by Rich Wallace
Kyle,” he said. “That’s what being a team is about.”
“Just don’t mess up too bad, Jamere,” Kyle
said. He held up three fingers. “Keep my job
warm for three games. Then I’ll be back.”
Jamere looked away. He’s all talk, he thought.
Show him.
Hector took a defensive stance. His hands
were up and his eyes on Jamere’s waist. They
played one-on-one constantly in driveways and at
playgrounds. They knew each other’s strengths
and weaknesses.
Jamere dribbled through his legs and cut
right. Hector wasn’t fooled. He knocked the ball
loose. Jamere recovered it.
“Protect that ball,” Coach said.
Jamere passed it to a teammate.
21
Then Hector stole the ball and brought it up the court. Jamere guarded him closely. But
Hector made a nice pass. He burst into the lane
for a give-and-go. He easily banked the ball off
the backboard for a lay-up.
“Nice play,” Jamere mumbled. Bad start. Settle down. He knew Hector would get his points.
There wasn’t much difference between them.
Jamere passed the ball, then cut to the corner.
Hector followed the ball. When the center fired
it back to Jamere, he was wide open. He drained
the three-pointer.
That was the play he needed. He immediately
felt better. Get in a rhythm, he told himself.
Jamere soon forgot about the burden of being
a starter. He made good passes. Played tight
defense. And he hit his next three shots, too.
“You’re on fire.” Hector shook his head. Then
he raced up the court with the ball. He ran a
give-and-go again, popping in another lay-up.
22
Back and forth. The starters dominated the action. Hector played well and kept Jamere on
his toes. But Jamere kept shooting the lights out.
He made seven of his nine shots.
Coach blew his whistle and clapped. “Ten
free throws apiece. Good practice.”
Jamere took a long drink of water. He wiped
his hands on his shirt and caught his breath. He
headed for the foul line.
Coach stood behind him while he shot.
Jamere hit the first three. Then he missed two
in a row. Concentrate, he thought. He made his next five.
“Great work, Jamere,” Coach said. “We won’t
miss a beat if you play like that tomorrow.”
“I will,” Jamere said. He strutted off the court.
In the locker room, Jamere rubbed his hair
with a towel. This time his shirt was very sweaty.
“Big game tomorrow,” Hector said. “And don’t
worry. If you get tired, I’ll take your place.”
23
Jamere grinned. “I can run all day. You know
that. But yeah, you should get some minutes,
too. You showed a lot today.”
Other players shuffled into the locker room,
yanking open their lockers. Jamere pulled on a
dry T-shirt. He tried to ignore Kyle, who was
heading toward him, supporting himself with
his crutches.
“Nice job out there,” Kyle said.
Jamere raised his eyebrows. “You serious?”
Kyle let out a pfft sound with his lips.
“Seriously joking,” he said. “You were playing
against the third string.”
“He still did good,” Hector said. “Those shots
didn’t go in by themselves.”
Jamere pointed to Hector. “That’s a pretty
good third-stringer,” he said to Kyle.
Kyle hobbled away. “Enjoy it while you can,
Jamere.”
“I will. Why don’t you stop being such an
annoying jerk?”
Kyle laughed. “I’ll be back,” he said, “stronger
than ever.”
Jamere turned to Hector. “Maybe,” he
whispered. “But he has to get past me first. I’ll
be playing so well that Coach will have no choice
but to keep Kyle on the bench.”
25
Chapter
4
A Rough Start
On Thursday afternoon, Jamere could hardly
sit still on the bus ride to Emerson.
“We’ll run them off the court,” he said to
Hector.
“Play smart,” Hector said. “You know what
Coach says. Good passes lead to good shots.”
Jamere was out of control early in the game.
He drove straight for the basket as soon as he
got the ball. He didn’t even look to pass. The
Emerson center blocked his shot.
On the next possession, Jamere tried to make
up for it. He dribbled to the corner and sent up a
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shot. It banged off the rim. Emerson grabbed the rebound and raced up the court for a fast-break
lay-up.
Jamere frowned at the scoreboard. He passed
the ball to Derek, but immediately called for
it back. Time for a three, he told himself. He launched a long shot, which barely grazed the
rim. The ball rolled out-of-bounds.
“Jamere!”
He turned to see Hector running onto the
court. Hector pointed to him. “You’re out.”
“Really?” The game had barely started.
Coach nodded to the spot next to him on the
bench. Jamere sat down hard.
“Ever heard of passing the ball?” Kyle asked.
He was sitting a few seats over.
Jamere stared straight ahead. “I was just trying
to get us going,” he said. “Put up some points.”
“You’re the weak link in the chain,” Kyle said.
