Chapter 96: Game Time

Tuesday, January 3rd, Evening

The Tree Hill Girls Basketball Team ran out onto the court to do a quick final pre-game warm-up. Coach Scott as per his normal practice walked out behind the team, flanked by his two assistants, Coach Sinclair and Coach Pierce-Scott, also coming out with them came Number Twelve Corynn Conners. Conners was still hobbled by her knee injury and took a seat on the bench.

Coach Scott stood in front of the bench and watched the other eleven girls on the court. Conners took a seat at the end of the bench. When the team finished, they came to the bench and huddled up around him.

"Remember, play our game and let's not sink to their level. Bigs watch them in the paint. Now let's go out there and keep this machine rolling," Coach Scott said.

"Ravens, on three," Faye Ambrose, number Forty-eight, the starting point guard, said, "One, two, three."

"Ravens!" The girls said, and they broke the huddle. The starters removed their warm-up jerseys and walked out onto the court. Coach Scott nodded and looked at the team as they stood in front of the bench. Looking over the crowd, the hometown fans were standing.

Coach Scott looked over to Coach Sinclair and Coach Pierce-Scott. Coach Pierce-Scott smiled at him.

"I think we were more inventive," Coach Pierce-Scott said.

"They'll find what works for them," Coach Scott said.

Coach Pierce-Scott nodded. The game was about to start, and Coach Scott watched as the Tree Hill Team took their positions. The starters stood there intensely, and Coach Scott named them off in his head. The Point-Guard is number forty-eight, Faye Ambrose. The Shooting-Guard is number nineteen, and co-captain Baylee Miller. The Small Forward is number Thirteen Jade Loyal. Power Forward number thirty, co-captain, Brett Pierce-Burke. Finally, at the five, the center number Sixty-one, Avril Popova.

Coach Scott watched as they lined up against their Masonbourgh opposites. He nodded; they were probably one of his most talented starting line-ups.

The ball went up in the air to open the game. Popova was able to get the ball over to Pierce-Burke, who passed the ball to Ambrose. The team pushed down the court and quickly scored. Coach Scott watched as the fans took their seat. Coach Scott watched as the rest of the teams and coaches taking their seats on the bench.

Masonbourgh came back down the court with their own possession. They scored and tied the game. Coach Scott stood up and shook his head.

"Come on defense!" Coach Scott yelled, and started to remove his blazer, "Come on move!"

Shaking his head, Coach Scott, he didn't like how things were already going. It wasn't even two minutes into the first quarter.

Soon, the game got sloppy. Fouls after fouls soon followed. The referees were calling everything. Coach Scott looked at one of the referees.

"Come on Irv, can't you just let them play!" Coach Scott yelled, and looked over to the other bench and saw the Masonbourgh Coach was also yelling at the referees.

Shrugging, Coach Scott reflected on what was going on. At least no one seemed to have an advantage over the other. Shaking his head, the score was also tight, that's not good. Coach Scott knew this was a game like staring down a gun barrel. It was going to come down to who blinks first.

Masonbourgh soon had a player in foul trouble and she had to sit. This gave Tree Hill an advantage for a while. It didn't last long, as Avril had to sit, as she was getting into foul trouble, and that sent Evalyn Lopez, number forty-four, and Avril's back-up in to play center. Coach Scott stood there shaking his head on how dirty and rough the game was being played.

It didn't get any better. Coach Scott wasn't happy when he sent his sixth man, Number Twenty-one, Flannery O'Brien to the locker room. She was digging in to get a ball and got poked in the eye. This happened as the first half was starting to wind down. If looks could kill, it would be a slaughter in the gym. The look on Coach Scott's face was mean, as he shook his head as Tree Hill was now down two players.

Halftime came as a relief. Coach Scott leads his team into the locker room. He walked into his office and threw his blazer on the desk, and that was followed by the clipboard against the wall. Coach Scott made a first and started at the wall. That was when his office door opened and Coach Sinclair walked through the door.

"Remember to breathe," Coach Sinclair said, as she finished walking through the door.

"What?" Coach Scott asked, and turned to face her.

"We've been coaching together for how long?" Coach Sinclair asked, "I've seen you lose your temper how many times?"

Coach Scott nodded, "Okay," he said and sighed.

"Are you done yet? Because the team needs to get their shit worked out so we can beat the crap out of Masonbourgh," Coach Sinclair said.

Coach Scott nodded, "I can't believe they are calling the game that way," he said.

Coach Sinclair nodded, "I know, we've had tough games before," she said.

"We have," he sighed, and shook his head.

"So, what are we going to do?" Coach Sinclair asked.

Coach Scott laughed, "I got an idea," he said.

Coach Sinclair tilted her head, "Are you going to share it?" she asked.

Coach Scott nodded, "Yes," he said, "But first I'm going to check on Flannery."

"Okay," Coach Sinclair said, as Coach Scott opened the office door and stepped out. He walked through the locker room and went to the training room. He found Flannery sitting on the training table holding an ice pack on her eye. The Trainer turned to the door.

