Game Against Franklin II
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~~~(POV: Ulysses Kennedy)~~~
~~~(Date: November 3rd, 2025)~~~
~~~(Time: 3:27 PM)~~~
~~~(Location: Franklin Highschool Gym)~~~
The ref tosses me the ball, and my feet remain in place behind the free-throw line. My release and timing are perfect, and it swishes in, marking the 4 point play down in the books. The booing of the Franklin crowd rocks through my head and body. The entire gymnasium is filled to the brim, and only a few have come from Holden to watch.
Some notable faces are here and watching the game, not reacting. NBA players that had a free day to come down and watch. One of the popular players in the league in Jayson Tatum, and he's here watching the game too. Our team shifts onto defense as the scoreboard changes to 8-3 in our favor. I usually go easy at the start of games, but not after everything that kid said.
Franklins Coach, Greg, called him Will. Someone needs to humble that kid. I'd wish he kept him in the game. Crushing players that act like that is one of my favorite things to do. "Make sure you cut off the passes!" Coach Rodgers makes sure that we hear him. Now that the dysfunctional player has been taken out, Franklin's team is going to mold better.
Their point guard brings the ball down the floor after Deshawn inbounds it to him. Since Franklin's team is legit competition, we're going to struggle against them. Most of our team vets have gone off to college, and I'm one of the oldest players on the team. "Jack, run the plays we made!" Coach Greg isn't an idiot by any means.
In my opinion, he's one of the best coaches in the high school scene. They shift on offense and free up their shooters as we get stuck on screens. I'm busy guarding Deshawn in the post, so I can't help with perimeter defense right now. I have to leave it up to my teammates. They knock down an open three from all the screens they set. Making the score 8-6 in our favor.
Coach Rodgers stays quiet on the sidelines, and that's because Franklin ran a good play, and my teammates did the best they could. Sometimes, you can't stop a good play, and Coach Rodgers easily sees that. The ball is inbound to me, and I start bringing it down the court. I look towards Hannah, and she's smiling and on her feet.
She skipped class to come here. I'm going to put on a show for her. Deshawn immediately picks me up at the three-point line, knowing that I'm the most dangerous shooter on the court. I cross to the left, and he responds, but I stop halfway through another cross and use a spin move. I get past him, and I have an open lane to the basket.
He stumbles behind me and falls, trying to turn around and catch me. He can't move as I can. I move like a guard in a 7 footers body. I grab the ball with two hands, and I slam the ball down. I make sure not to do it so hard that the backboard breaks. I let go of the rim and look over at my girlfriend. I give her a wink, and I see her pearly white smile appear.
My focus shifts back to the game, and I get on defense. The score is now 10-6, and Franklin is on their way down the court. They're better than they were last year, while our team is worse. This isn't going to be an easy win, and I'm looking forward to the challenge. I've lost games before, but not at my current skill level. This could be a prelude to what I face against other great teams.
Franklin brings the ball down the court, and the team starts running plays again. This time they're going to Deshawn in the post. I meet him, and it's a battle of the two tallest players on the court. He leans into me and tries to push harder into the paint. He gets within his range, and he puts up a hook shot that's too far back for me to block. It sinks, and the crowd roars. Making the score 10-8.