Chapter 51: 2 vs 2
Loxus PoV
Wilt and Drew were surprisingly doing well as a group, despite their different approaches. I had my doubts about how they would gel on the court, but they were proving me wrong. Drew's sharp shooting was impressively on point, and he was using his skills effectively to lead the charge. What was even more surprising was seeing Wilt embrace the role of support.
Normally, he'd be the one trying to take over the game, but today he was focusing more on setting screens and creating space for Drew. It was like watching a different player altogether. I could see the way he encouraged Drew, clapping after every successful shot and directing him to the right spots on the court.
"Nice one, Drew!" Wilt shouted after Drew drained another three-pointer, his enthusiasm echoing throughout the gymnasium. The score was close, and I could tell that Drew was feeding off Wilt's energy.
"Keep moving! Create some space!" I called out from the sidelines, watching as Jensen dribbled the ball, trying to figure out how to counter their strategy.
Jensen was skilled and balanced in his approach, but I could sense his frustration as Drew consistently found open looks. "Are you going to let them run circles around us?" I taunted, trying to spur Jensen into action.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm on it," he replied, his focus sharpening. With a quick nod, he passed the ball to me, and I took a few dribbles before making my way toward Drew.
"Let's see how you handle this," I said, feigning a left before driving right. I could hear Jensen's footsteps behind me as we worked to close the gap.
"Drew, watch out!" Wilt shouted, alerting him just in time. I pivoted and tossed the ball toward Jensen, who was cutting toward the basket.
"Got it!" Jensen said, catching the pass mid-air and making a quick layup. The ball swished through the net, and I could see the determination in his eyes.
"Two points!" I called out, glancing at Wilt and Drew. "You guys might want to step it up a notch."
"Don't worry; we've got this!" Wilt replied confidently, bouncing on his toes as he positioned himself to receive the ball again.
As the game continued, I couldn't help but admire Drew's shooting skills. Every time he got his hands on the ball, it felt like a sure thing. He was focused, making smart decisions, and capitalizing on every opportunity.
"Let's try to play tighter defense!" I called out to Jensen, who nodded, his competitive spirit reignited.
We tightened our formation, trying to sandwich Drew whenever he got the ball. But Wilt was doing an excellent job of drawing attention away from him.
"Set a screen!" I shouted to Jensen, who was already moving to cut off Wilt's path.
"Not today!" Wilt said as he slipped past Jensen, setting Drew up perfectly for another shot.
Drew took the opportunity, and I watched as he released the ball with precision. It arced beautifully, and the net snapped as the ball went through.
"Three points!" Wilt cheered, pumping his fists in the air.
"Okay, okay! We need to regroup," I said, feeling the heat of the competition rising. "Let's not let them run away with this."
"Not a chance!" Jensen replied, determination flooding his voice.
As I glanced over at Drew and Wilt, I couldn't help but appreciate the dynamic they had developed. They were both playing to their strengths, and it was working. The chemistry on the court was palpable, and it made me realize that maybe, just maybe, they could pull off a win against us after all.
"Time to step up our game!" I declared, ready to challenge them with everything I had. This match was turning out to be more exciting than I had anticipated, and I was determined to bring my A-game.
Jensen smirked. The aura around him seemed to shift. Was he going to perform a power move?
"Alright, time to turn up the heat," he said, his voice low but filled with excitement. He grabbed the ball and took a deep breath, positioning himself for a move that would leave everyone in awe.
In an instant, he launched himself across the court like a bolt of lightning. I felt the air shift as he surged forward, sparks flying from his fingertips as he dribbled the ball with supernatural speed. It was as if he had tapped into some kind of energy, electrifying the space around him.
"Let's see how you handle this!" Jensen called out, his voice charged with adrenaline as he approached Drew, who was poised in a defensive stance.
Drew braced himself, focusing intently, but Jensen wasn't just relying on his speed; he was channeling something more powerful. With a quick fake to the left, he darted right, leaving Drew momentarily off-balance.
"Too slow!" Jensen taunted, and as he sped toward the basket, sparks crackled around him, illuminating his path. It was a power move like I'd never seen before—electricity surged in the air as he leapt toward the hoop.
Drew tried to react, but Jensen was too quick. "Not so fast!" I could only watch as Jensen released the ball, and it soared through the air, glinting with an otherworldly shimmer. It hit the backboard and then dropped through the net with a satisfying swish.
"Two points!" Jensen yelled, landing back on the court, a triumphant grin on his face. The energy radiating from him amplified with every move, sending sparks flying and electrifying the atmosphere.
"Nice move," I admitted, nodding in respect. His ability to tap into that force and create opportunities was impressive, reminding me why he was such a formidable player.
"Thanks! But we're not done yet," he said, a mischievous glint in his eye as he dribbled the ball again, the sparks still flickering around him, ready to unleash another surge of energy.
"Let's keep this momentum going!" I encouraged, feeling the adrenaline rise in the air. "We need to keep the pressure on them!"
With the score close, I could sense that this was going to be a battle worth remembering. Drew and Wilt were playing well together, but Jensen's power moves were raising the stakes. The adrenaline coursed through me as I prepared to support Jensen in whatever he had planned next, ready to take this competition to the next level. We couldn't let up; this was our time to shine.