Chapter 628: On The Court
Friday, March 11th, Afternoon
(Song lyrics in italics)
Sitting on the bench, she removed her warm-up shirt. She adjusted her jersey, looked down at the Captain's C on the front of it, and saw the number thirty as well. She looked to her right and left, which were her fellow post players.
Brett checked that her ginger red hair was in place. Finally, she looked forward to Coach Pierce-Scott, her position coach, and her mom. Brett got together with the other post players. Coach Pierce-Scott made eye contact with Brett, and as was her pattern, she made eye contact, in order, with Avril, Jade, Evalyn, Flannery, and Cameron and ended up at Jewell. Brett knew this was the last ride for this unity, as she and Avril would graduate.
"Alright, be careful in the paint; they like to penetrate, but if we play smart and our game, we should be good," Coach Pierce-Scott said and nodded.
The whole team came together around Coach Scott. Coach Scott nodded, then spoke, "Go out, have fun, play smart and play our game, and we'll be fine; now, play your hearts out," Coach Scott said, "Hands in."
"Ready for combat on three," Faye said, "One…two…three."
"Ready for combat!" The Team Said.
Brett walked out onto the court with Baylee, Avril, Faye, and Jade. They took their places on the court; Brett looked over at the main person that was going to guard her. Michael Tennent was the name of who she expected to cover her.
"Hello, Ginger," Tennent said.
"New material, please get some," Brett said.
"What are you talking about?" Tennent asked.
"What are you? A junior?" Brett asked.
"Yeah," Tennent said.
"You're about to get schooled," Brett said confidently.
Are you ready?
The referee threw up the ball, and Brett moved and blocked out Tennent. Avril outleaped the Northwest Guilford center and tapped the ball toward Faye. Brett noticed that Faye and the Northwest Guilford point guard were tied up, and the ball was open for anyone to get.
Brett blocked out Tennent. Faye tipped the ball. Baylee was on the move; Brett noticed and used her big body to keep Baylee free. Baylee secured the ball, pivoted, and outlet the ball to Jade.
There's a place inside my mind, a place I like to hide
You don't know the chances, what if I should die?
A place inside my brain, another kind of pain
You don't know the chances, I'm so blind!
Blind! Blind!
Brett started to break free as Jade dribbled the ball three times. By this time, Faye untangled herself from the Northwest Guilford point guard and rushed down the court. Faye moved down the court, looking at how the play was developing. Faye passed the ball to Baylee.
Baylee caught the ball in stride and moved behind Brett, using her as a pick. One dribble, two dribble, and a third dribble in the paint, then she went into the air. Brett watched as Baylee laid the ball up for the first two points, breaking on the scoreboard.
Once Baylee landed, she turned and started running down the court. Brett came up next to Baylee and gave her a teasing body bump. Once on the Tree Hill side of the court, Brett looked for Tennent. Brett moved to pick up Tennent.
"I thought you were supposed to be great," Tennent said.
"I've not got started yet," Brett said.
Northwest Guilford set up a slow-paced offensive position. Brett watched the ball move around the top of the key. Brett kept an eye on the shot clock out of the corner of her eye. Brett had her eyes split between Tennent and the ball.
Another place I find to escape the pain inside
You don't know the chances, what if I should die?
A place inside my brain, another kind of pain
You don't know the chances, I'm so blind!
Blind! Blind!
The clock counted down as the Northwest Guilford point guard passed the ball across the key. Tennent caught the ball and went up for a jumper. Brett went up to block the ball. Reaching up with her right hand, she got her hand on the ball. It was just like volleyball, and Brett was spiking it. The ball hit the court hard and bounced out of bounds, but not before the play stopped because of a shot clock violation.
Brett looked at Tennent and tilted her head. "How do you like me now?" she asked.
"Ha! Ha!" Tennent said.
"I'm only getting warmed up," Brett said and walked to the baseline. Brett took the ball from the referee, held it up, looked around, and threw it to Faye. Brett took a step forward and broke into a run down the court.
Brett got into a position and watched as Faye passed the ball to Jade. The ball landed home, and Jade dribbled the ball, turned, and pulled up for her shot. The Northwest Guilford small forward went over the top of Jade, and the referee called her for a foul.
Jade shook her head and went to the foul line. Brett took a position along the lane. Jade got the ball from the referee; she bounced the ball, looked up at the hoop, pulled up, and took her shot. The ball hit the glass, landed on the hoop, and rolled in the basket. A Northwestern Guilford player caught the ball and handed it to the referee.
The referee at the top of the key got the ball back and handed it to Jade. Jade bounced the ball several times and pulled up to take her second free throw. The ball sailed wide and bounced off the backboard; the ball was live as it fell into play. A Northwestern Guilford player rebounded the ball, then passed it out to their point guard.
Deeper and deeper and deeper
As I journey to live a life that seems to be a lost reality
That I could never find a way to reach my inner self esteem is low
How deep can I go in the ground that I lay
If I don't find a way to sift through the grey that clouds my mind
This time I look to see what's between the lines
Brett shook her head and started running down the court. So far, the score is three to nothing, but focus on playing the game. Brett was pretty deep and was behind by the time the ball was around the key. Brett was doing her job keeping Tennent out of the play.
By the time Tennent got to the paint, the ball was on the other side of the court. Brett stepped it up and covered Tennent. She was too late as the parameter shooter put up a mid-range jumper to break Northwest Guilford onto the scoreboard.
Avril took in the board and passed the ball to Faye; they started to move down the court. Brett got into position in the paint. Brett could see the center was cheating towards her. She expected them to double-team her. Brett played loose and wanted to keep them guessing what she would do.
Faye pulled up and took a shot; the ball bounced off the glass, hit the hoop, and rolled off the hoop. Brett made her move and went up for the loose ball. Grabbing the ball, she landed and then went up again. It was a simple bank shot that sank the shot. Brett was now on the board; Tree Hill was up five to two. I can see, I can see I'm going blind
I can see, I can see I'm going blind
I can see, I can see I'm going blind
I can see, I can see I'm going blind
Brett turned to head down the court towards the Tree Hill side of the court. Avril ran down next to Brett and gave her a light slap on the back.
"You couldn't have missed that one?" Avril asked.
"Wanted the rebound?" Brett asked.
"And the put-back," Avril said.
"We'll see if you can get on the board," Brett said.
I can see, I can see I'm going blind
I can see, I can see I'm going blind
I can see, I can see I'm going blind
I can see, I can see I'm going blind
I can see, I can see I'm going blind (I can see I'm going)
I can see, I can see I'm going blind (going blind)
I can see, I can see I'm going blind
I can see, I can see I'm going blind!
"Okay," Avril said as they ran down the court for defense. Brett smirked as they set up for the up-and-coming Northwest Guilford possession.
I'm blind!
I'm blind!
I'm blind!
I'm blind!
