Free Jump Shot by Paul Mantell Ronde Barber Tiki Barber

the way. Rondethought he looked familiar. Then he realized he’d seen the kid before—under a football helmet! So, he and Tiki weren’t the only athletes to think of playing multiple sports! Ronde shook his head and smiled.
    Sugar, of course, was at the heart of it all, as usual. He did most of the ball-handling. Whenever the Bears double-teamed him, causing him to stop dribbling, he would pass it to one of the Eagles’ forwards, Larry Budnick or Jake Lewis. He never went to Rory Mathis because Rory was being covered like a blanket by his counterpart on the Bears. As for Bobby Dominic, he was being pushed around like a broomstick.
    When Larry or Jake got a pass from Sugar, they would just pass it right back to him. It was Sugar doing all the shooting. And right now, he was ice cold.
    By the time Coach Jackson called his first time-out, the Eagles were already desperate. The score was 14–5, Bears.
    â€œRonde, you’re in for Rory,” Jackson said. Rory nodded, seemingly relieved to be sitting down.
    â€œThat guy is super-tough to guard,” he told Ronde. “And he sticks to you like flypaper. I wish you luck.”
    â€œYou’ve got to put him to sleep, dude,” Ronde said. “Watch me. I’ll show you.”
    Out on the court, Ronde seemed suddenly lazy. He seemed to be just standing there. Then, just as he sensedthe defender relaxing his guard, he made his move.
    â€œHit me!” he yelled to Sugar, who was desperately fighting off the double-team.
    Sugar saw that Ronde was free and heading for the basket—but instead of passing, he made a move of his own. He crashed into the two kids guarding him, and the ref blew his whistle.
    â€œThat’s a charge!” the ref yelled, pointing to Sugar. “Bears’ ball!”
    â€œWhat??” Sugar yelled, stamping his feet. “That’s garbage!”
    The ref blew his whistle and pointed to Sugar. “And that’s a technical! One more word out of you, and you’re out of the game, understand?”
    Sugar opened his mouth to answer, but Coach Jackson stopped him by pulling him gently away. “Hey!” he barked into Sugar’s ear. “We need you on the court! You can’t go getting yourself thrown out of games!”
    Sugar nodded, still eyeing the official. He went to the bench and sat down, and seventh grader Dave Bassin, who almost never got much game time because he was Sugar’s backup at point guard, came in as his replacement.
    Ronde covered his man perfectly as the Bears inbounded after their free throws. He kept his focus on his man’s midsection, not his eyes. Ronde knew the way good broken-field runners use their eyes to fool the defender.
    Well, he wasn’t biting. The Bears turned it over. It was the first break the Eagles had gotten all game.
    On offense, though, there was utter confusion. Without Sugar there to dominate control of the ball, everyone was suddenly calling for it! Even if they were only the least bit free, their hands went up, vying for Dave’s attention.
    He turned from one to the next, and in doing so, took his eyes off the defender. Before he knew it, the ball had been knocked away!
    Ronde saw it coming, and was on it before anyone else could get there. He looked up—and there was Bobby under the basket, alone! Ronde whipped a pass to him, and Bobby threw up an easy layup for the score!
    The home crowd erupted in cheers. It wasn’t often the Eagles cashed in without Sugar on the court.
    Ronde took a quick look over at the Eagle bench, and saw Sugar arguing with Coach Jackson. He wants back in, he said to himself. He wondered how long Coach J. would leave his star on the bench with a crucial game on the line.
    As long as we keep it close, he told himself, Coach won’t make a substitution. He was determined that he and the others now on the court were going to put on a show.
    Ronde darted forward and snagged another loose ball. He