“THEY held their big guns out on us,” said Coach Alec Daws. “Somebody has to stop them, or we'll get smeared, surely.”
They were resting in the coolness of the locker room. No one had any comment.
Alec walked back and forth between the rows of benches, thinking. Presently, he looked up.
“There is a way to stop those tall boys from dunking those baskets,” he said suddenly. “Joby, you and Bud cover the dark-haired one. I noticed that he's the better shot of the two. Perry, you stay with the blond. I think you can handle him. Press him a little closer, but watch yourself. We can't afford fouls. Corny and Mark, cover the other three. Anyway, we'll see how this strategy works.”
The second half soon started. The tall, dark-haired Culbert player took the tap. Joby and Bud swarmed around him like a couple of bothersome bees. He finally passed off.
Mark intercepted the ball! He dribbled down-court, passed to Perry. Perry's guard was suddenly beside him. Perry stopped, passed to Bud. Bud leaped for a lay-up.
A bucket!
The Lakers fans roared.
Culbert realized what the Lakers were doing. The tall boys put on more speed to try to shake off their guards. Culbert's three smaller players began to handle the ball more often. They took more shots. Most of them were careless ones. They missed the rim completely. But some throws found their mark. The Lakers sank one occasionally, too, but the score was going ahead in favor of Culbert.
It looks as if I'm stuck here on the bench, thought Rusty. I can sink them from the corner. Both corners! I'm sure I can! Didn't I sink nine out of ten during practice Thursday night? And on Wednesday, didn't I sink twelve out of fifteen? Isn't that something Alec should think about?
The score at the end of the third quarter was Culbert — 33; Lakers — 30.
“Rusty, take Mark's place this quarter,” said Alec.
Rusty looked at the coach in surprise. “Yes, sir!” he said.
He reported to the referee. At the start of the quarter he shook hands with his man, then played his usual position. He covered more area now, though, than he used to. During these past many weeks, basketball had strengthened his body a lot. Especially his legs. He moved about faster, and he didn't fall as easily as he used to.
Culbert's tall blond got away from Perry, dribbled all the way down the court, and laid one up. That put them five points ahead of the Lakers.
“Come on, Lakers!” the fans shouted. “Get in there and play ball!”
Lakers' out. They played cautiously. Each pass was carefully made. They could not take a chance of interception.
Rusty crept out of the corner. He swung in behind Perry, took the pass from him, and started to shoot. A quick hand slapped the ball down. It bounced high. Rusty went after it, grabbed it, and dribbled toward the corner.
He turned. A man was coming toward him. Rusty shot quickly. The ball struck the inside of the rim and plunged through the net!
Two points!
“Thataway, Rus!” cried Perry.
Rusty's heart swelled.
A few moments later Perry intercepted a pass intended for the tall blond he was guarding. Like an orange balloon the ball zipped from one pair of hands to another. Finally, Perry took the short pass beneath the basket. He went up, flipped the ball against the board.
Basket!
Culbert called time.
The Lakers didn't mind. They could use a two-minute rest.