Chapter 333: Sidelines

Tuesday, January 31st, Evening

On the sidelines, Ashlyn watched as the five starters took to the court. She checked off each girl's name in her head, Faye, Baylee, Jade, Brett, and Avril. They took their positions on the court and were ready to open the second half. Ashlyn focused on Baylee, who wore Ashlyn's old jersey number. Next, her eyes drifted to Brett; the ginger red hair was a giveaway on the court.

The second half started, and the ball was now in play. Somehow, someway the ball ended up in Jade's hands. Jade passed the ball to Faye. Faye secured the ball and started to move down the court. Faye saw Brett streaking down the court, pulled up, and passed the ball to Brett, just a half-second before she would've been called for traveling. Faye liked to live dangerously, Ashlyn reflected. The pass was a thing of beauty; she hit Brett in stride. Brett fielded the ball cleanly and pushed into the empty paint. Ashlyn reflected on how much Brett moved like her dad. Huck moved like a bulldozer; James, Nathan, and even Ashlyn herself were more like gazelles. Brett played strong. Ashlyn reflected as Brett laid up the ball. Brett's layup was a thing of beauty.

Ashlyn clapped her hands, encouraging the team. Without missing a beat, Brett was jogging down the court. Brett was one of the taller girls on the team but didn't move like it. South Brunswick started to move down the court; it was time for defense.

Each girl picked up their assignment. The Tree Hill's wall was set; every time South Brunswick tried to penetrate, they were checked. Soon, it came to moving the ball around, trying to cause a crack to form. The shot clock kept counting down.

A shrill whistle ended play with a buzzer as the shot clock expired. South Brunswick turned the ball over on a shot-clock violation. Ashlyn sighed and took her seat at Lucas's left hand.

"Can they keep this up?" Lucas asked rhetorically.

"No defense is perfect," Ashlyn said.

"If you know yourself and know your opponent, you shall never be in peril," Lucas said.

"Sun Tzu, The Art of War," Ashlyn said.

"Paraphrased," Lucas said.

"Of course, but if Huck heard you, he would quote it chapter and verses," Ashlyn said.

"That's Huck," Lucas said.

Ashlyn nodded, "So, have you scouted his daughters?" she asked.

"You mean the Hucklings?" Lucas asked.

Ashlyn chuckled, "I guess you could call them that," she said.

"The genetic mix of a beast-like Huck and Chase's athletic ability, hell," Lucas said and shook his head.

"In theory, that could make an incredible player," Ashlyn said.

"PJ and Key are going to be interesting if they try out," Lucas said.

"Okay," Ashlyn said.

"You want my scouting report for the future," Lucas said.

"I don't know," Ashlyn said.

"Talent is always out there; you just have to learn to spot it and develop it," Lucas said.

Ashlyn nodded and clapped his hands, "Come on, defense," she yelled out to the court.

"Take your time, and you'll find the players," Lucas said.

Ashlyn looked down the bench, then back onto the court. Lucas watched the game and finally stood up; he walked down the bench and looked at Flannery.

"Flannery," Lucas said.

"Yes, Coach," Flannery said.

"You're going in for Jade," Lucas said.

"Yes, Coach," Flannery said, took off her warm-up shirt, and walked to the scorer's table to check-in.

Lucas returned to his spot on the bench. He looked to Ashlyn. "Thinking of your future?" he asked.

"Curious," Ashlyn said.

"Sometimes looking too far forward, you miss the log in front of you," Lucas said.

Ashlyn nodded, "Sounding like Cade," she said; Lucas nodded.

A whistle sounded on a turnover, and Flannery jogged out onto the court. Jade nodded and jogged to the bench. Ashlyn stood up and greeted Jade as she returned to the bench.

Sitting back down, Ashlyn watched the game. The second quarter is mostly over; Flannery took her spot, and play restarted. The ball went across the court and was intercepted by Faye. Faye stopped, pivoted, and looked around the court. Without more than a second thought, Faye passed the ball to a waiting Flannery. At the three-point arc, Flannery caught the ball, pivoted, and took a shot. The ball sailed in a beautiful arc and sank through the hoop—three more points for Tree Hill.

Ashlyn nodded and watched as the teams switched to defense. In basic concept, Ashlyn reflected, a basketball game is a very basic thing, boring, even. Five people versus five people, it's in some respects like tennis. It could be considered a boring thing to watch or experience.

"Here we go again," Lucas said.

"What now?" Kiera asked.

"The score," Lucas said.

Kiera nodded, "So, we're pulling the starters?" she asked.

"Yes, we're going to have to pull them," Lucas said.

"Who do you want?" Ashlyn asked.

"Interesting; what are you thinking?" Kiera asked.

"Three guard," Lucas said.

"Three guard?" Kiera asked.

"Yeah," Lucas said.

"So, who do you want out there?" Ashlyn asked.

"Next whistle send out Cory and Grace for Bay and Faye," Lucas said.

"Okay," Ashlyn said.

"Near the quarter ends, we'll send out Cam, Eva, and Jewell for Flannery, Brett, and Avril," Lucas said.

"Yes, Coach," Kiera said.

Ashlyn stood up and walked down the bench. She looked over the bench and stopped in front of Corynn and Gracelyn. Ashlyn looked them over.

"Cory goes in for Bay, and Grace goes in for Faye," Ashlyn said.

"Yes, Coach," Corynn said, stood up, removed her warm-up shirt, and headed to the scorekeeper's table.

"Yes, Coach," Gracelyn said and did the same as Corynn.

Ashlyn looked to three more of the young girls. "Cam, Eva, Jewell, y'all be going in for the last minute of the quarter," she said.

"Yes, Coach," Cameron said.

"Yes, Coach," Evalyn said.

"Yes, Coach," Jewell said.

Ashlyn nodded and returned to her place at Lucas's side. After taking her seat, Lucas looked at her as play came to a stop with a whistle. Corynn and Gracelynn ran out to the court; Baylee and Faye jogged off the court. The three coaches were up and greeted the players. Baylee walked down the bench, passed her warm-up shirt, pulled on, took a seat, and was handed a bottle of water. Faye followed right behind Baylee.

Lucas took his seat and looked at Ashlyn. "How did the girls feel about the news?" he asked.

"Shocked, but I think because they weren't expecting that much playing time," Ashlyn said as the next set of players rotated in.

Lucas nodded as the game clock ran down to end the third quarter. Ashlyn looked up at the scoreboard, Tree Hill forty-three, South Brunswick twenty-three.