Full Court Press

Free Full Court Press by Eric Walters

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Authors: Eric Walters
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shot. And if we do that, even if we lose we can still walk out with our heads high.”
    That wasn’t exactly the inspirational pregame talk I’d been hoping for. Basically he was saying that we were not very good, but they weren’t very good either, so because of that we had a slight chance of winning — but if we didn’t win, it would be okay.
    At least this game was being played at another school. Usually you were supposed to like playing at home, in front of the kids from your school. That had just been embarrassing. It was better to lose in front of strangers and then walk away, hoping you’d never have to see them again.
    The ref blew his whistle again. It was game time.
    â€œOkay everybody, listen up. Start off we’re going to go with Marcus, Kingsley, Dean, Mohammed and Bojan. Go out there and play!”
    The five of them stood up. Marcus looked at me, shrugged, and gave me a ‘what can you do about it’ sort of look.
    Roy shifted down the bench until he was right tight beside me. I had a rush of fear and had to fight the urge to quickly move away.
    â€œDon’t worry,” he said quietly. “He wants to see what the other team looks like before he puts us out as a unit.”
    â€œYou really think so?”
    â€œIf he doesn’t, then maybe we have to try and convince him. Besides, who knows, maybe we don’t need the press for this —”
    Roy stopped as the other team came down and scored the first basket of the game.
    * * *
    â€œThis isn’t too bad at all,” Mr. Roberts said.
    What game was he watching, I wondered. It was half-time and we were down twenty-seven to seventeen.
    â€œThis is the closest we’ve ever been at half-time before,” he continued.
    â€œGreat, so we have our closest loss of the season,” Roy grumbled.
    â€œWith that attitude we don’t have a chanceat winning,” Mr. Roberts said.
    â€œIt’s not my
attitude
that’s the problem!” Roy snapped.
    â€œI don’t think that’s a fair statement to make, Roy,” Mr. Roberts said. “We’ve been losing, but I don’t think any of your team-mates have given up.”
    â€œI’m not talking about my teammates or
their
attitude. I’m talking about you.”
    There was stunned silence. Nobody said a word. Nobody seemed to even breath.
    â€œWe can beat this team,” Roy said. “If you let us.”
    â€œHe’s right, sir,” Marcus agreed.
    â€œLet us put on the press,” Kia said.
    â€œJust to see if it works,” I added.
    â€œThe press would work,” Dean chipped in.
    â€œGive it a chance,” Rajinder agreed and everybody else nodded their heads in agreement.
    â€œAnd if it doesn’t work, then we shut up. All of us,” Roy said.
    We all sat there, waiting for Mr. Roberts to say something… anything. He looked like he was thinking. That was a good sign. Unless he was thinking we were a bunch of rude kids who he didn’t want to coach anymore.
    â€œI’ve already listed the starting five on my clipboard,” he said quietly, tapping the board with his finger. “And nothing that you’ve said has changed my mind in the least about that.”
    He weren’t going to let us play — everything that was said was for nothing.
    â€œThat isn’t —”
    â€œButton it!” Mr. Roberts said, cutting Roy off. “And here are the starting five for the next half,” he said, turning the clipboard so we could see it. In big red letters were the names Marcus, Kingsley, Roy, Nick and Kia.
    He was going to play us all along!
    â€œNow let’s get out there and play!”
    We got up and everybody cheered and screamed, the sound echoing off the walls of the change room as we ran out the door and into the gym. The other team had been warming up already, but they all stopped and stared as we came out yelling.
    It was the other team’s

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