Backcourt Battle: An Up2U Character Education Adventure - Up2U Adventures Set 3

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Backcourt Battle: An Up2U Character Education Adventure - Up2U Adventures Set 3 Page 3

by Rich Wallace


  midcourt. Kyle didn’t look his way. He dribbled

  to the other side and passed the ball to Lonnie.

  Kyle ignored Jamere every time he brought

  up the ball. Jamere’s only touches were on loose

  balls or rebounds. The second team tightened its

  defense, leaving Jamere open much of the time.

  And still Kyle didn’t pass.

  Come on, Jamere thought. We’re not a

  one-man team, but we’re not a four-man team

  either. “Pass the ball,” he said.

  “I’ve been passing,” Kyle said. “To the good

  players.”

  43

  The next time Jamere got the ball, he threw it hard at Kyle’s bandaged foot. Kyle dodged out

  of the way.

  “At least I can throw an accurate pass,” Kyle

  said.

  “That was accurate,” Jamere said.

  At the end of practice, Coach told the team to

  sit in the bleachers. “We have one game left,” he

  reminded them. “If we win, we’re champions.”

  “If we lose?” Derek asked.

  “Then there’ll be a play-off for the title,”

  Coach said. “But we’re not thinking about that.

  We need to beat Westwood. Simple as that.”

  “Who’s starting?” Kyle asked. “As if there

  should be any doubt.”

  Jamere clenched his fists and stared at Coach.

  Coach let out a short laugh. “There isn’t any

  doubt. Same starting lineup we’ve had for the

  past three games. Three wins.”

  Jamere relaxed. He hadn’t lost his job.

  44

  “We’ll need a team effort to win,” Coach said.

  “Team means passing. Got that, Kyle?”

  “I passed plenty,” Kyle said.

  “Play like a team or expect to sit on the

  bench,” Coach said. “That goes for all of you.”

  Hector grabbed Jamere’s arm as the players

  headed for the locker room. “Let’s shoot a few

  more free throws,” he said.

  Jamere knew why Hector wanted him to

  wait. Kyle would be angry, and a fight wouldn’t

  help anything. He didn’t feel like confronting

  Kyle anyway. Coach had already put Kyle in his

  place. That was enough for today.

  “So,” Hector said, “ready for Freeman?” He

  took a shot, which swished through the net.

  “Of course.” Jamere hadn’t forgotten how

  badly Freeman outplayed him last time.

  “You got what you wanted,” Hector said.

  “Kyle’s back, but he’s not starting.”

  “He doesn’t deserve to.”

  45

  Hector dropped in another shot. “He did all right today. Definitely had the edge over me.”

  Jamere rebounded the ball. Kyle outplayed

  Jamere today, too. Only by a little, he thought.

  That’s just the flow of the game.

  “Welcome back, right?” Hector said with a

  sly smile.

  Jamere shrugged. “He played all right, I guess.

  Hogged the ball. Kept up that bad attitude. Like

  Coach said, if he can’t act like a good teammate,

  he shouldn’t be on the court.”

  “That’s the truth,” Hector said. He tossed the

  ball gently at Jamere’s foot.

  Jamere picked up the ball. “He didn’t pass to

  me at all.”

  “You shouldn’t have aimed at his ankle.

  You’re lucky Coach missed that one,” Hector

  said.

  Jamere sighed. “I know. I shouldn’t stoop to

  Kyle’s level.”

  46

  “The best way to keep him in his place is to play great tomorrow,” Hector said. “You’re still

  the starter.”

  “And he’s still a pain in the neck.”

  “Concentrate on Freeman,” Hector said. “He’s

  your rival, not Kyle.”

  Right, Jamere thought. Let’s go win a

  championship.

  47

  Chapter

  7

  Loud and Rowdy

  “This is it,” Hector said as Fairfield ran

  through a lay-up drill before the game.

  Jamere tried to concentrate on his shots. He

  kept looking around the Westwood gym. The

  bleachers were full of fans in blue-and-yellow

  shirts. Students cheered each time Trey Freeman

  made a basket during warm-ups.

  Jamere took a pass from Derek and put up a

  long shot. The ball missed the basket completely.

  “Air ball!” shouted some spectators.

  The game hasn’t even started, and they’re

  already taunting me, Jamere thought.

  48

  Coach waved the team to the huddle.

  “They’ll be loud and proud in here all game,”

  he warned. He raised his voice because the

  Westwood students were stomping their feet

  and chanting. “This is a tough place to play!”

  Freeman strutted onto the court. He shook

  hands with Jamere but didn’t meet his eye. He

  was a couple of inches taller than Jamere, with

  broader shoulders.

  Relax, Jamere told himself. Get off to a good start.

  He did. Derek’s first pass was on target, and

  Jamere drained a long shot for a quick 3–0 lead.

  The players on the bench jumped up and

  yelled. But they went quiet again as Freeman

  matched Jamere’s three-pointer with one of

  his own.

  Jamere was tempted to shoot again. Freeman

  stuck close. Jamere made a swift bounce pass to

  Lonnie near the basket. Lonnie missed the shot.

