Chapter 77: ONE FOR THE BOYS

The Boys' Locker Room, The Gym, Ridgecrest High School, Fallon Creek, Michigan...

Sweat drenched the various bodies of Rick Channon and Casey Peterson as they filed into the locker room with the rest of the team amid cheers and pats on the back for their efforts in leading them to a score of 42-0 as the boys hooted and howled in the wake of their latest score. Casey had been the one to make the last three-pointer and was still reeling from it. He took a deep breath as Coach Bert walked in gathering around the boys with a big smile on his face. He had dreamed of being able to hold his head high as a coach of champions and with Rick and Casey on his team, he did not doubt in his mind that he'd be able to reach that dream. He had been at a loss for words as he looked over at his team each panting from their efforts on the court and drenched in enough sweat to make the locker room reek of them.

"We've got them on the ropes boys," said Coach Bert at last finding his voice. "Now let's go in for the kill!"

The boys all howled like rabid animals and beat against the lockers in unison aside from Casey who shook his head at their wild nature. Rick had been the worst among them but he'd been a rabid animal in more ways than one. He watched as Rick mock wrestled with Carl who had been all smiles as they all continued to ride high off the momentum from the first half of the game. Now all they needed was to execute more of the same and they'd finally have a victory for everyone to talk about for ages.

"Channon, whatever you did to make Peterson a stunning athletic prince out there you have my permission to work your magic on the whole team," said Coach Bert.

"All we did was practice," replied Casey drinking a bit of water from his black water bottle. "And practice and practice...he wouldn't let me sleep if I didn't have a basketball in my hand."

"Hey it worked didn't it?" asked Rick with an arched brow. "That three-pointer looked real nice on the way in right?"

"Asshole," muttered Casey.

"Now that's not nice Case, you and I both know I'm the biggest dick in this room," replied Rick teasing him.

"You won't get any argument from me about that," replied Carl chiming in before giving Casey a wink.

He seemed to have gotten over his outrage toward the new arrival.

"You taking up for the newbie now Princess, must have been the shot he helped you take to get you to that cushy nine points," remarked Rick.

"Fuck off," said Carl rolling his eyes at Rick who laughed at him.

"Alright boys enough fun and games, go back out there and make them respect us and putting every team on notice, we ain't the same as last year," instructed Coach Bert. "WOLVERINES ON THREE!"

"One."

"Two."

"Three!"

"WOLVERINES!"

Shouted the boys as they got pumped up even further as they exited the locker room and headed back out onto the court.

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

The Gym, Ridgecrest High School, Fallon Creek, Michigan...

The roar of the crowd had been almost deafening as Helen Peterson found herself standing with the others once the boys had come out of their locker room. It was quite exciting to see her son come out of his shell and make friends outside of their home. Rick Channon had been the first and then became his boyfriend and now it was refreshing to see the other boys on the team rally around him after putting on quite the show in terms of their scoring and defensive prowess against the opposing team.

The Hawks seemed to have shifted their strategies as they got back onto the court. When the game began they expected to be the ones with the blowout record against The Wolverines but had been completely shocked to find it to have been the other way around.

The third quarter got underway with a bit of brute force as a Hawk player deliberately charged Rick and fouled him. The enraged teen barely held himself back from beating the boy's face in as Casey rushed over to restrain him. His eyes were on the verge of shifting but Casey calmed him down if only to conceal the beast that lurked within.

Needless to say, the game became more physical than before with each player wanting revenge for theirs as more fouls took place and bodies were bruised in the wake of the chaos.

Casey put up a few shots followed by Carl who was left open many times due to everyone on the court coming for Rick or Casey. The Hawk defense had been scrambling as if they were determined to get Rick out of the game given his talents and as a result, have a better chance at taking on Casey and the other players.

Rick saw his way to increasing his scoring points and the lead by sinking four three-pointers just to rub salt in the wound due to their having to foul him on multiple occasions.

"GET ON HIM!" growled The Coach of The Hawks frustrated by his players' lack of defense on Rick Channon.

While they watched Rick, Casey quickly began to light up the scoreboard and Carl had been third in the most scoring points due to the Hawks' preoccupation and weak strategy.

Two minutes into the fourth quarter saw The Wolverines had a score of 72 to the 2 from the Hawks after fouling Rick and getting it called against him.

Rachel and Courtney had been rather proud of their boyfriends cheering them on and arguing foul shots as the game progressed.

One of the Hawk players had elbowed Rick in the face causing him to bleed and his eyes blazed with fury as he noted the final two minutes in the game. He had wanted nothing more than to make them look and feel as stupid as he believed them to have been and zipped past them tossing the ball to Carl who had made the last shot of the game.

A whopping 82-2 had graced the scoreboard and with that, a solid win for The Wolverines as the gym erupted in d roar of approval. Casey had basked in the relief of having finally won a game and played a major part in one as Rick glared murderously at the player that fouled him his eyes nearly shifting as he attempted to quell the beast before Rachel rushed over to him wrapping her arms around him as she clung to him kissing. Casey resisted the urge to roll his eyes as Courtney ventured over to him and did more of the same.