To lose or to quit
Kenny had spent the past 48 hours watching film, icing his ankle, and visualizing every possible scenario. He didn't come all this way to lose in Game 2.
In the locker room before tip-off, Kenny paced back and forth, his eyes blazing with determination. Coach Stevens gathered the team for one final huddle.
"Alright, boys," he began. "We've made our adjustments. We know their plays, we know their tendencies. Now it's time to go out there and show them what we're made of. Kenny, you set the tone. Let's get it."
Kenny nodded, his jaw clenched. As they broke the huddle and headed for the court, he felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Jamal.
"Yo, Kenny," Jamal said, a glint in his eye. "It's time to go demon mode. Show these fools what College Park is all about."
Kenny grinned, bumping fists with his teammate. "Bet that."
As they stepped onto the court, the roar of the crowd washed over them. Kenny's eyes locked onto Quinn Cook, who was warming up at the other end. Cook caught his gaze and smirked.
"Ready for another L?" Cook called out.
Kenny just shook his head, a dangerous smile playing on his lips. "Man, you about to see something you ain't never seen before."
The ref's whistle cut through the pre-game chatter, and both teams lined up for the opening tip.
The ref tossed the ball up for the opening tip. Kwesi's fingertips grazed it, tapping it back to Kenny. As soon as the ball touched his hands, Kenny was in motion, his mind already three steps ahead. He dribbled up the court deliberately, surveying the Warriors' defense as it set up.
Quinn Cook crouched into his defensive stance, eyes locked on Kenny. The two had developed a healthy respect for each other's skills last game, and it showed in their intensity.
Kenny called out a play, and his teammates moved into position. Kwesi lumbered up to set a screen on Cook's left. Kenny used it, but instead of driving, he quickly stepped back behind the three-point line, a move that had worked well before. Cook, fighting to get through the screen, couldn't contest in time. Kenny rose up, the ball floating off his fingertips with perfect backspin.
The shot looked good, but it rimmed out.
Damn.
Kevon Looney snatched the rebound and outlets to Cook, who pushed the pace. Kenny backpedaled, calling out defensive assignments. Cook probed the defense, then kicked it out to Damion Lee in the corner. Lee's three-point attempt was pure, giving the Warriors the first points of the game.
As Kenny brought the ball back up, he felt Cook pressuring him full court. He used his body to shield the ball, feeling Cook's hands constantly swiping and probing. At half court, Kenny executed a quick crossover, creating just enough space to advance the ball.
The Skyhawks ran their offense patiently, moving the ball around the perimeter. Kenny found Jamal coming off a curl, hitting him with a perfectly timed bounce pass. Jamal rose up for the mid-range jumper, but Damian Jones contested well. The shot fell short, and the Warriors were off and running again.
The first few minutes of the game continued in this manner, each team probing for weaknesses, neither able to gain a significant advantage. With 7:30 left in the first quarter, the score stood at 7-5 in favor of the Warriors.
During a break in play, Coach Stevens called Kenny over. "They're overplaying the passing lanes," he said. "Look for backdoor cuts. And don't be afraid to attack if you see a lane."
Kenny nodded, processing the information. On the next possession, he saw Tyrell's defender cheating towards a potential pass. Kenny made eye contact with Tyrell, who immediately understood. As Kenny faked a pass, Tyrell cut hard to the basket. Kenny hit him with a bounce pass, and Tyrell finished with a reverse layup to tie the game.
The Warriors responded quickly. Cook ran a pick-and-roll with Looney, using the big man's screen to create space for a pull-up jumper. The shot was good, putting the Warriors back up by two.
With three minutes left in the quarter, the Warriors held a slim 18-15 lead. Kenny brought the ball up, feeling the need to make something happen. He waved off a screen, wanting to take Cook one-on-one. As the shot clock wound down, Kenny started his move. A hesitation dribble, then a quick crossover. Cook stayed with him, but Kenny sensed him leaning slightly to his left.
Kenny suddenly spun to his right, and the lane opened up, and without hesitation, Kenny attacked. Jones came over to contest, but Kenny was ready. He leapt, double-clutched to avoid Jones' outstretched arm, and somehow contorted his body to release the ball just before he hit the ground.
