Chapter 495: Laney

Wednesday, February 15th, Evening

The gym was alive, as it always was. Sitting on the parquet floor, she stretched out, loosening the muscles of her body. She stopped after a minute; she pulled up her warm-up jersey and wiped her face. After taking a deep breath, she looked to her teammate on her left.

"Last conference tournament," Baylee Miller said.

"Let's just win this game," Brett Pierce-Burke said.

"Do you have a feeling?" Avril Popova asked from the other side of Brett.

"I just want to win," Brett said.

Avril nodded, "Yeah, me too," she said.

"Is Parker here?" Brett asked.

"Yeah, in the stands," Baylee said.

Brett nodded, "That's good," she said.

"How about Garvan?" Baylee asked.

"I don't know," Brett said.

"He'll be here," Avril said.

"I guess," Brett said.

Coach Pierce-Scott walked by and looked them over. "Alright, let's get in the locker room," she said.

"Yes, Coach," the girls said and jogged into the locker room.

They all sat around as the coach's started to go over last-minute details. Once they were done, they jogged out onto the court. The five starters took off their warmups shirts at the bench and walked out to the court.

Brett stood in her position and looked around. Baylee was in place, wearing number 19; across the court was Jade Loyal wearing her number 13. Brett knew that Jade wore the same number as Candi Scott. On the same side, as Brett was Faye Ambrose wearing her number 48, Brett wore number 30. At center court Avril Popova got ready, wearing number 61.

The game started with the opening jump ball. The two centers went up in the air; Avril had the reach and leaped to get over the other girl. Avril tapped the ball, and Brett followed the ball, timing it. Brett jumped up, secured the ball, and passed the ball to Faye.

Brett headed down the court, followed by Baylee, Avril, and Jade. Faye pushed down the court and held up her left hand.

"Delta!" Faye called out.

Brett knew where she had to be, seeing where Avril moved to. A small smile broke across her face. It was time to feed the big girl until they stopped it. The question is which big girl it would be tonight.

Faye got to the top of the key and threw the ball into the paint. Avril came up with the ball, turned, and sky-hooked the ball. Brett got ready in case the ball missed. Brett didn't need to be prepared, as Avril's shot sank for two points and the opening score. Looking at her friend Brett shook her head and smiled.

They were playing Laney for the fourth time this year. They knew each other well, even to the point of trash talking each in a familiar way. But it also meant they knew each other, which made the game rough.

When the first quarter ended, the teams went back to the benches. The score was Laney 10, Tree Hill 12. Brett sat on the bench and took a long pull of water. Brett looked to her left to see Baylee sitting with a towel over her head. Avril was sitting on the other side, toweling herself off.

After a quick conversation with the coaches, they were back out on the floor. Brett smiled and looked at her opposite number.

"What are you smiling about, Ginger?" The Laney Power Forward asked.

"Wait and see," Brett said.

The second quarter started, and Brett went on a defensive tear. They were stealing and blocking passes and shots, keeping the game going. Brett even ended up at the foul line.

This quarter was more open. The ball went around, but it ended like any other game. The players started to head back to the locker room as half-time came. Brett looked up at the scoreboard to see the score, Laney 21 to Tree Hill 27.

In the locker room, they started to go over the first half. One or two of the players went to see the trainer to adjust their taping and other support wrappings. The big message was to stay hungry and keep the level of play up.

The team came out onto the floor and started to loosen up. They took their place on the court to start the third quarter. Brett found herself on the court.

As the ball went around, the play became more physical. Laney had made some adjustments; halfway through the quarter, Brett knew she was in for a long night.

Defense became the name of the game. Watching the game, it started to look like a series of high-speed collisions. Both teams had buckled down and wanted to control the game's flow.

As the teams walked off the court for the short break between the third and fourth quarters, Brett felt the exhaustion. Looking up at the scoreboard, she sighed, Laney 32, Tree Hill 38. It's a six-point game—too small a margin, three baskets, which means no rest.

The final quarter started, and Brett found herself on the court as there was no rest for the weary. It was more of the same, but Laney played aggressively. Laney wanted to take the lead, but the Ravens were not in the mood.

Brett could feel the tank getting low. They kept the pace, and as the final minutes counted down, the more defensive players were sent in. Brett was the last starter on the court when Flannery O'Brien came in for her.

Brett finished the last minutes of the game on the bench. The game ended, and Tree Hill held the six-point lead through the fourth quarter. The game ended with Tree Hill winning; the final score was Laney 47, Tree Hill 53.

As they walked towards the locker room, Ashlyn stopped Brett and pulled her aside. They talked for a few moments. Ashlyn seemed more animated than Brett. When Ashlyn finished, Brett just nodded and walked to the locker room. Ashlyn stood there for a moment then followed.