Chapter 6
FIRST CUT
On Wednesday afternoon, Annie and her friends walked toward the locker room. Annie was starting to feel like things were going a lot better this year.
She felt a lot more confident. It helped that Sarah and her friends didn’t scare her like they used to.
Annie was worried about Megan, though. So far, neither of her tryouts had been very good.
“Are you guys nervous today?” Annie asked.
“I feel pretty good,” replied Emma. “All that practice this summer is really paying off. I’m sure it helps that I’m like the Jolly Green Giant, though.” She laughed.
Megan took a deep breath and said, “I think I’m getting cut.”
“No you aren’t!” exclaimed Annie.
Emma said, “Megan, you’re a great basketball player. Don’t talk like that.”
The three friends dressed quickly. Then they headed into the gym.
Coach Jackson told them that they’d be running a timed shooting drill. The girls had one minute to score as many points as possible from five different spots on the floor.
Annie got second place, right behind Sarah. Emma was third. Megan finished somewhere in the middle.
At the end of the tryout, Coach Miller blew her whistle. All of the girls quieted down. “As you know, some of you will be cut today,” Coach Miller said. “We’ll have the list posted on the wall by the drinking fountain when you’re done showering and changing. Thank you for all of your hard work this week.”
Back in the locker room, the three friends showered quickly. They changed back into their school clothes.
Finally, they headed back into the gym. Annie, Megan, and Emma slowly walked over to the list on the wall. They stepped up to the list and looked for their names.
Emma let out a sigh of relief. Her name was first on the list. Annie saw her own name just a few lines down. Sarah and Dani had made it through the cut, too.
When Annie looked again, though, Megan’s name wasn’t there. Annie’s stomach dropped. Emma gasped.
They both turned to look at Megan, who shrugged and said, “It’s okay, guys. Really. I’ll talk to you later. My mom’s waiting.”