Chapter 2 - Playing the Starters

As we usually talked to each other, the break came to an end. And after some time, the school was also over.

We soon went to the basketball court to meet Coach Kyle and the other players. James, Phill, Harris, Mike, and Paul were only the starting five. There were 4 additional players for our middle school team.

As a basketball position is highly disputed by students, our school only allows ten players to participate in games--------

Usually, a middle school basketball team is composed of 12 players, which is the max allowed by the association responsible for regulating the games. Coaches will try to have two players for each position, since the intensity of the games isn't as high as in high school, so it works out.

In general, for you to be selected for your position, you have to be better than the next guy.

As for my case, I don't have to take someone else's spot this year. Most students were either assigned for our second and third division or graduated last year, leaving us with nine players. So in the end, I can play for the first team as Coach will give me the spot, that has always been his words anyway.

Having the second and third divisions, sometimes also means that the 11th and 12th position on the roster from the first division will be empty. Some players prefer to participate in the second and third divisions since they would get much more PT (Playing Time) than if they played in the first division as the last men in the rotation.

As for what is First, Second, and Third division; it refers to the divisions that players are assigned to play, in order that most players can go against their own level and not get cut from the best team for not playing better than his teammates, and consequently, if they do get better, maybe go up on their respective division was pretty possible since they wouldn't lack playing time to improve.

Each season the Schools' National Association of Basketball (SNAB), the association that regulates basketball for all schools in the country, releases their notes of each team in their respective division, therefore, if you can bring results, coaches can bring you up.

This also gives the coaches, in most schools, the power to conduct the teams in however way they want to. From building the team, pulling players from lower divisions if necessary, recommending players from other teams to climb divisions, etc.

Finally closing in on the court, I noticed Coach Kyle in his red shirt and light brown pants uniform. Coming from his back, I speak clearly.

"Hey, coach Kyle." My lips shape into a smile, already expecting a reaction from him due to my next words. "I think it's time for me to join the team if it's okay with you," I said to the late 20 years old man standing in the center of the court.

I had been training with the team for the last year, and even if I still didn't want to join officially, Coach Kyle let me train with them. He was always trying to get me on the team, always saying that if decided to enter, I could count myself in.

Coach Kyle was just instructing another player when he heard my words.

"Hi, Jay. That's good to hear. We are surely better equipped with you on the team." Coach Kyle said, chuckling in joy as he spoke. He continued, "Unfortunately, before you join I have a condition. You won't come as a starter... and that's for two reasons."

His smile diminished a bit, unsure of how I would react. "One; We have already registered the players on the team, and you didn't start as an official player for the school, although you played with them the whole time, we still have James, that different from you, is already listed. Second, I believe you can be our ace, James does his usual thing and you come up to disrupt the other team and bring us up on the score whenever we need. That's all I ask, do you agree?" While he spoke, everyone else listened, our teammates looking between James and me to see our reactions.

"Yes, it's fine with me," I replied.

It looked like Coach had already talked to James about this, and Mike's big mouth would be enough to warn the coach beforehand so that the conversation had already happened.

Coach Kyle himself wasn't sure about bringing me off the bench as there were a few more upsides in putting me as a starter. But there were certain protocols, as well as James' improvements from last year being stagnated due to the timeline of him being inserted back and forth on the bench after he just got the spot as a starter.

"Great. Let's start the workout. We are not gonna do the usual. You guys are going to split in two teams, starters and reserves. I want to see our strengths again." Coach Kyle said as he clapped his hands.

After some warm-up, we soon split into two groups.

Coach Kyle set the positions and informed both sides how they should run the offense and set the defense. Afterward, we went straight to the tip-off.

At the center of the court, our starting center, Harris, and our bench guy, Chris, jumped for the ball, with Harry winning it clearly.

After the result, our team readily went to play defense, with me guarding James as he was the main ball-handler. James signaled for his teammates and started to move the ball. On the left side coming off a screen, Mike was left open and shot the ball for a mid-range, making it with ease.

Harris was the one to set the screen, his big body being huge for the bench shooting guard, Stan, to go around and contest. Coupled with the defense not being set by all players, it created a hole that they quickly managed to capitalize on.

After the ball went through the net, my team's center passed the ball inbound to me as the starters team had already got back on defense, in turn, we, the bench, went right after to attack.

Passing mid-court, I dribbled the ball in front of James and did a sign so that the team move for an Isolation play.

Our team, in general, has the average height for each position, so when it comes to this aspect, only Harris had a compatible frame to guard me up, meaning that when I attack, any of our guards is a mismatch if I can take them to the paint, where I can just be the taller player and score over them.

That's why James soon realized he was the only boat in the sea against the storm.

Even though I am 2 feet away from the three-point arc, there were many things I can do to utilize my advantages over him, that's why he stabilized himself the best he could and tried to concentrate as hard as possible, the main reason... to avoid falling on the ground.