"How's Flannery doing?" Coach Scott asked.

The Trainer nodded, "Let me check."

The Trainer walked over and removed the ice pack. Looking into Flannery's eye, there were a few minutes before The Trainer turned to look at Coach Scott.

"It should be fine," The Trainer said.

Coach Scott nodded and walked over to the table. "How are you Flannery?" he asked.

Flannery nodded, "It hurts like hell, Coach," she said.

Coach Scott nodded, "It doesn't look good either," he said.

"Damn it! Did she give me a black eye, Coach?" Flannery asked.

Coach Scott shrugged, "I don't know yet," he said.

"Coach, let me out there," Flannery said, "I'm going to make that bitch pay…oops, sorry Coach."

Coach Scott laughed, "It's okay, just try and bottle it up," he said, "So, you can use it on the court."

Flannery giggled a little, "Yes Coach," she said.

Coach Scott nodded, "If you want in, join us in the locker room," he said and turned to start walking out of the training room.

"Yes Coach," Flannery said.

With his back to Flannery Coach Scott let a slight smile on his face. Before he entered the locker room, he reduced the smile back to a neutral expression. Turning towards the locker room he was surprised with what he saw.

"Brett, what are you doing on the floor?" Coach Pierce-Scott asked.

"It's called defense," Brett said and adjusted her compression sleeve.

"You need to step it up," Coach Pierce-Scott said.

"I know how to play the position, and if you haven't noticed I'm the only starter not in foul trouble," Brett said.

"You're playing lazy," Coach Pierce-Scott said.

Brett canted her head, "Is that my coach or my mom telling me?" she asked.

Coach Sinclair came over and pulled Coach Pierce-Scott away. "Ashlyn, go sit in the office," she said.

"I'm trying to coach up one of my players," Coach Pierce-Scott said.

"No, you're being a stage mom," Coach Sinclair said, "Now go into the office, and cool off."

Coach Pierce-Scott nodded and walked away.

"Thanks, Coach," Brett said.

"You're both wrong," Coach Sinclair said, "You Pierce-Burke should know better than talk to a coach like that. Now sit your ass down and keep your mouth shut."

Brett sat down. Coach Sinclair looked over the room, as Coach Scott walked in. He shook his head and kicked a trash can across the room. Eleven sets of teenage girl's eyes locked on him.

He nodded, "Let's see our first tough game of the year, and we're tearing ourselves apart? Two players in the training room, and three starters in foul trouble on the bench, and we're defeating ourselves in the locker room?

"Maybe none of you are ready to win this all? If this is how you react when you have a little bit of trouble, then maybe we shouldn't win the championship.

"I come back from checking on Flannery, and I see one of my captains arguing with one of the coaches. That's not being a champion, that's being a spoiled brat.

"Quiet Brett, I've benched my whole starting line up several times for less. So, you're not untouchable. We'll settle up later," Coach Scott said, the girls hung their head.

Just as the silence was getting deifying, Flannery joined them in the locker room. She took her seat with the team, and Coach Scott looked them over.

"Thank you for joining us, Flannery," Coach Scott said, "Now to say this is not where we hoped to be is an understatement. They're kicking our asses out there, but you will say Coach we're kicking theirs right back.

"What you're doing is a good job of holding it close. Do we want to hold them close?" Coach Scott paused, and shook his head, "Oh hell no! We want to win, and it's a close game. I've heard y'all talk about being a champion this year. Games like this, well that's where champions are made. Are we made of that stuff?"

Coach Scott shook his head, "Well with the play I've seen out there in the first half, I'd say, no. So, what are we going to do about it? Are we going to go out there and fight and claw our way to victory or are we going to fold under the pressure and die?"

He was met by silence. Looking them over he nodded. "Okay, I see. So, this is how we're going to do this. We're going to crush them in the paint. Brett's fast enough to help with the parameter. Listen this is going to sound weird, but it's going to work.

"We're going out with the Alpine set. Eva, you're checking in as the four, and Brett you're the three.

"Yes, we're going to play three in two out. We're going to make, no dare them to try and beat us with their parameter shooting. That's their weakness, their outside shooting, and we're solid defending it.

"Bigs, I want no points scored in the paint. If they drive the lane, take the charge. I want them battered and bruised. They want to be rough with us, we'll be rough with them," Coach Scott said.

The team was silent. Coach Sinclair walked over and looked the team over. "You heard what Coach Scott said, let's get out there," she said.

The girls nodded and started to head out. Coach Scott walked over to his office, and opened the door, finding Coach Pierce-Scott standing there.

"Are you okay?" Coach Scott asked.

Coach Pierce-Scott turned to Coach Scott, "I can't believe she did that," she said.

Coach Scott sighed, "You two are too alike," he said.

"Well, are we benching her?" Coach Pierce-Scott asked.

Coach Scott shook his head, "No," he said.

