Chapter 88: The Girl's Locker Room
Tuesday, January 3rd, Evening
They had finished getting dressed for the game. One or two checked in with the trainer to get taped up. Two of the freshmen looked around seeming to worry. One of them, a reserve guard named Khloe Kennedy watched as Coach Pierce-Scott stood by the office door, watching.
Ashlyn, Coach Pierce-Scott, or just plain Mom, watched the girls like a hawk, she reflected. Slowly she adjusted the compression sleeve on her left arm. It was just a precaution but a necessary one. One last adjustment to her jersey, number 30, and then she pulled on her warm-up shirt. Brett Pierce- Burke looked once more up to her mom, and took her seat next to Baylee and Avril.
"Does the patch make you itch?" Baylee asked as she scratched at her left breast.
"That's why I wear a shirt underneath," Brett said.
Avril laughed and shook her head, "That's why I should've had the second c," she said.
"They wanted one for the post and one for the guards," Baylee said, "Who are we waiting for?"
"Corynn, they're double-checking her knee," Brett said.
"Hopefully she could go because that just leaves Gracelynn and Khloe," Baylee said.
"We'll get by," Brett said, as Corynn walked into the group and took her seat. The Trainer followed and went into Coach Scott's office followed by Pierce-Scott.
"What's the word, Cory?" Brett asked.
The sophomore guard shook her head, "Not tonight, they didn't like what they felt," Corynn Conners, wearing her jersey, number 12, a backup guard, said.
"Fuck!" one of the other girls said, they turned to see it was Faye Ambrose, wearing number 48 jersey, the starting point guard, and usually who Corynn came in for.
"Wasn't my choice," Corynn said.
"Great, I barely know the offense," Khloe Kennedy, number 8, a freshman guard, said.
"It's easy Special K," Avril said, standing up and adjusting her number 61 jersey, who was also the starting center, said.
"Oh?" Khloe asked.
"Feed the big girl in the middle the ball," Avril said.
Brett shook her head, "Don't pay too much attention to the big girl," Brett said, "This is Masonbourgh, we got this."
The office door opened and four people came out. Coach Pierce-Scott was in the lead, Coach Scott followed, then Coach Sinclair and the Trainer. The two assistants and the trainer took a spot along the wall. Coach Scott took a few steps forward and looked the team over.
"Welcome back to game night, I hope Y'all had a good break. I can tell by the look on your faces, that some of Y'all are worried about the layoff and rust.
"I'm going to tell you don't, if we play our game it shouldn't matter. Now onto Masonbourgh, their best player is Zook, she's a big, that means Jade and Brett it's your job to keep her off her game.
"I want her to have a big fat goose egg," Coach Lucas Scott said.
"Yes Coach," Jade Loyal, number 13, is the junior starting small forward, said.
"Yes Coach," Brett said.
"Watch the trash-talking, Brett," Coach Scott said.
"Yes Coach," Brett Pierce-Burke, jersey number 30, Senior, Co-captain, starting power forward, said. She knew he was warning her that Zook trash talks. Brett was not a trash talker, that was her Aunt Angela that trash-talked.
Coach Scott nodded, "Evalyn, be prepared we might try the Alpine line-up tonight," Coach Scott said.
"Yes Coach," Evalyn Lopez, jersey number 44, junior, and the reserve center, said.
Coach Scott nodded, "Just how we practiced, if we play as hard as I make you practice, we should be fine," he said, "But I don't want fine, I want outstanding, do Y'all, Agree?"
"Yes Coach," The girls said.
"Coach Sinclair?" Coach Scott asked, and walked back to the wall.
Coach Sinclair walked forward from the wall and looked the girls over. "Housekeeping, Corynn is out, so Khloe, be prepared to play early," Coach Kiera Sinclair said.
"Yes Coach," Khloe said.
"Masonbourgh's point guard, Hammersmith likes to drive the basket. Careful, don't cause a foul, if anything let her foul you. Understand?" Coach Sinclair said.
"Yes Coach," The girls said.
"What's Coach Sinclair's Rule Ten?" Coach Sinclair asked.
"Always take the charge," The girls said.
"Coach Pierce-Scott," Coach Sinclair said and walked back to the wall. That was when the last assistant came forward. Brett looked at her Mom and position coach.
"Masonbourgh likes to dominate in the post, their parameter shooting game sucks. But still, watch out for the kick-out pass," Coach Ashlyn Pierce-Scott said.
"Yes Coach," The girls said.
"Bigs, I'm expecting Masonbourgh to try and be physical in the paint, I don't want you to foul, but I also don't expect you to back down either," Coach Pierce-Scott said, "Cameron, what's your jersey number?"
"Fifteen, Coach," Cameron Garcia, jersey number 15, a freshman reserve forward, said.
"Team block shots, fifteen is the goal for tonight," Coach Pierce-Scott said.
"Yes Coach," The girls said.
"Coach Scott and Coach Sinclair don't think y'all can do that. I said y'all can, are y'all going to prove me wrong?" Coach Pierce-Scott asked.
"No Coach," The girls said.
"Coach Scott," Coach Pierce-Burke said and walked back to the wall.
Coach Scott came forward again. He looked them over, again.
"Normal starters tonight, no trick sets, unless we do Alpine tonight. When Khloe runs the point, feed the bigs as much as you can. We're heading out in five minutes, Brett, lead them out tonight," Coach Scott said.
"Yes Coach," Brett said.
"Put it in," Coach said and put his hand out. The Coach and players put their hands-on top of Coach Scott's.
"Is Masonbourgh going to win tonight on three," Faye Ambrose, jersey number 48, junior starting point guard said, "One, two three."
"Nevermore!" The Groups said and started to get ready. There was always a last-minute adjustment to gear, straitening this, re-tying a shoelace, etc.
Coach Scott nodded as he watched the girls line up to head out to the court.