Ignore him, Jamere thought.
27
Coach leaned toward Jamere. “Count our guys on the floor,” he said. “Five of them, right?
We’re not a one-man team.”
Jamere blushed. “I know,” he mumbled.
“Sorry.”
“Okay. Let’s see how Hector does. Stay ready.”
Jamere leaned back. What if Hector played
great? Would Jamere’s chance be over? Can’t
believe I hogged the ball like that, he thought.
That’s not me.
Fairfield trailed, 15–7, at the end of the first
quarter. Jamere hadn’t budged from the bench.
“Starting five again,” Coach said.
Jamere bumped his fist against Hector’s.
“Good job,” he said.
Hector tapped his own forehead. “Think,” he
said. “Don’t just react.”
Jamere didn’t try to shoot in the second
quarter. He concentrated on playing defense.
He passed the ball to his teammates. He made a
28
couple of steals, and Fairfield trimmed the lead.
By halftime, they were down by a single point.
“Much better,” Coach said. “The point guard
runs the show. Take the shots if you’re open. But
you don’t need to force them.”
Kyle didn’t say anything to Jamere in the
locker room. Jamere knew he was the main
reason they were back in the game.
Jamere kept passing the ball, working it
outside to Derek or inside to Lonnie, the center.
Fairfield built a lead. Two points. Four.
Jamere took a pass at the
top of the key. He
didn’t have to think this time. He smoothly shot
the ball, and it rippled through the net.
“Three-pointer!” shouted Hector. “We’re
rolling!”
Emerson called a time-out. Jamere ran to the
huddle.
“Keep up that pressure,” Coach said. “Let’s
put this game out of reach.”
29
Jamere scored two more baskets before
Hector replaced him late in the fourth quarter.
He’d led Fairfield to a 15-point lead with his
pinpoint passing.
His teammates cheered as Jamere walked off
the court. Except for Kyle, who stayed quiet.
Lonnie and Derek came out of the game at
the next whistle, sitting on either side of Jamere.
“Great comeback,” Lonnie said.
“You just needed to get into the flow,” Derek
said. He patted Jamere on the back. “You shook
off those nerves.”
Jamere was much more relaxed on the bus ride
home. He looked back to see where Kyle was
sitting. Kyle was four rows behind by
himself. He was looking out the
window. Everybody else
was celebrating
the win.
30
“I think we’re better with you at the point,”
Hector whispered. “Kyle’s good, but you keep
everybody involved.” He laughed. “At least, you
did for most of the game. I don’t know what that
first minute was about.”
“Tension,” Jamere said. “I wanted to start
with a blast. Turned out to be a dud.”
“Gave me a chance to show my stuff,” Hector
said. “So, feel free to mess up next time, too. I’ll
be glad to bail you out of trouble again.”
Jamere shook his head. “Next time will be
just like this time. Without the bad beginning.”
Chapter
5
Winning Streak
Jamere kept gaining confidence, and Fairfield
kept winning. He scored fifteen points in a big
victory over Essex. Then he popped in seventeen
as Fairfield routed Memorial.
“First place,” Hector said as they walked home
after the Memorial game. “All alone on the top of
the league. Of course, that depends on winning
the next game.”
There was only one game left on the schedule.
A rematch with Westwood. And Trey Freeman.
Fairfield’s record was 12–1. Westwood’s was
11–2. They’d be tied for first if Westwood won.
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“We’ll win,” Jamere mumbled. “We’re playing great.”
“Kyle says he can start practicing tomorrow,”
Hector said.
That was news to Jamere. “So what?” he said.
“It’s my job now.” He’d led the team to three
wins. Jamere was sure Coach Sanchez wouldn’t
bench him. Would he?
“Kyle says he’s as good as new,” Hector
continued.
“And I’m better than ever.” Jamere walked
faster. He was hungry and didn’t feel like
worrying about Kyle’s return. “It’s my job now,”
he said sharply.
“You said that already.”
“So don’t forget it.” Jamere headed down his
street.
Micah was in the kitchen when Jamere
entered. He was stirring a pot of pasta.
“Mom working late again?” Jamere asked.
33
“No, she’s here,” Micah said. He smiled.
“Don’t you like my cooking?”
“It’s fine.” Jamere set his backpack on the
table. “We won again.”
“Good.” Micah pointed to the bag. “We’re
eating there. Clear your stuff and set the table.”
“And congratulations,” Micah called as Jamere
left the room. “Can’t wait to hear about the win.”
But Jamere was quiet during dinner. He kept
thinking about how Kyle had outplayed him in
practice for most of the season. Kyle was the one
who had shut down Trey Freeman. With the
league title on the line, wouldn’t Coach want his
best point guard on the court?