The ball arced high, kissing off the top corner of the backboard before dropping through the net. And one. The foul was on Jones, who shook his head in disbelief.
The crowd roared their approval as Kenny walked to the free-throw line. He bounced the ball twice, took a deep breath, and let it fly. 18-18.
The Warriors, unfazed, came right back. Lee caught fire, knocking down back-to-back threes over tight defense. Kenny tried to counter, driving hard to the basket and drawing fouls, but the Warriors' help defense was always there, making every shot a challenge.
As the quarter wound down, fatigue started to set in. The pace had been relentless, and both teams were feeling it. Coach Stevens made some substitutions, bringing in fresh legs. Kenny nodded as he jogged to the bench, his jersey dark with sweat.
"Great job out there," Coach Stevens said as Kenny took a seat. "We're matching their intensity. Keep it up."
Kenny nodded, his eyes never leaving the court as he gulped down water. He watched intently as his teammates battled, calling out defensive rotations and offensive sets from the sideline.
With just under a minute left in the quarter, the Warriors held a 26-22 lead. Coach Stevens called Kenny back to the scorer's table. As he waited to check in, Kenny bounced on his toes, eager to get back into the fray.
The whistle blew, and Kenny jogged back onto the court, replacing Jamal. As he crossed paths with his teammate, Jamal slapped his hand. "Let's close this quarter strong, K," Jamal said with a nod.
Kenny brought the ball up, the shot clock and game clock nearly synchronized. He knew they needed a good shot to end the quarter. As he reached the top of the key, Kwesi came up to set a screen. Kenny used it, but the Warriors switched, leaving a bigger defender on him.
Kenny recognized the mismatch immediately. He backed out, waving for his teammates to clear out. The crowd sensed what was coming, rising to their feet in anticipation.
With the clock winding down, Kenny started his move. A series of quick crossovers had his defender off balance. Then, in a burst of speed that seemed to come out of nowhere, Kenny blew past him. As he entered the paint, Jones rotated over to help.
Kenny leapt from just inside the free-throw line, cocking the ball back with his right hand. Jones went up to challenge, but Kenny hung in the air, waiting for his defender to come down. At the last possible moment, Kenny double-clutched, switching the ball to his left hand and laying it softly off the glass.
The ball dropped through the net just as the buzzer sounded. The crowd erupted, and Kenny allowed himself a small fist pump as he jogged back to the bench. The Warriors' lead was cut to two, 26-24, as the teams headed into the second quarter.
As they huddled up, Coach Stevens couldn't hide his excitement. "That's what I'm talking about!" he exclaimed. "Great execution, great patience. We're right where we want to be. Now let's build on this momentum."
The second quarter began with both teams making adjustments. The Warriors came out in a zone defense, trying to disrupt the Skyhawks' rhythm. Kenny recognized it immediately, calling out to his teammates to spread the floor.
On their first possession, Kenny probed the zone, looking for gaps. He found Tyrell in the short corner, hitting him with a quick pass. As the defense rotated, Tyrell swung it to Jamal on the wing. Jamal pump-faked, getting his defender in the air, then took one dribble in for a smooth mid-range jumper. Nothing but net.
The Warriors countered with their own adjustments. They started running more off-ball screens, trying to free up Lee and Cook for open looks. Kenny found himself constantly fighting through picks, his legs already feeling heavy.
Midway through the second quarter, the game remained tight. The Warriors held a slim 38-36 lead, neither team able to pull away. The intensity on both sides there, every possession feeling crucial.
Then with two minutes left in the half, the Skyhawks had clawed back to take a 45-44 lead. But the Warriors weren't about to go into halftime trailing. Cook turned up his aggression, attacking the basket relentlessly. He drew fouls on consecutive possessions, calmly sinking all four free throws to put the Warriors back up by three.
Kenny, feeling the momentum slipping, knew they needed a spark. As he brought the ball up with 30 seconds left in the half, he caught Cook's eye. There was a mutual understanding between the two point guards - this was their time to shine.
Kenny waved off the play call, signaling for an isolation. His teammates cleared out, giving him space to work. The crowd rose to its feet, sensing something special was about to happen.