"So, she'll just get away with it?" Coach Pierce-Scott asked.

Coach Scott shook his head, "No, I'll punish her," he said, "Just not today."

Coach Pierce-Scott nodded, "Even with what happened in the locker room?" she asked.

Coach Scott sighed, "Yes, we need her today," he said.

"You benched all the starters my junior year when they acted up, and you're not going to do this for what happened today?" Coach Pierce-Scott asked.

Coach Scott sighed, "I benched them because they were in open revolt," he said.

"And what Brett did wasn't?" Coach Pierce-Scott asked.

"I'm not quite sure if she was yelling at her coach or her mom," Coach Scott said.

"Do you really think I couldn't separate the two?" Coach Pierce-Scott asked.

"I don't know," Coach Scott said, "But we have to get onto the court."

The two coaches walked out of the office and onto the gym floor. Coach Scott took a seat at the bench. The team worked out on the floor and as the final buzzer of half-time sounded they returned to the bench. They huddled around Coach Scott as he walked over to the sideline and looked them over.

"Alright let's done what I said we're going to do, and just trust in ourselves. We'll come out of this with a win," Coach Scott said, "Bring it in."

The team put their hands in, and Faye looked the team over. "Is Masonbourgh going to win on three," she said, "One, two, three."

"Nevermore!" The team replied and the huddle broke up. The ones who were going to start the second half walked out onto the court, and the others took their spot on the bench. Coach Scott stood by the head of the bench and looked out on the court. That was when the game started again.

Masonbourgh tried to bring the ball down, but they ran into a mountain range. Their point guard tried driving into the paint and ran right into Evalyn. She took the charge and the ball changed possession. Faye brought the ball down the court. Coach Scott noted the offense was a bit slower with the bigs out, but they got down there and got the basket.

He nodded and smiled and took a seat. It was out of his hands. The girls had to sink or swim. All he could do was watch and fix things as needed. But with this line-up, the guards were busy all over the court trying to keep them from shooting three-pointers.

Watching the game slow down and the teams play, he knew he was right. Looking down the bench at his reserves he knew he was going to have to get Jade out there again. He needed to give two from the forecourt a blow. Jade would replace one, who would replace the other. Nodding he leaned over to Coach Pierce-Scott who was sitting next to him.

"Yes?" Coach Pierce-Scott asked.

"Should we put O'Brien or Garcia in when we pull Brett?" Coach Scott asked, wanting her input, as she was the position coach. He had someone in mind, who, but wanted her input.

"O'Brien, it would freak them out after the eye poke," Coach Pierce-Scott said.

Coach Scott nodded; he did want to get O'Brien back on the horse. Looking back toe Coach Pierce-Scott, "Thank you," he said.

"You're welcome," Coach Pierce-Scott said.

"Cooper, Kennedy, check-in for Miller and Ambrose," Coach Scott said.

"Yes Coach," Gracelyn Cooper, number seven, said.

"Yes Coach," Khloe Kennedy, number eight, said.

The two girls went to check-in and waited for the next whistle. Once play stopped, they ran in to substitute for Baylee and Faye. The two girls came off the court to catch a breath and get some quick coaching to adjust what they were doing out there. They also needed to hydrate.

Coach Scott sat at the edge of his chair and watched the game. The game itself kept moving on at its pace. The next substitute Brett came off the court with Evalyn, which sent out Jade and Flannery. Coach Scott noticed Brett sat at the end of the bench to stay away from Coach Pierce-Scott.

Shaking his head, he turned his attention back to the game. Coach Sinclair would handle Brett, for now. At a certain point, Coach Scott knew all his job is now is just shuttle in players to keep their legs fresh. As long as they were fresh, and he had three bigs on the court Masonbourgh was kept off their game.

Looking down the bench, he saw Baylee was ready to head back in. "Baylee, checking in for Gracelyn," Coach Scott said.

"Yes Coach," Baylee said. She got up and went over to the scoring table and checked in. They waited for the next stop in play.

Once Baylee was back in, his three seniors were back on the court. Coach Scott noted that the three seniors and starters, Avril Popova, Baylee Miller, and Brett Pierce-Burke, were all over the court. Doing their job, and making things happen. This made his job easier, when they behave, as they have taken ownership of the team. Coach Scott noted that even though Brett and Baylee were the team captains, Avril was as much a leader as any of them.

As the second half started to wind down, Coach Scott started breaking down the Alpine Line Up. The starters were slowly pulled, so the bench could get some more playing time. Eventually, most of the bench got in to play in the closing minutes of the game. The sophomores and freshmen finished off the game with Evalyn was the center.

Coach Scott knew they couldn't win the game. Masonbourgh would try and claw their way back into the game by scoring. There were a few moments where Coach Scott was worried that he almost put the starters back in. That only lasted a few seconds and some good defensive plays by the bench finished Masonbourgh off. Coach Scott noted as the final buzzer sounded, Tree Hill pulled off the win with a score of Forty-eight to Forty-three.