Chapter 649: On The Court
Saturday, March 11th, Afternoon
She walked out onto the court, stretched out a bit, and then looked at her opposite number. The two women sized each other up for a minute, or what seemed like a minute. They turned to face where the ball would be inbounded from.
"Welcome back; I like your new accessory," Tennent said.
"Yeah," Brett said with a curt and cold nod.
"Not going to talk to me?" Tennent asked, needling Brett.
"My action will do my talking," Brett said coldly.
"Ah! Big talk," Tennent said.
"One quarter, that's it, here's your shot, don't blow it," Brett said.
Tennent shook her head, "Yeah, whatever," she said.
Avril drifted over to Brett, "Don't do anything stupid," she said.
"Trust me; I won't," Brett said.
Avril drifted away, noticing the look in Brett's eyes. There were stories of both Coach Pierce-Scott and other noted Tree Hill players. They would say there was a look in their eyes, and boom, the world exploded. Avril had seen this in Brett, the years they played together, and even in the weight room.
"She's pissed," Avril said to Baylee.
"Are you sure?" Baylee asked.
"The switch has been flipped," Avril said.
"Alright, you know what we have to do," Baylee said.
"Yes, I do," Avril said and stepped away.
The fourth quarter started, and the ball sailed in. After a few quick moves, Brett ended up with the ball. Dribble, dribble, hard pass to Baylee. Baylee got the ball and started the fast break. Just a steal and a layup broke the tie.
That was shots fired, and the game opened up. No more clock-killing; both sides were out for blood. Brett showed why she was a defensive monster; she forced bad passes and blocked shots and passes. Brett also caused turnovers, and soon it became a quarter-court game; whatever side Brett was on, the play wasn't on it.
Some people would describe this as beast mode. Brett moved into her next level; the next gear was engaged. Basketball in past eras was described as a blood sport on hardwood, it wasn't to that level, but it was physical. There would be bumps and bruises along the way, but the game people expected to see finally arrived in the fourth quarter.
Where Angela would beast out and block the shots but usually gave the ball right back, Brett was different. Her volleyball background gave her control, or at least the ability to control where the ball went. So, instead of the ball going into the third row, the ball went to one of her teammates.
Northwest Guilford didn't roll over; they were a good team. Their play showed why they were here. No one stayed ahead for long, as basket was met with basket. The third quarter had allowed Northwest Guilford to crawl back into the game. Like rabid dogs, they latched on and didn't want to let go. They all knew this would come down to the last tick of the clock.
During the game, Brett had to reach down even farther than she ever had to. It was a dark, crazy area where the lioness lived and had to pull the beast forward. This made people wonder if it was coaching, talent, or pure will. In the case of Brett, it was all three; she was coached up and was coachable and was born with genetic talent, but it was he pure will and the tenacity of water-wearing down the stone to even get the ball into her hand.
During a time-out, Brett found herself on the bench hydrating as typically Avril and Baylee flanked her. Brett looked at the scoreboard; the score, as had been most of the fourth quarter, was tied. Time was short, and the defense was strong. Brett took a sip of her Gatorade.
"What are you?" Flannery asked.
"A woman," Brett said, which caused both Avril and Baylee to chuckle.
"No, I mean, I've never seen you play like that," Flannery said.
Brett smiled and took a deep pull of her drink. "It's all that you find inside yourself," she said.
Flannery nodded, "What is the secret?" she asked.
Avril and Baylee chuckled as Brett finished her drink. "You want to know?" Brett asked.
"Yeah," Flannery said.
"Okay. This is ten percent luck, twenty percent skill, fifteen percent concentrated power of will, five percent pleasure, fifty percent pain, and a hundred percent reason to remember the name," Brett said.
Baylee chuckled, "But I always thought it was twenty percent skill, eighty percent beer, be a hundred clear 'cause Ryu is ill," she said.
"That's later," Avril said.
"It's time," Brett said.
"Time for what?" Flannery asked.
"To end this," Brett said.
They returned to the court and started play again. Tree Hill began with the ball and pushed it into Northwest Guilford's zone. Brett got the ball in the low post, moved around, and dodged one of the defenders. Another defender came over and transposed themself between Brett and the basket.
Brett went up for a midrange jumper; the defender went up to meet Brett for a block. With a cat-like grace and an eye of an eagle, Brett swiftly changed her plan. She knew where everyone was and responded. Brett knew from the leap was a fake out; she adjusted and passed the ball. Baylee was on the baseline and got the ball.
Baylee went up and popped off a snapshot. The ball circled the hoop and dropped in, bringing Tree Hill's score to thirty-four to Northwest Guilford's thirty-two. Tree Hill didn't stay to celebrate taking back the lead; they moved to set up their defense.
Northwest Guilford moved down as the clock was running down. The game was still quarter court as they refused to challenge Brett. Someone came up with the ball in the low post and put it up. The score was now equal again. Tree Hill pushed back down the court. Flannery got the ball in the paint and put it up. The ball bounced off the glass and into the hands of a Northwest Guilford's hand.
Northwest Guilford fast breaks down the court. Brett was right there, and Baylee was right behind her. The Northwest Guilford player went up for a layup. Brett was right behind her and went up righter after her. Brett knocked the ball away; people said it looked like how Bill Russell blocked Jerry West, the ball came free, and Baylee secured it.
Everyone was out of place, so it was up to Brett and Baylee. They broke down the court at full speed, Baylee wasn't the best at moving the ball, but she was enough. Brett got ahead of Baylee and had a clear run toward the basket.
Baylee threw the ball across the court. Brett got the ball, dribbled, dribbled, then went up for the basket. Brett hit that sweet spot and went up; the crowd was silent. Brett slammed the ball into the hoop; no one expected a slam dunk.
Brett landed on the court and started down the court for defense. Northwest Guilford pushed down the court; time was running out. The ball ended up in a player's hand at the three-point arch. Brett ended up in front of the player. The Northwest Guilford player went up for the shot, and Brett leaped to contest the shot. Make the basket Northwest Guilford would win, miss it, Tree Hill. The two players were on a collision course and….