“You must be tired,” Mom said. “Usually
you’re yacking away after a game.”
“I guess I am tired,” Jamere replied.
“You’re balancing basketball and books,”
Mom said. “And doing very well at both. I can
understand why you’re worn out.”
34
That evening, Jamere’s mind kept drifting to the basketball court.
“You all right?” Micah asked.
Jamere shrugged. “Kyle’s back tomorrow.”
Micah picked up a basketball in the corner of
their room. “Let’s go shoot some hoops.”
Jamere rolled off of his bed and grabbed his
Knicks T-shirt. He followed Micah out of the
apartment.
The evening was cool and damp, but there
was no wind. They headed to the playground two
blocks away. The lights from nearby buildings
made it just bright enough to see.
Micah always seemed to know when Jamere
was upset. Shooting baskets usually changed his
mood for the better.
Micah took a jump shot. The metal-chain net
rattled as the ball fell through.
“Sounds like you’ve shown you belong in the
starting lineup,” Micah said.
35
“I’ve earned it,” Jamere said. He chased after the ball and sent a swift pass to his brother.
“Coach Sanchez is fair,” Micah said. “He
benched me a couple of times when I deserved
it. For mouthing off or being lazy. But as long as
I played hard, he was on my side.”
“I always play hard,” Jamere said.
“So you have nothing to worry about.” Micah
bounced the ball to him.
Jamere tossed in a reverse lay-up. “Do you
think he’d give the job back to Kyle?”
Micah rebounded the ball. “He’ll do what’s
best for the team. Kyle’s coming off an injury.
He may be ready to play, but he may be limited.
And if I was the coach, I wouldn’t mess with a
good thing. You’ve been leading the team. And
winning.”
Jamere had no idea what Coach would do.
But he did feel better. Micah always managed to
do that for him.
36
“You know, having two good point guards is a nice problem for a coach.” Micah grinned at him.
“Maybe,” Jamere said. “But it’s a bad problem
for the one who sits on the bench.”
“There are lots of minutes to go around.”
Jamere knew that. But he didn’t want to play
half a game. Especially if he had to share time
with Kyle.
Jamere took a long shot at the basket. The
ball rolled around the rim, then fell in.
“Welcome back, Kyle,” Jamere said. “You’re
in for a battle tomorrow.”
38
Chapter
6
Kyle’s Return
Jamere was pleased when Coach sent him
onto the court with the starters for the next
day’s scrimmage. He was
surprised when Hector
joined the second team.
“Guess Kyle’s third string now,” Jamere
whispered. “Right where he belongs.”
“Don’t be too sure,” Hector replied. “Just
ignore him and play the game.”
Jamere glanced at Kyle. He sat on the bottom
row of the bleachers. His ankle was wrapped
in a thinner bandage that fit snugly into his
sneaker.
39
After starting three games, Jamere knew his
teammates’ moves. He could sense when Derek
would break into the corner for an open jumper.
Or if Lonnie was about to set a screen.
Hector kept up the pressure, guarding Jamere
tight. But Jamere was at ease. The starters
dominated.
Then Coach waved Kyle onto the court.
Hector took a seat.
40
“Just like old times,” Kyle said, standing
face-to-face with Jamere.
“Not exactly,” Jamere said. He tapped his
own chest with a finger. “I’m the starter.”
“For now,” Kyle replied with a hard glare.
Coach blew his whistle. “Put the ball in play.”
Jamere passed to Derek, then raced to the
corner. Let’s test that ankle, he thought.
Even after ten days off, Kyle had no trouble keeping up. He guarded Jamere more tightly
than anyone had in the games. He hadn’t lost his
shooting touch either. Jamere played well, but
the second team outplayed the starters. Kyle was
the reason why.
“Little break,” Coach called. “Get some
water.”
Coach called Jamere over. “Kyle needs some
work with the first team,” Coach said. “You’ve
earned a rest, so we’ll put Hector back in to
cover him.”
Make him look bad, Hector, Jamere thought.
Kyle does not deserve my starting job.
Kyle was two inches taller than Hector and
had more muscle. He had little trouble scoring.
Kyle was just as fast as before and could cut and
spin like always.
Coach stood next to Jamere. “Next basket, go
in for Derek,” he said.
42
“Not at point guard?”
“Kyle needs the minutes,” Coach said. “Let’s
see how you two play together.”
After Hector made a nice lay-up, Coach
stopped the scrimmage. Jamere grabbed the ball.
“My ball,” Kyle said, reaching out.
Jamere bounced it to Kyle and ran up the
court. “I’m open,” he said as Kyle crossed