Kenny started his dribble, slow and deliberate. He hit Cook with a series of crossovers, the ball a blur between his legs. Then, in a move that seemed to come out of nowhere, Kenny went between his legs, behind his back, and through his legs again in rapid succession. Cook's ankles buckled slightly, giving Kenny just enough space to rise up for a three.
The ball left his hands with perfect rotation, hanging in the air as the buzzer sounded. The arena held its collective breath as the ball descended towards the hoop. It hit the front of the rim, bounced up... and fell through.
The crowd erupted as Kenny backpedaled towards the locker room, allowing himself a small smile. The Skyhawks had tied the game at 48-48 heading into halftime, the momentum firmly on their side.
The teams retreated to their respective locker rooms, the energy in the arena crackling with anticipation. Both squads knew that the second half would be a battle for control, with the series hanging in the balance.
As Kenny sat down on the bench, a towel draped over his shoulders, he could feel the exhaustion settling in. His body ached, his lungs burned, but his mind was sharp. The first half had been a war of attrition, each team trading blows, neither willing to give an inch. But Kenny knew that if the Skyhawks were going to take this game, he would have to dig even deeper.
Coach Stevens gathered the team around, his voice steady but filled with urgency. "We're right where we need to be," he said, his eyes scanning the room. "They're going to come out hard in the second half, trying to break us. But we need to stay composed, execute our plays, and keep the pressure on them. Kenny, you've been incredible out there. Keep leading us, keep making the right decisions."
Kenny nodded, wiping the sweat from his brow. His teammates looked at him, their faces a mixture of determination and fatigue. They believed in him, and he wasn't going to let them down.
As the second half began, Kenny continued to attack, using every ounce of his energy to create opportunities for his team, but the Warriors were relentless.
Quinn Cook, who had been quiet in the second quarter, began to find his rhythm again. He hit a couple of deep threes, keeping the Warriors within striking distance. Each time the Skyhawks seemed to pull ahead, the Warriors would respond, never letting the game slip out of reach.
Midway through the third quarter, the Skyhawks were up by five, 61-56. Kenny had been on the floor for nearly the entire game, his minutes piling up, but there was no thought of sitting down. The game was too close, too important. Every time he caught his breath, he pushed himself back into the fray, determined to carry his team to victory.
But the Warriors had other plans. They started to double-team Kenny on every possession, forcing the ball out of his hands and daring the other Skyhawks to beat them. Jamal, Tyrell, and Kwesi did their best to step up, but the Warriors' defense was stifling, and the shots that had been falling earlier in the game started to come up short.
With two minutes left in the third quarter, the Warriors had clawed back to tie the game at 68-68. Kenny brought the ball up, his legs heavy, his mind racing. He knew they needed a score, something to regain the momentum. He called for a screen from Kwesi, using it to shake free from Cook. But as he drove into the lane, he was met by Looney and Jones, their arms outstretched, blocking his path.
Kenny hesitated for just a split second, then kicked the ball out to Tyrell in the corner. Tyrell caught the pass, squared up, and released the shot. The ball arced through the air, the crowd rising in anticipation. But it clanged off the rim, and the Warriors grabbed the rebound, quickly pushing the ball up the court.
Cook found Lee in the corner for a wide-open three. The shot was pure, and the Warriors took the lead for the first time since the first quarter. The momentum had shifted, and the Skyhawks could feel the game slipping away.
As the third quarter wound down, the Warriors continued to press their advantage. Kenny, now visibly exhausted, was doing everything he could to keep the Skyhawks in the game. He drove hard to the basket, drawing contact and getting to the free-throw line. He fought through double-teams, made difficult passes, and even hit a couple of tough shots to keep the score close. But the Warriors were relentless.
The quarter ended with the Warriors up by three, 74-71. Coach Stevens tried to rally them, his voice filled with urgency. "We've got one quarter left," he said. "This is it, boys. Leave everything out there on the court. No regrets."
Kenny looked around at his teammates, seeing the fatigue in their eyes. But he also saw something else—resolve. They had come too far, fought too hard to give up now. He clapped his hands, trying to inject some energy into the huddle. "Come on, y'all," he said, his voice strong. "This is our time. We ain't going down without a fight."