I realized this and a smirk appeared on my face. I put my body to face James directly and start to cross the ball between me and him, rhythmically.

James knew that if he tried to reach, he would be blown by, my first step was much faster than the first time we played.

A moment later, James heard the sound of the ball. It was louder and faster each second. The time was passing, and if there was a shot clock, not much time was left.

I dribbled the ball to my right, stepping my left foot first. When James switched stance, I spun around, using my left foot as the pivot.

Seeing this, James just turned around, trying to keep up with me.

But when I stepped my right foot forward after the spin, with the ball already on my left hand, I brought the ball back to my right hand with a quick cross and passed by him. He tried to switch instances again but it was too late. He couldn't reorganize his feet fast enough, I had gone past him.

Paul was the fastest to react and tried to block me. But the thing is, he came facing me directly, trying to block me head-on. So I just jumped and put my two hands on the ball and brought it from my back to dunk through him.

BANG!

There wasn't much he could do.

He played good defense but one of the best sentences came to apply.

"Good defense, better offense." Coach Kyle whispered.

After that, shock invaded everyone's mind but resumed the game soon enough.

The score became a race. They scored and we got right back at them.

In one of the plays after that dunk over Paul, our team was set in the 4-out-1-in situation, with Chris on the dunker spot, waiting for the play to develop as I had again called for an Isolation. James was again guarding me, but as the starters realized I was going for another Isolation, Mike and Phil decided to play the gaps, meaning the space I had to drive to the basket.

The thing is I already told Stan what to do, so when I attacked left, Mike tried to double team as he cut me off. I passed the ball to Stan as I turned around, creating the open look that he needed to shoot.

James, who was trailing behind, tried to late switch and contest the shot, Stan used a pump fake to get James off the floor and ran to the middle, attacking the basket. Their only line of defense left was Harris, who was hedging without fully committing to Stan.

Noticing the development, Stan continued attacking and put his right foot forward as if preparing to jump, but when Harris finally decided to commit to jump and block the layup, he left Chris open, and in the end, Stan never left the floor, he just stopped on his second step, immediately dishing the final pass to Chris who finished the layup on the right side of the rim.

Harris was lost but shrugged as just one play.

I tried to keep the game balanced, and made 17pts until the third quarter, with 6 assists and 3 steals. As my teammates are used to my playing style, we managed to organize the game and eventually keep a steady pressure.

But in the last quarter, it was all about Mike. Since the first quarter, he was the main focus of the offense, trying to be the starters' firepower throughout the game. He did score 24pts, on good efficiency, and backed it up to end the quarter in a clutch baseline jump shot.

As the game ended, the score was 56-55 for the starters in 40 minutes of playing.

Coach Kyle was all smiles, seeing us play. He was imagining when we were on the court, competing for the title. That sure was part of his wet dreams.

This also affirms my spot on the game. Everyone's percentages grows up when I'm on the court. I deliver the finest dimes in the game. Many times, there's no chance to interfere with it because of the holes each response creates. Either I score, or the other guys score for us as the defense focuses on me.

Granted I can't carry the bench to win most games, but it shows that leveling the field won't be a problem if our team evolves throughout the season. Combining the game with the starters, we can surely go past most opponents with ease.

When we finished, Mike came to me and invited me to play some games at his house. I agreed but told him I had to go home first and would meet him at 6 p.m., one hour from now.

As I had decided beforehand, I went home and found Mom and Dad talking to each other, Dad was complaining she ate his pie when he wasn't looking. Mom just laughed mischievously and ignored his complaints.

Seeing me coming into the living room, Dad smiled and spoke to me in a pleading tone.

"Come, Jay. Help me here. Your mom is being foodie with MY food." His face was all grumpy as they are like two children.

I simply laughed and replied, "You know what, eat her cupcakes, Dad. You know she loves when people do it."

"JAAAAYYY. Not funny." She yelled at me, but with a cute tone. She even made a pouting face.

I just shrugged it and went up to my room. While going up the stairs, I heard Dad saying, "Prepare for your punishment. MWAHAHAHA" He laughed loudly, trying to sound like a megalomaniac, and soon he began to tickle her.

Arriving in my bedroom, I took my phone and started to message Jessica.

She is a friend of mine, who I met online. We talked a lot about some things we like. She said she also lives in Dallas. I was quite interested in her personality, though we never met face to face.

Jessica [Hey, Jay.]

Me [Hey, are you free this wkend?]

Jessica [Probably, what's up?]

Me [Do you wanna go out? I was thinking about spending the day at the mall.]

Jessica [Great. Time??]

Me [Saturday, 2 p.m.?]

Jessica [Sure]

Me [Okay, talk to u later. Have to go now. Bye]

Jessica [Okay, bye]