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Authors: Rich Wallace
Tags: Ages 8 & Up
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grazed the rim. Jared got the rebound and passed quickly to Spencer, then sprinted toward the opposite basket.
Johnson ran alongside Jared, determined not to let him get an easy bucket. But Jared had the size advantage, and Spencer got him the ball. Jared drove all the way to the hoop with Johnson all over him, then found Fiorelli wide open in the corner. Jason dribbled in and Johnson darted out to meet him. That gave Fiorelli an easy opening to pass back to Jared, who laid the ball off the backboard and in.
Palisades called time-out. Hudson City had fought back and taken the lead. Eighteen seconds remained.
“Spencer—you know who’s shooting,” Coach Davis said. “You give him an open shot, he’ll nail it. I want five guys thinking nothing but defense out there. This thing is seconds away from reality.”
“Let’s go!” the team shouted as they broke the huddle.
“Used to be you telling Coach what to do,” Jared said as they headed onto the court.
“He learned from the best,” Spencer said, grinning.
Johnson dribbled up and surveyed the court. The Hudson City players were in a tight zone, except for Spencer, who was all over Johnson. He could drive the lane to try to tie the game, or he could work for an open three-pointer to win it.
Johnson passed the ball inside, then drifted toward the top of the key, calling for it back. Jared stepped out to meet the forward with the ball, closing off the lane as Fiorelli and Spencer hustled over to help.
The forward had no shot, but Johnson was open.
“Spencer!” Jared shouted as the ball flew out to Johnson.
Spencer darted toward Johnson, who dribbled once and shot. The ball arced toward the hoop. Jared turned to get ready for the rebound. The ball hit the back of the rim and rolled out, and Jared was there to grab it. He was immediately fouled.
Jared took a deep breath. Six seconds remained. If he made these two free throws, the game was theirs.
Johnson was standing with his hands on his hips, staring at the basket as Jared walked past him.
Jared made the first free throw. The best Palisades could hope for now was for Jared to miss and for Johnson to hit a long three-pointer. The spectators were stamping their feet and screaming for Jared to miss.
Jared dribbled twice and set his focus on the rim. The shot was true. Hudson City had a four-point lead.
“No fouls!” Spencer shouted as they ran back on defense.
Johnson shot from midcourt but the ball banged off the backboard. Hudson City had won the title!
Jared shut his eyes and made two fists. The crowd had been groaning, but now they were cheering. Hudson City had earned their respect. Fiorelli and Spencer and the others joined Jared on the court, thumping each other and shouting.
Spencer grabbed Jared’s arm and pulled him close. “You’re the man!” he shouted.
“Nah,” said Jared, shaking his head and smiling. “No heroes, remember? The team. That’s what this is about.”
“We’re the men ,” Fiorelli said, his face right in Jared’s. He pointed at Jared, then Spencer, then Coach Davis. “You! You! You!” he said to each of them.
Jared could only laugh.
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WINNING SEASON #3!
Tough Competition
The guy seated next to Manny on the basketball court inside the track had his eyes shut, nodding slowly to the rhythm of the music from his headphones. His shirt said NORTH JERSEY STRIDERS. Other runners were pacing the floor or stretching, all looking intense.
The gymnasium at Fairleigh Dickinson University wasn’t quite as large as the Armory, but Manny was even more nervous for this meet. This wasn’t a relay meet; there were no teammates to help carry the load. In a few minutes Manny would be out there for the 800-meter race with nine opponents.
He checked his racing shoes—double-knotted with the laces tucked in—massaged his thigh, and took a deep breath. He knew nothing about the other racers,
Johnson ran alongside Jared, determined not to let him get an easy bucket. But Jared had the size advantage, and Spencer got him the ball. Jared drove all the way to the hoop with Johnson all over him, then found Fiorelli wide open in the corner. Jason dribbled in and Johnson darted out to meet him. That gave Fiorelli an easy opening to pass back to Jared, who laid the ball off the backboard and in.
Palisades called time-out. Hudson City had fought back and taken the lead. Eighteen seconds remained.
“Spencer—you know who’s shooting,” Coach Davis said. “You give him an open shot, he’ll nail it. I want five guys thinking nothing but defense out there. This thing is seconds away from reality.”
“Let’s go!” the team shouted as they broke the huddle.
“Used to be you telling Coach what to do,” Jared said as they headed onto the court.
“He learned from the best,” Spencer said, grinning.
Johnson dribbled up and surveyed the court. The Hudson City players were in a tight zone, except for Spencer, who was all over Johnson. He could drive the lane to try to tie the game, or he could work for an open three-pointer to win it.
Johnson passed the ball inside, then drifted toward the top of the key, calling for it back. Jared stepped out to meet the forward with the ball, closing off the lane as Fiorelli and Spencer hustled over to help.
The forward had no shot, but Johnson was open.
“Spencer!” Jared shouted as the ball flew out to Johnson.
Spencer darted toward Johnson, who dribbled once and shot. The ball arced toward the hoop. Jared turned to get ready for the rebound. The ball hit the back of the rim and rolled out, and Jared was there to grab it. He was immediately fouled.
Jared took a deep breath. Six seconds remained. If he made these two free throws, the game was theirs.
Johnson was standing with his hands on his hips, staring at the basket as Jared walked past him.
Jared made the first free throw. The best Palisades could hope for now was for Jared to miss and for Johnson to hit a long three-pointer. The spectators were stamping their feet and screaming for Jared to miss.
Jared dribbled twice and set his focus on the rim. The shot was true. Hudson City had a four-point lead.
“No fouls!” Spencer shouted as they ran back on defense.
Johnson shot from midcourt but the ball banged off the backboard. Hudson City had won the title!
Jared shut his eyes and made two fists. The crowd had been groaning, but now they were cheering. Hudson City had earned their respect. Fiorelli and Spencer and the others joined Jared on the court, thumping each other and shouting.
Spencer grabbed Jared’s arm and pulled him close. “You’re the man!” he shouted.
“Nah,” said Jared, shaking his head and smiling. “No heroes, remember? The team. That’s what this is about.”
“We’re the men ,” Fiorelli said, his face right in Jared’s. He pointed at Jared, then Spencer, then Coach Davis. “You! You! You!” he said to each of them.
Jared could only laugh.
Click here for more books by this author
READ AN EXCERPT FROM
FAST COMPANY
WINNING SEASON #3!
Tough Competition
The guy seated next to Manny on the basketball court inside the track had his eyes shut, nodding slowly to the rhythm of the music from his headphones. His shirt said NORTH JERSEY STRIDERS. Other runners were pacing the floor or stretching, all looking intense.
The gymnasium at Fairleigh Dickinson University wasn’t quite as large as the Armory, but Manny was even more nervous for this meet. This wasn’t a relay meet; there were no teammates to help carry the load. In a few minutes Manny would be out there for the 800-meter race with nine opponents.
He checked his racing shoes—double-knotted with the laces tucked in—massaged his thigh, and took a deep breath. He knew nothing about the other racers,
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