Basketball. Truly not a game for the weak, both of body and mind. A game that, in a matter of ten seconds, could change dramatically, yet over the course of forty eight minutes, might not change at all. Such a sport, with highs and lows, was draining on the mind.
And Koopinator loved it. He ate up the pressure, never phasing no matter his situation. But even he had his moments of self-doubt, and it was showing in his eyes here, no matter how much he tried to hide it. The Glitzville Brawlers were down by two points to the Petalburg Shells, a division rival, in a game that would decide who had home court advantage throughout the playoffs. Right now, it looked like Petalburg was going to end up the number one seed, after a couple fast-break layups by their star guard, Koops. That's why the Glitzville coach, Jolene, had called a timeout. Which is why he was resting for the thirty seconds or so he had to rest. To strategize. To think. To win.
"Alright guys, we got twenty seconds to run our play and score. Koopinator, we're having Bandy inbound to you. Shellshock and K.P, take the wings. Rawk, post up low. Pass and cut, try and get an open three." Jolene paused, and looked at Koopinator. "If nothing's there, take it yourself." He nodded. He was entrusted to do this, because he was able to score off the dribble, and his coach knew he could.
"Alright team, let's break. Team on three." "ONE TWO THREE TEAM!" The energized Brawlers ran out onto the court, where the Shells awaited them. Going to the half court sideline, Bandy inbounded the ball to Koopinator. Koopinator swung it out to Shellshock, who gave it right back to him before he cut. He then swung it to Bandy, and cut through to the weak side, Shellshock shifting over. By now, Bandy had passed to K.P. K.P looked at Rawk in the post, but it wasn't there. He kicked it out to Koopinator with nine seconds left.
Time slowed then. In the ever-turning cogs of Koopinator's mind, he surveyed his options. Another pass to a wing. No. He didn't trust Shell or K.P to make a shot. Pass to Bandy. Against a lot of other teams, maybe. Not Petalburg. Koopie Koo, who was on Bandy, was too good of a defensive player. That left him with one option.
The crowd hushed as the click ran down, Koopinator just dribbling well behind the three point line. With his off hand, he made a motion. All of a sudden, Bandy flashed to the defender, Koops' side, and screened him. Koopinator took a cross over right by Koops, and raced towards the paint, the click ticking slowly.
All of a sudden, from the free throw line, he leapt. The post defender, Koopley, jumped with him. He went up at the rim, but Koopley was too high. The division deciding game was about to be swatted away from the Brawlers.
But it wasn't. Because Koopinator didn't have the ball any more. In a perfectly executed pick'n'roll, Bandy had cut to the top of the key, beyond the white three point line. Koopinator had flipped the ball without looking, to where he knew his teammate would be.
Swish! Bandy was a spot three point shooter when he needed to be. The clock ran out as the ball ran through the net, and the game was over. The Brawlers had just beaten the Shells in a dramatic way. The confetti flew around Koopinator, as the fans of the team and the team itself celebrated. But Koopinator wasn't interested in celebrating. He found one figure on the court, and said to him,
"Nice execution." Nothing more. But Bandy knew that this compliment meant more than anything most people could say, and he was proud to have earned it.
Rumor is that Koopinator has a poster hanging on his wall that says, "I will trust that my capabilities will not let me down, and I trust my teammates to not fail me either." The quote is attributed to Mario Mario.