Chapter 76: A Stunning Debut

The Gym, Ridgecrest High School, Fallon Creek, Michigan...

Emotions were running at an all-time high as both Casey Peterson and Rick Channon took to the court at the start of the game. Helen and Dee seemed invested as much as the rest of those in attendance although with different branches of experiences between them when it came to offering support at sporting events. The ball was set up for the tip-off and Rick had been the one to retrieve it causing an uproar of cheers from The Wolverines' side of the gym as the game had finally gotten underway. The Hawks had something of a good team and a well-disciplined style of play but The Wolverines had Rick and Casey, whose reflexes and instincts far surpassed those of the mere mortals that graced the basketball court, including those on their own team.

Rick was seen as the prime star with the most covers in terms of defense and reaction to what he'd do on the court. He had not been a basketball legend for nothing and everyone was curious as to how he'd play once he'd been back in the swing of things. Making a few random shots on the court during gym class was one thing but being ready for a full-on game wasn't as easy as grabbing a ball and sinking a shot.

Luckily for them, Rick had still been on his A game as he turned his attention to outplaying those that attempted to box him out on the court a wicked smirk filed across his stubble-covered handsome face as he passed the ball to an unguarded and previously unknown Casey Peterson. Like clockwork, Casey put up the shot and scored the first point in the game despite being nervous about his first debut.

Carl had been stunned as he watched Casey's shot hit nothing but net and the scoreboard increase on their end. They all hustled to their respective posts and Rick was eager to be on defense as he guarded the apparent star player of the Hawks known as Mike Tiller. Mike had been a tall brown-haired boy with pale skin and focused brown eyes. He was sweating up a storm despite the game barely getting underway and seemed to be quite nervous about having to go up against Rick in the first place.

"Well, well," said Rick taunting the nervous player. "Is that fear I sense?"

Mike attempted to compose himself as he ran along the court with his hands up as Rick moved to guard him not at all of the mind to let him slip away after taking note of how much the team seemed to depend upon him for points. Like clockwork, they attempted to pass him the ball but Rick's defense had tangled him up and before it reached his fingers, the werewolf had leaped into the air and took it for himself dribbling only so far as Mike scrambled to chase after him.

Rick took one look at Casey with a smirk and put the ball up.

Casey rolled his eyes knowing exactly where Rick had been standing, beyond the three-point line.

"OH SHIT!" shouted a flabbergasted Carl as he and the boys watched the shot go in.

Casey hustled back down the court as the scoreboard showed a whopping 5-0 as fans of The Wolverines cheered like mad noticing they were in the lead. Coach Bert had the biggest smile filed across his face as he stood with most of the fans looking in his direction. He had a feeling this was gonna be the turnaround year for them and it was all thanks to Rick and Casey.

The boys posted up and got back on defense as Mike did his best to keep up with Rick who had not even been remotely winded due to all his efforts on the court. Casey was drenched in sweat but he had not been as advanced in his wolfish nature as Rick had given his recent infection.

Rachel Dawson blew Rick a kiss which annoyed Casey to no end until he saw Courtney doing the same to him and treated her to a rather sheepish smile before running down the court following a missed shot on the part of one of their teammates and a rebound from The Hawks.

"If you want a blowout coach just say the word," said Rick with a smirk as he guarded the nervous Mike after passing by Coach Bert, whose team knew better than to pass it to him this time around.

"Make it happen Channon!" shouted Coach Bert with a grin.

Rick smirked as he moved along the court so fast that hardly anyone could see him as he managed to steal the ball and pass it to Casey who had barely been ready on a pivot, as he put the ball up in close range sinking his shot as the two teams stood baffled as to how they had reacted so fast.

Seven to zip on the scoreboard and already the Hawks had been feeling the heat from The Wolverines. Both Helen Peterson and Dee Clark were stunned as they watched their respective boys put on a clinic while leading their team and the scoreboard in points between them.

Apparently, all that practice in Helen's backyard had been valuable after all. At first, she'd been just glad that they were involved in a different strenuous activity while she'd been at work aside from having sex in her son's bedroom all day. Now she knew that their efforts were worth it on the court with Casey becoming a star player in his own right after years of avoiding sports and anything of the sort pertaining to physical activity.

Rick passed the ball to a wide-open Carl who put it up and scored once more for The Wolverines adding himself to the scorecard in the process. Once Carl got on the board it was as if all the other players kicked it into high gear playing their collective hearts out and aiming to not only win but to blow out the other team and send a message to any and all would-be challengers, this wasn't at all the same team from the years before.

"That's right boys make me proud!" shouted Coach Bert who now looked like a genius on the sidelines as many people stared at him in awe as The Wolverines continued to dominate right out the starting gate.

The first quarter ended with The Wolverines on top 21-0 and The Hawks had been at a loss as to how to answer back.