Intense Game

I continued to practice and try to unlock my third ability until the third game came along two weeks later. This time we were playing the BullDogs, a top elite team that made it to the national finals last year, a tough team with three key players. Pg Russell, Sg Harden, and center Durant I couldn't believe I was playing against the old thunder squad, so I told the coach to start me this time because we are going to need it.

In the stands, Rasta, Akua, Opal, and my mother show up to watch the game; even John is around this time to watch, so I get excited and start to get the team excited. The game started with Momba winning the jump ball and passing it to me, so I dribbled up a little and took the shot while no one was covering me yet and took the first three points. The bulldogs are shocked. I took the shot from that far back, and their coach immediately calls a time out.I shake my head and laugh at their quick decision. Their coach tells them that he's heard stories of a guy who can make points from anywhere in the court and thinks it's me so he wants two guys on me at all times and Durant will be covering me at all times due to his height he will be able to block my shots. So the game started, and I noticed everyone on their team staring at me with respect, disdain, and jealousy.I laugh and think to myself I guess the cats out of the bag now. Russell brings the ball down and passes to Durant, and he quickly goes to work, and Momba is trying his hardest to keep up with his speed, but he quickly loses him and takes an outside shot to tie the game. I quickly tell Hack(our power forward) to switch with Momba. Darrell brings the ball down and sees Momba asking for the ball in the post because their center is smaller than him, and he quickly steps back and banks it in using the backboard to give us a two-point lead.Russell then brings it down and passes it to harden who does the crossover and leaves me behind but then quickly steps back as I'm chasing him and makes me a trip to the floor as I face planted it. He takes the shot for three points, and the whole gym erupted with cheers, and I'm beyond pissed I got embarrassed like that wishing my third ability was unlocked, or that would not have happened to me.Harden looks at me than smirks, so I quickly ask for the ball and throw it with all my strength from the other side of the court, and while he was running, he suddenly sees the ball go through the basket while he was facing it shocking him and everyone else there. He turned back around to face me, and I smirked right back at him, pissing him off to no end.So the game progressed back and forth until the final minute, where they were leading by two points. My team's players were all tired at this point except for me, so the BullDogs were taking advantage of this by scoring like crazy, and by taking turns scoring, they didn't get too tired. I dribble out the ball a little and pass it to Darrel because they doubled me, and Darrel was open, so he went for the layup and tied the game.At this point, Durant has the ball, and there are less than ten seconds left, and I know he wants to take the shot, so I quickly left harden to help Hack cover him with 3 seconds left he pretends to shoot the ball, so hack, and I jump to block his view, but he passes it to harden who was open in the mid-range, and he takes a quick shot to win the game for them.The gym erupted with cheers on the Bull Dogs' side. I look in shock and laugh at my stupidity for leaving harden open. After the game, the three came to talk to me, saying that it was the hardest game they ever played thanks to me and tell me to keep my head up and that they will see me in the playoffs. I see them off with my eyes and my family come to see me and tell me I did a good job because I had gotten 45 points in that game, but I didn't notice that I had put in that many points.Everyone was looking at me like I was a monster after the game. I waved at them and left to go shower and head home with the family. My mother said I did a good job and enjoyed watching me play my heart out today compared to the other days when I only played for a few minutes. Opal was just surprised and didn't think I was that good; she told me if only my team didn't suck, I would have won that game.The Bulldogs are perfect this year with the freshmen trio. The next day it's Saturday, so I take Akua to the mall and have lunch and do a little shopping with her. We went to the movies and headed home after in a cab it was a fun day and made me forget about the losses from yesterday. I get home after a long day and head to bed without saying a word. On Monday, the principal calls me to the office to talk about a contract with me for the season.He offered me $100 per game, and even though it's little, I accept it because it's only my freshman year in middle school, and he said he would raise it by $50 every year spent here. So after I signed the contract, I left for class and after school went to meet up with Coach K because he needed to see me. I entered the gym and saw everyone waiting for me, so I asked. They all started clapping for me and saying that I was the best even Darrel gave me a small nod.I asked them what this was about and they said: "thank you for not giving up on us yesterday we played hard, and you played harder than any of us without any rest, and we appreciate it.'' Coach k then comes out and asks if I could play one game against everyone, on one just so they can use it to improve themselves, and I agree and start multiple games with everyone. I point out what they need to work on and what their weakness is so we could be a stronger team when we get into the playoffs.After the game last week they have been more motivated to get stronger, and that's good because I can't win games alone unless I decide to take every shot but than if I don't miss any people will become curious and I don't want the attention now since I'm too young.