  49

  Freeman kept making baskets, but Jamere scored again. Fairfield kept things close. Jamere

  didn’t even think about the score. Then Coach

  called a time-out five minutes into the game.

  “Sub!” called Kyle. He pointed to Jamere.

  “Already?” Jamere looked at the scoreboard:

  HOME 11. GUEST 8.

  Coach tapped Jamere on the shoulder. “Good

  work,” he said. “Stay ready.”

  Kyle played the next several minutes and led

  Fairfield to a small lead. Midway through the

  second quarter, Coach told Jamere to go back in.

  Freeman promptly hit a jumper. Then

  another.

  By halftime, Westwood’s lead was back

  up to three points. Jamere knew Freeman was

  outplaying him, but not by much.

  Jamere started the second half. The margin

  never got higher than five points. Kyle subbed

  in for Jamere for a few minutes and led Fairfield

  50

  back to within a point. Then Coach sent Jamere in, and Freeman made a three-pointer.

  Derek fouled out late in the fourth quarter.

  Jamere wasn’t surprised to see Kyle report in.

  “Who’s at the point?” Jamere called to Coach.

  “You,” Coach said. “But Kyle will guard

  Freeman.”

  Lonnie made a basket. Kyle stole the ball

  from Freeman and went the length of the court

  for another. Fairfield had cut the lead to two.

  “Less than a minute,” Coach said during a

  time-out. “Tight defense. This game is ours.”

  The Westwood fans didn’t think so. They

  were making so much noise that Jamere could

  barely think.

&nbs
p; On Fairfield’s next possession, Kyle yelled for

  the ball. Jamere ignored him. He drove hard into

  the lane and raised the ball to shoot.

  Wham! Freeman blocked the shot. Jamere

  stumbled as the rest of the players ran the other

  51

  way. Freeman was ahead of everyone with the

  ball. Kyle raced to stop him.

  Jamere could do nothing more than watch as

  Freeman leaped toward the basket. Kyle twisted

  to avoid barging into him. They fell to the floor.

  The ball went in. The referee blew his whistle.

  “Foul,” the ref said.

  “No way!” Kyle shouted, jumping to his feet.

  52

  The crowd taunted Kyle. He walked toward the referee. “I didn’t touch him!” he said.

  The ref opened one palm and brought the

  other across in the sign of a T. “Technical foul,”

  he said.

  Kyle swung at the air. Coach pulled him out

  of the game and sent in Hector.

  Freeman made the first free throw. Then

  he dropped in another. That was all Westwood

  needed to wrap up the game.

  The Fairfield players tromped out of the gym.

  We had them beat, Jamere thought.

  Coach stood in the aisle of the bus as it idled

  in the parking lot. “Hope you guys liked this

  place.” He gave them a tired smile. “We’ll be back here in two days for the play-off game.”

  Back at school, Coach called Jamere into his

  office. “So, what do you think?” he asked.

  Jamere stared at the door. “I think we should

  have won.”

  54

  “So do I,” Coach replied. “What could we have done better?”

  Jamere met Coach’s eyes. “Kyle’s dumb

  technical foul didn’t help.”

  “Who should be our starting point guard?”

  “You’re asking me?”

  Coach nodded.

  Jamere leaned his elbows on the desk. “Kyle

  played well, all right? But I did, too.”

  Coach agreed. “You both did. But you and

  Kyle don’t play well together. That’s a problem.”

  Jamere sighed.

  “We have three options,” Coach said. “You’ve

  been the starter. And most of the time you’re a

  leader. So I’ll let you decide. You can start the

  game at point guard. Or Kyle can start, and you

  can come in off the bench later. The third choice

  is for both of you to start. Kyle would play the

  point, and you’d start at the other guard spot

  instead of Derek.”

  55

  Jamere shut his eyes. He wanted to start. But deep inside he knew Kyle was more effective

  guarding Freeman. If Freeman got off to a hot

  start against Jamere again, the game could turn

  into a blowout. Letting Kyle start would feel like

  a wimpy move. But it might be better for the

  team. Having them both start seemed like a good

  compromise. But would that be fair to Derek?

  “Think it over tonight,” Coach said. “You can

  let me know tomorrow.”

  56

  The Ending Is Up2U!

  If you think Jamere should face up to his

  nerves and choose to start at point guard, turn

  to page 58.

  If you think Jamere should do what’s best

  for the team and let Kyle start, turn to page 66.

  If you think Jamere should take Derek’s spot

  in the starting lineup while letting Kyle start at

  point guard, turn to page 73.

  57

  Ending

  1

  Facing His Fear

  The players gathered in the locker room

  before the bus ride back to Westwood.

  “Jamere will start,” Coach Sanchez said. “He’s

  earned it.”

  Jamere glanced at Kyle, who was slowly

  shaking his head. “Then I’ll have to bail him

  out,” Kyle muttered.

  Jamere told Coach he was ready to face

  the pressure. He’d succeed or he’d fail. But he

  wouldn’t back away from the challenge.

