The players arrived one by one and began taking warm-up shots. It was getting close to time to begin practice and Denham hadn’t appeared yet. Coach Shabaka motioned to Coach Rodney to get practice started. Coach Rodney blew the whistle and gathered the players together.
This week it was Amritpal’s turn to lead warm-up and stretches. They began with a light jog around the court in single file, following Amritpal. They then met at centre court to do jumping jacks, burpees and skipping without skipping ropes. After that, they began stretching their legs first, then arms and lower back. Coach Shabaka said it was important to stretch your muscles so that they would be loose and prevent injury while playing. After the stretches, Coach Shabaka gave them a quick talk about the last game and what they needed to improve on for next week’s match.
“So today, boys, we’re going to get started with some dribbling drills. I need you to find a partner and stand on the baseline with your balls, facing each other. The one standing on the baseline should have both basketballs.”
They were short one player, so Kiya stepped in to substitute. She partnered with Nigel for the drill, which required him to dribble both balls at the same time toward the opposite baseline.
“Hey, Nige,” Kiya said while walking backward, shadowing Nigel. “Dad’s been acting weird lately. I think it has something to do with one of the players on this team. Acting like he’s really worried. What did you guys do? Anyone get in trouble?”
They reached the opposite baseline and switched. Kiya was now the dribbler and Nigel walked backward. “Nah. Not that I can think of,” Nigel replied. “But I do have something I gotta tell you.”
“All right. What is it?” Kiya said.
“Not now. Not here. Maybe after practice. Confidential information. You need to hear this.”
“Ohhhhh. Well, okay,” Kiya said, shrugging.
Just as Coach Rodney sounded the whistle to begin the next drill, Denham came running in by himself, no mother and no siblings. “Hey, Coach, sorry I’m late,” Denham said rushing to the bench to change into his basketball sneakers.
Coach Shabaka seemed happy to see him. Nigel was also happy to see Denham, but for a different reason. Nigel had come up with a new plan, one that might hurt Denham’s feelings even more than Plan No-Pass. He knew just who to ask to help him out. Kiya would be the perfect partner in crime. Nigel thought about how heartbroken Denham might feel about his parents’ separation, and it made Nigel smile. Heartbroken, that’s it. If I could find someone to pretend to like him and then break up with him just as he starts to really like her, he’ll be devastated. Then when we reveal that it was all just a trap to make him like her, he’ll never want to show his face around here again.
“Hurry up now, Denham,” said Coach Shabaka. “You got some catching up to do. Coach Rodney will be your partner for this drill.”
The team dribbled both balls at the same time to begin, then switched to alternating right-hand and left-hand dribbles. Slow at first, then faster. They crouched and walked, doing low dribbles, then stood tall for high dribbles.
In the next drill, the players had to dribble with one hand and give their partner a high-five with the other, then switch hands when Coach Shabaka blew the whistle. Coach Shabaka then gave each pair a tennis ball and instructed them to keep dribbling with one hand and pass the tennis ball back and forth to each other with the other hand. When the players first began this drill, tennis balls were bouncing everywhere around the gym. But as they continued, the players were able to maintain control, carefully passing and catching the tennis ball while still dribbling. After the tennis ball drill, Coach Shabaka had them practise figure-eight dribbles around their legs and behind their backs. The players caught on to the techniques quickly.
“All right, well done, guys. Let’s take a two-minute water break,” said Coach Shabaka.
Most of the boys sprinted to the benches for a quick sip from their water bottles, then ran back out to the court to throw up more shots before Coach Shabaka resumed practice. Kiya did the same, and was about to practise her free throws when Nigel waved at her to follow him out of the gym to the water fountain.
“I’m not thirsty,” Kiya said. “Besides, I have a water bottle at the bench, and so do you. What do we need to go out there for?”
“Just come,” said Nigel. “Remember, I got something to tell you. C’mon.”