24 The Team to Look Out For
6-0
It's still very early in the game yet almost everybody in the gym is stunned. 2 back-to-back 3-pointers from me forced our opponents to respect how deadly I can be if not taken seriously.
The Montrose coach immediately shouted at his players to make adjustments and now they looked more focused and determined than before.
Montrose made their move and advanced the ball to their side. This time Terrence came off a screen by Isaiah and made a mid-range jump shot. It went in and they made their first score of the game.
6-2
They look much more composed and are playing better now, but it doesn't matter. I still plan on dominating this game.
Isaac passed the ball to Tyrus on the left and is now in a one-on-one scenario with a guard from the opposing team.
Tyrus made a couple of fakes and finally tried to drive the ball on the right. Yarou is looking to contest if Tyrus attempts a layup and he was a little late as Tyrus floated the ball high up in the air a few feet away from the basket but it hit the rim and the ball bounced away.
As the ball is falling, Jerrold caught it just above the rim and made a follow-up dunk.
8-2
Montrose is looking to make an answer by giving the ball to Yarou on the paint. As he is too occupied posting Jerrold, I sneaked on the side and poked the ball from him.
The ball ricocheted to several players trying to get possession of the ball and it finally ended up in Ikenna's hand.
Montrose realizes that and went back to defense very quickly.
We played it slow to avoid unnecessary mistakes so Isaac is dribbling the ball at the high post.
He gave the sign of the play he wants to execute so we moved and I ended up giving Ikenna a screen to the basket.
Isaac saw this so he made a pass to a back-cutting Ikenna driving to the basket and made an easy layup.
10-2
I continued like this until the end of the first half.
The score at the half is 43-28.
We didn't give them any hope of trying to win this game and completely dominated both sides of the court.
I made 18 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 three-pointers made.
Despite the slight difficulty, Ikenna gave an amazing performance by giving us 13 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block.
Ikenna is showing real talent and skill in the first half of this game but the coach decided to give us 4 minutes of rest on the 3rd quarter and we're okay with it. We have a talented group and I'm confident they can keep the lead we have without me and Ikenna.
Montrose actually put up a good fight as they closed the gap to 8 points at the end of the 3rd quarter. Their shot selections were getting better and they made fewer mistakes.
At the start of the 4th quarter, the score is 61-53.
I only made 6 points in the 3rd quarter and that's without shooting a 3-pointer. 4 points are from mid-range jump shots and the other 2 points are from free throws.
Montrose has the first possession in the fourth quarter so they are now trying to make a play.
I could see, just from their offensive formation that they are trying to make an isolation play with Terrence and Tyrus.
I also think it's a good choice of play as Terrence has played really well this game with 21 points so far.
Terrence made a few moves on Tyrus and finally decided to make a fade-away jump shot on the baseline but he missed and Ikenna grabbed the rebound. Credits to Jerrold boxing out Yarou from that rebound.
As we were rushing to the other side of the court after the rebound, Ikenna passed me the ball and a defender is quickly on me.
I tried faking a 3-point shot and he took the bait so I straight away drove the ball to the basket with haste and jumped from the paint to make a layup.
Yarou did not expect my play so reacted late but is still trying to contest my shot. But that was a mistake as he bumped my body in midair which made the referee call a foul.
I was in an awkward position still in the air but I hang on and still made a shot and it rolled into the basket. And one!
The score became 64-53 after I made the free throw and Montrose was getting desperate.
Because of their desperation, lead them their inevitable destruction.
Mistake after mistake and our lead was only getting wider and wider.
With 2 minutes left in the game, Coach Alford decided to take me out of the game to let me rest and avoid a possible injury if I continued playing.
We're clearly winning so Coach Alford prepared for the next game.
The final buzzer sounded and the final score is 88-67.
I played for around 26 minutes and made 35 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 6 3PM (3-pointers made).
After this game, everybody is now looking at us differently and they'll be making a lot of adjustments when they go against us because we look like the team to beat.
Ikenna was also exceptional with 22 points and 8 rebounds.
Isaac had 8 points and 9 assists.
Tyrus with some big 3-pointers through the whole game and gave us 11 points and 3 3PM
Jerrold with 6 points and 9 rebounds. Jerrold was not attacking much this game because we used him to make a lot of screen-plays because Ikenna was feeling good that game and was just on a roll.
Ikenna was making mid-range jump shots and some nice pick and roll play after making screens.
But ultimately, everyone's attention still is on my amazing performance all throughout that game.
Both offense and defensively, I was making plays every time I get a chance. I could've even made a lot more points if they didn't double-team me in the second half.
Although I made some misses here and there, they were good shots that just didn't go in.
I was just too good for them, that's why they lost. I know being humble and patient is a better attitude, but I like being arrogant. It's what motivates me to keep on going.
Instead of saying, 'If it weren't for my teammates, I wouldn't have won.', I'd like to think more along the lines of, 'Because of me, I allowed this team to get to where we are.'.
And yes it is toxic behavior to most people so that's why I'd like to only thinks of that to myself as a motivating attitude.
I will keep this attitude and drive all the way till the end and nothing's gonna be stopping me.
