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On Thursday morning, half the Civic Center was bathed in Valley blue, the other half in red and white.
The Lady Panthers seemed far less nervous and emotional this time around. They appeared to be simply taking care of business.
“Don’t get cocky,” James cautioned them. “We’ve got to beat Valley before we can even look at that gold ball.”
“We’re not cocky,” Chloe said, “but we’ve got MacKenzie back now.” She put her arm around her cousin’s shoulders. “We can’t lose.”
James nodded. “Well let’s pretend for a moment that we can and play accordingly.” He put his hand out, signaling them all to do the same.
Their hands flew straight up as they all shouted “Piercehaven!” and then they went to line up behind the papered hoop.
On their way to the bench, James whispered to Emily, “I just got an alert on my phone. Other women have come forward, older victims of Milton’s, from years ago.”
Emily gasped. “Your phone alerts you to that stuff?”
“I programmed it just for his name, so I’d hear if there was any progress on the case. But I don’t want any of the girls to know. So don’t let them near any electronics during the game.”
“Hoping they’ll be too busy,” she said.
“Yeah. Me too.”
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Lexi was having the game of her career. She had fifteen points by halftime. In the locker room, James praised her and then said, “Right now their coach is telling them how to shut you down. They’re going to double team you. If they do, don’t get frustrated, and don’t get selfish. Don’t force anything. If two girls are guarding you, someone’s open. Look for a guard. Maybe it’s time to unleash Chloe’s three-point shot.
It was time.
Lexi did exactly as she was told. MacKenzie bounced the ball into the post, the defense collapsed in on Lexi, and she kicked it back out to Chloe, who didn’t even hesitate. Nothing but net, and the ref held two arms up.
Two possessions later, it happened again, and Valley’s coach called a timeout.
Emily figured he was going to stop double teaming Lexi, but she was wrong. All they did was change who Lexi’s second defender would be. Chloe was no longer open. Now MacKenzie was. This was a mistake. MacKenzie scored the next four points of the game.
Valley never stood a chance.
The Lady Panthers had done it again. They were going to the Southern Maine finals. They would face Rangeley again, and this time, they would have their skipper at the helm.
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At practice Friday, James put in the new press break. Some of the girls balked. It was nothing like Milton’s press break, after all, which they’d been running since they were five. But most of them took the update in stride.
“You girls are Piercehaven’s only hope, now,” James called out as they ran through the play. The boys had lost their semifinal game. “If the island is going to get a gold ball this year, we’re going to have to beat Rangeley. And we can’t beat Rangeley without breaking their press.”
Once they appeared to have it down pat, James put pinnies on seven of his subs. “You guys are the press,” he said.
“All seven of them?” Chloe said.
“Yes. Rangeley moves fast enough to be seven girls on the court.” He looked at his new defense. “Anyone who deflects the ball gets a point. Anyone who steals the ball gets five points. Anyone who gets to twenty points gets an ice cream sundae after practice. Miss Morse, please keep track of the points.”
Surprised, Emily snapped her paperback shut and dug through her purse for paper and pen.
“What do we get?” Chloe whined.
“You get to beat Rangeley tomorrow. Ready? Set it up.”
He ran them ragged. The pinnied press seemed to be having the time of their lives. It only took Sydney about five minutes to get her twenty points.
“I had no idea you could play defense like that, Syd,” James said.
“You promised me ice cream.”
The defense laughed. The offense was breathing too hard to laugh. Eighth grader Zoe Lane was the next to earn ice cream.
“Nice job, Zoe! You are quick!”
She beamed. It occurred to Emily that she’d never seen that child smile before.
