged loudly, announcing that the game was over with a score of seven to six in favor of Oakdale.

"Rah! Rah! Rah!! Rah! Rah! Rah!! Gene! Gene! Gene!" the Oakdale students cheered. They had won their hardest game.