Chapter 4

PERSONAL FOUL

Derek jumped up to block yet another shot, but the Renner center faked his jump. Instead he threw the ball to one of the Renner forwards. Before Derek could reach him, the Renner forward tipped the ball into the basket. Now the score was 39 to 37.

The ref handed the ball to Cody. Cody stepped out of bounds and looked at the court. Then he threw the ball.

Ryan moved in to catch the ball, so Derek ran back across the court. There was only a minute left to play.

Cody dribbled the ball and passed it to Ryan. Ryan did a fake to the right and passed the ball to Garrett on his left.

Derek moved to the low post under the basket. Garret dribbled the ball to the point and looked for an opening. Derek waved his arms. Garrett passed him the ball.

At last, thought Derek as he turned toward the basket. Now we can finally tie the game.

Suddenly Derek was sitting on the floor. All he could see was a forest of legs. The referee blew the whistle. “Personal foul,” he called.

The Renner players looked at one another, and then at their coach.

Did they think no one would notice? Derek thought. He picked himself up as Coach Taylor talked to the referee.

Derek walked over to the free throw line. Players from both teams lined up along the lane. The ref handed Derek the ball.

Everyone turned and looked at Derek.

“Don’t mess up,” said Jason.

Derek looked at Jason. Then he looked at the basket. I hate free throws, he said to himself. Derek lifted the ball into the air and paused. Then he shot it. The ball hit the rim and bounced out.

The ref threw the ball back to Derek.

“Come on, Derek,” said Cody. “We need this point.”

“He can’t make it,” said Jason.

Yes, I can, thought Derek, and he lifted the ball up. Derek studied the basket. Then he threw. The ball landed on the top of the rim. For just a second nobody moved. Then the ball rolled slowly off the rim. No basket. Not again!

Derek ran in to catch the rebound, but the Renner guard beat him to it. Before Derek could catch him, the Renner guard made a basket.

Bzzzt! The buzzer sounded. The game was over!

Jason ran up to Derek. “We lost the game because of you! You’re making us all look bad!”