Akira's Masterclass

After the game, the team said they'd treat me to my favorite drink—orange juice. When we arrived at the cafeteria, it was easy to tell which tables belonged to the winners and which to the losers. The atmosphere was like a magnet, where the victors clustered together, repelling those who had lost their first match, and vice versa.

"Hey! I saw your game. Can't wait to win against you in the finals." A boy walked past me, giving me a pat on the shoulder. He was definitely in the winner's circle. The name "Tatum" was printed on the back of his jersey.

Win against me? What a joke… I think I've heard of him around here…

The team came back with a big bottle of orange juice. Akira's eyes lit up the moment he saw it.

"Be on my team forever!" Akira shouted as he grabbed the bottle.

"Keep playing like that, and you'll be rolling out of here from all the orange juice."

"By the way, have you guys heard about Tatum? He seems promising."

"Are you kidding? This guy is nuts! Definitely the best here." One of my teammates says.

Akira's eyebrows knit together, a flicker of frustration crossing his face.

"I am the best here, I'm gonna show you that."

An alarm echoed through the gym, signaling that the brackets had been posted. The players gathered around the board, eyeing their opponents and figuring out who they'd face next.

I had no clue which teams were the strongest, but it seemed like we wouldn't be up against Tatum until the finals. I was itching to face him sooner.

"Everyone, get ready for warm-up! The game starts in 30 minutes!" Coach announced as the brackets were revealed.

I knew the U-10 tournaments were shorter, but with just three games plus the finals to win, it seemed almost too straightforward.

"Listen up. The Maplewood High team is the weakest in the tournament. No one knows how they made it to the quarterfinals. I don't want any unnecessary tension in this game."

Warm-ups began, and only Akira's team was on the court. Akira didn't hide his skills during warm-ups—his dribbling was effortless, and his shots, taken in motion, had an impressive accuracy rate.

Had these guys already given up? They must be intimidated by the prodigy here…

When the Maplewood team finally took the court, their eyes were all fixed on Akira, as if they had decided to mark him with multiple defenders.

"VIP treatment?" I teased the captain.

"Watch out, Akira. Their coach is known for running a tough game."

The sound of the whistle cut through the gym, marking the start of the game.

The game began with a swift tip-off. Akira's team gained possession, and immediately, he took control. As he dribbled past half-court, three defenders converged on him, trying to shut down his offensive.

"You're not going anywhere!" one of the defenders taunted, trying to block Akira's path.

Akira just smiled, a glint of determination in his eyes. With a quick crossover dribble, he left the defender stumbling. He spun around and dished out a perfect pass to his teammate for an easy layup.

"If you guys want advice, mark me with 2 or 3 will make the game easier for me."

The score quickly began to reflect the one-sided nature of the game. The Maplewood team struggled to keep up, their defense floundering against Akira's relentless attacks.

Akira's next highlight came when he drove to the basket, only to be met by two defenders. With a dazzling behind-the-back move, he splits them, then he stops, looks back, and shoots. The crowd erupted in cheers.

"That's all you got?" one of the defenders shouted, frustration evident in his voice.

Is this guy kidding?

Akira responded with a grin, "That's all I need in this game."

The game continued with Akira orchestrating plays with precision. On one fast break, he made a no-look pass to a cutting teammate, who scored effortlessly. The assist was met with high-fives and cheers from the bench.

As the second half rolled around, Akira decided to showcase his dribbling skills. He dribbled circles around his defenders, making them look like they were stuck in quicksand. At one point, he dribbled through three defenders, ending with a smooth behind-the-back pass for another easy score.

The scoreboard was now a lopsided 78-02. Akira's team was in complete control, and Akira was putting on a show. He even had a moment where he pretended to take a shot, only to pass it to an open teammate who scored with a wide-open three-pointer.

"Keep trying, Maplewood!" Akira teased, as he dribbled between his legs and sank another basket.

By the time the final buzzer echoed through the gym, the score was a staggering 102-08. Akira's performance had been nothing short of spectacular. His teammates surrounded him, cheering and celebrating the dominant win.

"Man, you were unstoppable out there!" one of his teammates exclaimed, giving him a high-five.

Akira grinned, his eyes sparkling with excitement. 

"Just warming up for the finals"

I hope you saw this Tatum, I'm going to show you who the true best player in the tournament is.

Final Score

Brave Eagles Middle School 102 - 08 Maplewood High

MVP: Akira Kinglsey.