Chapter 625: Broadcast

Saturday, March 11th, Afternoon

He sat at the desk and checked his watch. Looking towards his laptop, he pressed the various buttons as the system got ready to stream. He looked at the screen as the timer counted down. Finally, he pulled on his headset, watching the clock tick down.

Trey Terthero nodded a few moments, and the system went active. was now live streaming from Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, North Carolina.

"Welcome, Ladies and Gentlemen, this is Trey Tertheto live streaming from the sidelines of the Reynolds Coliseum, on the campus of North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina, for the North Carolina's 4A Woman's Basketball Championship Game, featuring your Tree Hill Ravens versus the Northwest Guilford Vikings," Trey said and took a breath.

"Both teams are coming in near full strength; Tree Hill is only reporting one questionable player on their injury list, and that is sophomore guard Corynn Conners, still with that lingering ankle injury. The other injury of note is starting junior small forward Jade Loyal with a hand injury. But most other players are available on both sides, " Trey said, paused, and sipped from his water bottle.

"The big story for today's game is this is the last game for Tree Hill's three senior players, the core of the so-called Brett Pack. The three starters, Brett Pierce-Burke, Baylee Miller, and Avril Popova will be playing Division One College Basketball next year. All three have played well for Tree Hill but have yet to play in a championship game. That ends today for them," Trey said, paused, and looked over the court.

"For the coaching staff, this is the fourth championship game for Coach Lucas Scott and Coach Kiera Sinclair. For Coach Ashlyn Pierce-Scott this is her second as the coach. This week I had the opportunity to talk to Coach Scott. Coach Scott is looking forward to this game and believes that the team is as prepared as they could be," Trey said and paused.

"One thing Coach Scott did ask for this game was for the Tree Hill fans to wear black as he wanted to black out today. Looking at the crowd, I could see that the fans in the stands had listened. Most of the Tree Hill side is in black. This humble journalist is impressed with you, the Tree Hill Fans showing support for the young women on the court," Trey said and paused.

The two teams came jogging out onto the court from the locker room. Northwest Guilford started to work out by their hoop. Tree Hill followed soon after and started doing their drills. Trey took in the girls who were wearing the neutral site black uniforms.

"The teams are out of the locker room for their warm-ups. Northwest Guilford is wearing their home whites. Tree Hill is in their neutral site black uniforms. The teams are going through their warm-up drills. From where I am located, I can see that all Tree Hill Players are participating in the warm-ups. The three coaches are watching the drills, and Coach Sinclair is talking with Corynn Connors. Coach Scott has wandered over to the half-court line and is exchanging pleasantries with the Northwest Guilford Coach," Trey said and looked it all over.

"Taking this moment, I'm taking a look into the crowd. We're looking for the movers and shakers of Tree Hill in the stands. I can see Brooke Davis sitting next to her oldest daughter, the manager of Club TRIC, and the stepmom to player Brett Pierce-Burke, Chase Burke. Also sitting beside his wife is Tree Hill Fire Rescue Lieutenant J.L. Burke. Lieutenant Burke is better known as Huck Burke, a three-sport all-state athlete at Tree Hill High School, a state championship in basketball his senior year, and player Brett Pierce-Burke's dad," Trey said.

Trey watched as Coach Scott finished chatting with the Northwest Guilford coach. The coach returned to his team's bench and talked with his coaches. Coach Scott looked out towards his players warming up on the court. He nodded, then looked up at the scoreboard.

"As the warm-up period is ending, both teams are finishing up. As the buzzer sounds, both teams head back to their respective locker rooms. Now it's just a waiting game. I've recently talked with Jaslyn Trafford, who twice won the state championship at Tree Hill High School. Ms. Trafford told me what they would do during this time of the game. They would finish up with trainer checks and go over last-minute details. Mostly they would try to get into the proper state of mind for the game. Ms. Trafford called it the proper head space. Mostly, Ms. Trafford said you were trying to keep your nerves before the game," Trey said and took a sip of his water.

"One of the stories that Ms. Trafford told me was during her second championship season; they brought a bucket for the players to deal with their nerves. She said there was no doubt that the bucket was still in use. Overall, Ms. Trafford said that most players are just leaning back and getting ready for the game," Trey said. He looked over the arena and sighed.

The players started to come out of the locker room. Trey watched the players of Northwest Guilford run out onto the court.

"Northwest Guilford is coming out on the court. They are wearing their home whites and look focused on this game. If they are as good as their record and how they carry themselves, this should be one hell of a game. Northwest Guilford exudes confidence," Trey said, watching Northwest Guilford go to their bench. Tree Hill started to exit their locker room; as they headed towards the court, Trey looked them over.

"Your Tree Hill Ravens are coming out onto the court. Junior Flannery O'Brien is leading them out. They are wearing their neutral site black uniforms. They are at the bench going over some last-minute details with the coaching staff. The starters are taking off their warm-ups and getting ready to come out to start the game," Trey said and watched them get ready for the game.

"Now for your Tree Hill Raven's starting lineup," Trey said, "At point guard, number forty-eight, a junior, Faye Ambrose."

Faye walked out onto the court and took a position on the sideline.

"Your starting senior shooting guard, one of your co-captains, number nineteen, Baylee Miller," Trey said.

Baylee walked out onto the court and took a position next to Faye on the sideline.

"Your starting junior small forward, number thirteen, Jade Loyal," Trey said.

Jade walked out onto the court and took a position next to Baylee on the sideline.

"The starting center, senior, number sixty-one Avril Popova," Trey said.

Avril walked onto the court and took up a position next to Jade on the sideline.

"The starting power forward, your senior co-captain, number thirty, Brett Pierce-Burke," Trey said.

Brett walked out onto the court; the Tree Hill fans cheered her. Brett took her spot next to Avril.

"We're going to pause for the singing of the national anthem," Trey said and stood up like most of the people in the arena for the national anthem.