The fourth quarter began with the Skyhawks on the attack. Kenny continued to push the pace, trying to catch the Warriors off guard. He found Jamal on a backdoor cut for an easy layup, then drove hard to the basket, drawing a foul and hitting both free throws to tie the game at 76-76.
But the Warriors responded with a quick three from Cook, followed by a fast break dunk from Looney after a Skyhawks turnover. The lead was back to five, and the Skyhawks were reeling.
Kenny knew they needed a spark, something to stop the Warriors' run. He brought the ball up, calling for a high screen from Kwesi. As Kwesi rolled to the basket, Kenny saw a sliver of daylight and attacked. He drove hard to the hoop, rising up to finish over Looney. The ball kissed off the glass and dropped through the net. And one.
The crowd roared as Kenny stepped to the line, the game now within two. He took a deep breath, his body screaming in protest, and let the free throw fly. It was perfect. 81-80, Warriors.
The Warriors inbounded the ball, Cook bringing it up slowly, trying to take the air out of the ball. They were in no rush, content to trade baskets and let the clock tick down. But the Skyhawks' defense stiffened, forcing Cook into a tough shot that missed badly. Kwesi grabbed the rebound and quickly outlet the ball to Kenny.
Kenny pushed the pace, driving down the lane and drawing the defense. He kicked it out to Jamal, who pump-faked and drove into the lane, hitting a floater over the outstretched arms of Jones. The Skyhawks were back on top, 82-81.
The next few minutes were a blur of frantic action, both teams trading baskets, neither able to pull away. With two minutes left, the game was tied at 90-90.
Kenny brought the ball up, his mind racing. He called for a screen, trying to create some space. But the Warriors switched on the screen, leaving Cook on him. Kenny sized him up, the clock ticking down. He drove hard to his right, then crossed over to his left, creating space. He rose up for the shot, the ball arcing high over Cook's outstretched hand.
It hit the front of the rim, bounced high, and fell through. The Skyhawks were up by two, 92-90, with just under a minute to play.
The Warriors called a timeout, their coach drawing up a play. "One stop," Coach Stevens said, his voice steady. "One stop, and we win this game."
The Warriors inbounded the ball, Cook bringing it up slowly. The Skyhawks' defense was tight, forcing the Warriors to use precious seconds. Cook finally made his move, driving to the basket and kicking it out to Lee in the corner. Lee rose up for the three, but Tyrell closed out hard, forcing a miss.
Kwesi grabbed the rebound and quickly outlet the ball to Kenny, who was fouled immediately. The Skyhawks were in the bonus, sending Kenny to the line with a chance to ice the game.
Kenny stepped to the line, his heart pounding in his chest. The arena was silent, the crowd holding its breath. He bounced the ball twice, took a deep breath, and let it fly.
The first free throw was perfect. 93-90.
Kenny took another deep breath, then let the second free throw fly. It hit the back of the rim, bounced high, and fell through. 94-90.
The Warriors inbounded the ball, racing up the court. Cook found Looney under the basket for a quick layup. 94-92.
The Skyhawks inbounded the ball to Kenny, who was immediately fouled again. He stepped to the line, the game now on his shoulders.
The first free throw was perfect. 95-92.
The second free throw rimmed out.
The Warriors grabbed the rebound and pushed the ball up the court. Cook found Lee in the corner for a three. It was perfect. 95-95.
The Skyhawks called a timeout, the crowd now in a frenzy. Coach Stevens drew up a play, the game now in Kenny's hands.
The Skyhawks inbounded the ball to Kenny, who dribbled at the top of the key, the clock ticking down. He drove hard to his right, then crossed over to his left, creating a sliver of space. He rose up for the shot, the ball arcing high over Cook's outstretched hand.
It hit the back of the rim, bounced high, and fell off.
The Warriors grabbed the rebound and called a timeout, the game now tied with just a few seconds left.
The Warriors inbounded the ball to Cook, who dribbled at the top of the key, the clock ticking down. He drove hard to his right, then crossed over
to his left, creating a sliver of space. He rose up for the shot, the ball arcing high over Kenny's outstretched hand.
It hit the front of the rim, bounced high, and fell through.
The buzzer sounded, and the Warriors had won.
Kenny fell to his knees, the weight of the loss crushing him. The Skyhawks' season was over.