Free Split Decision by Belle Payton Page B

assistant coach whistle hung around his neck, but he didn’t have on a Tigers jersey. Or a Falcons jersey—he wore a plain olive-green T-shirt.
    The emotions she’d been holding in all day swirled together and propelled Ava up and forward. Her eyes flashed darkly at PJ. “You are making a huge mistake, you know. My dad is the best coach you will ever have!”
    â€œProbably,” PJ agreed.
    Ava blinked at his calm response, but shekept going. “You lied to him. You lied to everyone. And not only about the dirt biking. I know about the super team and your secret practice.”
    â€œI never wanted to lie to him. You’ve got to believe me, Little Sackett.” PJ leaned against the wall. “The thing’s out of my hands.”
    â€œWhat’s that mean?” Ava demanded.
    â€œMy dad is in charge. He has a plan for my future. He says this move is best for me.” For a long while, PJ stared at the scuff mark from Tamara’s shoe on the floor. “All I want to do is play football. Do you get that? I just want to be out there with the ball. That’s the best feeling.”
    Ava nodded. So did Tamara. They both knew that feeling.
    â€œWe need to do something,” Tamara said to PJ. “Something major.”
    â€œBeat Saint Francis today,” PJ said.
    â€œWhat good will that do?” asked Tamara.
    â€œProbably nothing for me. But it will sure feel good, don’t you think?” PJ smirked mischievously. “And if you wipe them off the court, Aunt Carrie may think twice about sending you here, Tam.”
    Tamara brightened. Then she regarded Ava warily. “They’re a good team. You in?”
    â€œSo in,” Ava said. She turned to PJ. “I’m stillmad at you. Nothing will change that.”
    â€œYeah, I know. Your dad is furious too.” PJ sighed. “It’s a mess.”
    â€œWhat you did makes me really want to beat Saint Francis,” Ava said.
    â€œGo for it,” PJ encouraged her. “I mean it, Little Sackett. You and Tam can be great together. Forget the other stuff out on the court. Just play your game.”
    â€œJust play your game—that’s another one of Coach’s sayings,” Ava remarked.
    PJ nodded. “I know. It’s a good one.”

    Alex sat high in the stands, took a gulp of her peach iced tea, and then placed the bottle in the purple plastic cup holder so she could clap for Tamara’s awesome free throw. The middle school basketball game had been extremely close since the start, with only two points dividing the teams in each quarter. She leaned forward to watch Ava catch a pass from Tamara, then send the ball back so Tamara could score again. The Ashland fans cheered when the team finally pulled ahead at the end of the fourth quarter.
    â€œGo, Ashland!” cried Hallie LaVersa, Whitney’s sister. Whitney’s mom joined in, igniting the rest of the fans in a Tigers chant.
    â€œWe’re going to win! Why aren’t you cheering?” Alex asked her mom. Mrs. Sackett had been sitting silently next to Alex for the entire game, even though Ava had scored many times.
    â€œI’m trying to stay under the radar.” Mrs. Sackett discreetly eyed the other parents in the stands. There wasn’t a huge crowd, but the ones who’d showed had been loudly whispering nonstop—and they all whispered the same thing. Coach Sackett had driven poor PJ Kelly to leave. He’d been wrong to take away PJ’s captain title. He overreacted to dirt biking. The Tigers were sure to lose in the fall.
    â€œBlock them out.” Behind them Mrs. Baker shrilly confirmed the other parents’ worst thoughts about Coach Sackett, and Alex rested her hand on her mom’s arm to keep her from turning. “They don’t know what they’re talking about.”
    â€œIt’s not easy,” Mrs. Sackett confided, tucking her long, wavy hair behind her