I Become A Top Scorer

January 9, 2020.

I walked out of the locker room dressed for the game. I was making my way over to the court to practice a little before the game started when Coach Hendrix motioned me over.

"Alright Blake," Hendrix said. "I want you to look out into the stands for me. What do you see?"

"Um... people," I said, watching the full audience waiting for the game to start.

"Indeed," agreed the coach. "A lot of people. More than we've ever had show up for a JV game this year. Do you know why they're here?"

I shrugged. "Mater Academy Charter has a lot of fans?"

"No," smirked Hendrix. "They're here because of you. They saw that YouTube video of you putting up some points and they want to see you do it again in real time. You're starting for the first time, so don't let them down, don't let me down, and don't let your teammates down."

"So, what you're trying to say is 'no pressure', right Coach?"

The coach laughed. "Sorry, but being a starter is a lot of pressure. You have to start the game off good. I'm not too worried, since I have on record here that you started in every single game last year. Don't get too comfortable, though. As I'm sure you've noticed, this isn't middle school anymore, and you have to work to keep your spot."

I nodded at the coach to show him that I understood.

"Okay. Starting with you is Jackson, Wesley, Cam, and Xavier. Whatever magic you and the others pulled in the fourth quarter of the Hialeah game, I want you to try to replicate that. Copy?"

As I was about to reply, someone called my name. "Blake, over here."

I turned to see Jackson and a couple other players motioning to me. I looked to the coach.

"Go," Coach Hendrix confirmed. "Jackson's just going to run through a couple things with you and the starters."

I nodded and walked to where Jackson, Wesley, Cam, and Xavier were huddled. Jackson moved to the side to let me in and Wesley put an arm around my shoulders.

"Okay," Jackson started off. "As you've heard, Blake will be taking Chance's spot as shooting guard for the time being. This is our first game playing with him in the starting squad, so it's understandable if that throws you all off a little. That being said, Blake knows all the plays and is a great player with lots of potential, so I don't want to see any of you acting any different towards him than you would towards Chance. Now let's get out there and win this one."

We separated and walked over to the bench to await instructions from the coach. I made a mental note to thank Jackson later for his words. At the very least that might stop Cam from deciding not to pass to me at all during the game.

I joined the rest of the group and listened as Coach Hendrix and Coach Myers went over the game plan again. Then we did our cheer and we were out on the court. I got into my spot around the center of the court and prepared for the tip-off as I scanned the circle to see who I was to be guarding. Then the whistle blew and the game was officially underway.

Xavier got the tip and the ball bounced practically straight into my hands. I passed it over to Jackson down at our side of the court and he sent it to Cam who laid it up for our first points. Mater Academy Charter ran it down the court and tried for an early three pointer, but it bounced off the backboard and into Xavier's hands. Xavier sent it to Jackson, who passed to me. I dribbled around my opponent, but couldn't find an open shot so I passed to Wesley. Wesley ran down for a lay-up, but faked the shot at the last moment and passed behind his back to Jackson at the top of the three point line. Jackson somehow caught the impressive pass and pulled up for an easy three pointer. The score was 5-0, a pretty good start.

The rest of the quarter went pretty well too. Our starting squad ran for the whole quarter, which was rare. I expected that none of us would be in again until at least the third quarter, because we were all completely exhausted. By the end, I had scored 4 points and the score was 22-13. Jackson and Wesley also both scored 5, Cam scored 2, and Xavier scored 6.

The second quarter came and went, with the scores ending up more widely distributed than the previous quarter. I had to walk up to Maia at the managers' table just to see who had scored what. Nathan, Zane, Diego, and Max all scored 2 points while Finn and Levi scored 3. Amir, Tucker, and Colton also played some, but didn't end up scoring.

Almost everyone on the team got a least a little playing time in the third quarter. Jackson, the starting squad, and I played for the first half of the game before the coach subbed in some others to take our place while we rest for our time in the fourth quarter. Jackson, Wesley, and I scored two while Xavier scored 4. Cam was in for less time than us, and didn't manage to score. For the second half of the quarter, Nathan, Colton, Zane, and Max scored 2 apiece and everyone else on the team either didn't score or wasn't sent in.

Fortunately, we finished out the game the same way we started. In the fourth quarter, I managed to score another 4 points. Wesley also scored 4 while Jackson scored 3 and Finn, Xavier, and Max each scored 2. The game ended with the final score of 71-58. Another win for the Cobras. As soon as the final whistle had blown, Wesley had found me and slung his arm around my shoulders. Jackson and Xavier finished their handshake and came to join us too, and together we walked over to Coach Hendrix, who met us with just as much enthusiasm.

"That's what I'm talking about!" the coach yelled at us as the rest of the team gathered around. "That's how we Cobras play ball! All four of you scored ten or more points, just think about that."