  In the opening minutes, Freeman burned him

  for three baskets. Jamere knew he had no one to

  58

  blame but himself. Freeman led Westwood to a 16–5 lead in the first quarter.

  It was no surprise when Kyle reported in.

  Jamere sat on the bench and sighed. His worst

  fear was coming true.

  I knew I should have let Kyle start, he thought.

  Too much ego.

  Hector nudged him. “It’s early,” he said. “We

  can get back in this.”

  “If we do, it won’t be because of me,” Jamere

  said. He watched the next several minutes in

  silence.

  “Yikes,” Hector said as Freeman popped in a

  fall-away jumper. Westwood’s lead had grown to

  twelve points.

  “I’m noticing something,” Jamere said. “What

  happens when Freeman drives to his right?”

  Hector shrugged. “He scores.”

  “When Freeman drives left, he takes the shot

  if he’s open,” Jamere said. “But if he’s guarded 59

  tight, he passes. When he goes right, he never passes.”

  Less than a minute remained in the half when

  Jamere replaced Derek. “Force Freeman to his

  right,” Jamere whispered to Kyle. “I’ll double up

  on him.”

  Freeman passed once, then demanded the ball

  back. Kyle overplayed his left side, and Freeman

  drove the opposite way.

  Jamere swiped the ball. His long pass led Kyle

  perfectly. The lay-up cut the lead to ten.

  “Nice one,” Kyle said. Those were the first

  positive words he’d said to Jamere all season.

  Freeman fell into the same trap again. Jamere

  deflected the shot. Lonnie grabbed the ball.

  “Last shot,” Coach yelled.

  With four seconds on the clock, Kyle drained

  a shot from the corner. The Fairfield players ran

  off the court, trailing 30–22.

  “This is our game,” Kyle said. “It’s ours.”

  60

  “Not so fast,” Coach said. “We made a nice run there, but we have to keep it up. If Freeman’s

  going to be a one-man offense, then he’s going to be doubled. I like that adjustment you made,

  Jamere.”

  “I’ve been watching him too long,” Jamere

  said. “Finally figured something out.”

  Fairfield kept up the double pressure on

  Freeman. But Freeman was a smart player. Soon

  he was passing on every drive—right or left.

  Fairfield chipped away at the lead, but still trailed by five with two minutes remaining in the game.

  Coach kept rotating his guards, giving Kyle,

  Derek, and Jamere short rests. Jamere was on the

  bench when Kyle drew his fourth foul.

  “Jamere and Hector,” Coach called. “Get in

  there.”

  Hector hadn’t played at all. Jamere was

  surprised he was going in. But Derek looked very

  tired. And Kyle was in danger of fouling out.

  61

  “I’ll cover Freeman,” Jamere said. “You help out when he drives.”

  Jamere dribbled up the court. Freeman stuck

  close, waving his hands. Jamere made a safe pass
r />   to Hector.

  “Move the ball,” Jamere said. He took a return

  pass, then dribbled to the free throw line and

  faked a shot. Two players charged toward him.

  Jamere fired a pass to Hector, who scored.

  “Defense, now!” Jamere called.

  Freeman raced past midcourt, where Jamere

  met him. Freeman took a big side step, then

  darted to his right. Hector slid over to double up.

  Freeman leaped high and sent a soft, one-handed

  shot into the basket.

  “So we don’t stop him every time,” Jamere

  said. Hector bounced the ball to him. “Let’s get

  it back.”

  “Try to go back door,” Hector said. He meant

  for Jamere to lose Freeman near the basket.

  62

  Jamere stood outside the arc and acted like he was too tired to run. He put his hands on his

  knees while Freeman faced him.

  In an instant, Jamere burst toward the basket,

  keeping a step ahead of Freeman. Hector’s pass

  reached him in the lane. Jamere leaned toward

  the basket as he shot, taking a hard foul from the

  Westwood center.

  The shot went in.

  The Fairfield players leaped and cheered.

  Kyle reported in for Hector.

  “Let’s finish this, Jamere,” Kyle said. “Make

  this shot!”

  Jamere wiped his face on his jersey. Bounced

  the ball twice. Made the free throw.

  That cut the lead to one point. Thirty-four

  seconds remained.

  “Press!” Jamere called.

  He spread his arms to hassle the player trying

  to make the inbounds pass. The pass went over

  63

  Freeman’s head. A mad scramble for the ball left four players on the floor. Lonnie tipped it into

  the air.

  Jamere grabbed it. “Time-out!” he called.

  “Last shot,” Coach said. “We win or lose on

  this possession.”

  Kyle grabbed Jamere’s arm as they ran out

  onto the court. “We got this,” he said. “You

  and me. Keep moving. One of us will be open.

  Doesn’t matter which one.”

  Jamere dribbled. Passed. Cut to the corner.

  Took another pass from Kyle.

  Freeman was in Jamere’s face, swiping for the

  ball. The fans counted down the seconds. “Eight,

  seven, six . . .”

  Jamere saw a narrow opening along the

  baseline. He drove and leaped, but even then he

  hadn’t made a decision. Shoot, or . . .

  Kyle was wide open at the free throw line.

 

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