"Does this mean we don't have to do exercises before the game tomorrow, Dad?" asked Jackson jokingly.

Coach Hendrix laughed along with us. "Not exactly. If anything, I want to see more exercises tomorrow. We beat one team, but there's still plenty left to go. For now go and celebrate, all of you. You've earned it. Alright, varsity team get down here!"

The varsity team began to get dressed and warm up as our JV team celebrated our win. I was in the stands talking to Finn when I heard someone beside me.

"So you did show up to play."

Harper sat down as Finn left to go continue congratulating people.

"Yeah well," I said to her, "someone told me that I shouldn't just throw away something I love that easily."

She smiled and watched as our varsity team warmed up on one side of the court while Mater Academy warmed up on the other.

"I see that you showed up for the first game finally."

Harper grinned even more. "You know I wasn't going to, but then I heard that there was going to be someone playing that I didn't want to miss."

"Ah," I replied, "well it's a pity Chance didn't get to play today then."

Harper laughed and was about to say something else when she was interrupted suddenly.

"Blake!"

I looked to my other side to see Maia running up the bleachers toward me.

"What did I tell you?" she said. "I knew you'd be a top scorer. You scored ten points! You were tied with Jackson in third place for number of points scored!"

I couldn't help but smile. "Who got first and second?"

"Xavier with 12 and Wesley with 11. But that's great, your first time starting and you performed perfectly!"

"Thanks Maia," I said genuinely. I really did love how excited she seemed to be for me.

"Oh, well I have to get back to manage for the next game, but I just wanted to say congratulations."

Maia flew down the stands as quickly as she had run up them. I turned back towards Harper, but she wasn't there. "Harper?" I looked around and thought I saw her moving to the exit hastily, though I couldn't be sure it was her. The gym was pretty packed. I was about to go after her when Austin appeared beside me.

Apparently he had witnessed what had happened, because the first thing out of his mouth was, "You're in a love triangle, aren't you?"

"No!" I replied quickly. "It's not a love triangle, not even close."

"Yeah right," he said, sounded unconvinced. "I saw what happened."

"You do know what the key word in 'love triangle' is, right?"

"Yep," Austin nodded. "L. O. V. E," he pronounced every letter in an annoyingly honeyed voice.

"Right," I said, "and there's obviously none of that going around, so not a love triangle."

"So does that mean you're not going to hook me up with even one of them?"

"Correct."

"Look, I know you said you don't have time for relationships, but as it happens I am totally free the rest of tonight. And every other night this year."

I groaned. "You're hopeless."

Austin just grinned. "I'll take that as a 'yes'."

"Great," I nodded and stood up. "Take it however you want to. I actually have to go and, ah, talk to Wesley about... something."

I walked down the stands and over to Wesley. "Hey man, what's up?" I said to him, starting to walk while talking to him.

"Well, I'm staying a little longer," Wesley said, "and then my parents are going to take me home."

"Cool, cool."

"What's up with you?" he asked.

"I am trying to get away from Austin for a little," I told him honestly.

"Who's Austin?"

"The guy we're walking away from."

"Ah," Wesley said. "That makes sense. He annoying you?"

"No, not really. He's a great friend, but he can get a little weird at times."

"Weird how?" Wesley asked.

"Weird like trying to get me to be his wing-man constantly."

Wesley smirked. "That doesn't sound too bad."

"Nope, not until he starts picking the girls that he wants me to introduce him to."

"So are you a good wing-man?" Wesley laughed.

"Not so much," I said honestly. "That's why I'm trying to avoid it, really. He's a better wing-man for me."

"He got you a girlfriend?"

"Nope, and that's the other problem. I'm not looking for one."

Wesley chuckled. "Well, I've got to be going. But tell your friend that he can always come and help me out a little sometime."

I laughed. "Be careful what you wish for."

I tried to decide whether to stick around for the varsity game or not, and eventually decide against it a couple minutes before the start of the game. Before walking out I stopped to say goodbye to Coach Hendrix.

"Okay, see you tomorrow Blake," Hendrix replied. "You did outstanding today. I'm looking forward to what I'll see from you in the future."

"I won't disappoint you, Coach," I promise him before walking out of the gym and starting on my jog home.

As I make toward my neighborhood, I reflect a little on my first starting game of the season. I had scored ten points, which was probably more than I had scored the entire season up to that point. I hadn't gotten any steals or blocks, but I did manage to pick up some rebounds and assists. It was a pretty good game for me overall, as well as the team. I figured that it would at least be enough to ensure my starting spot for the next couple of games, as long as I continued to perform well. But even as I reasoned this out, I knew that the hard part of this season was still to come and that I still had a lot to figure out. I could feel that my hardships weren't over yet, but I guess I would just have to cross that bridge whenever I came to it.