“I’ve got some good news,” Coach Acevedo said, walking over. Clifton United had waited at the courts while he’d gone up to the office to find out the knockout round pairings for Saturday afternoon. “We’re not the sixteenth seed.”
“How’s that possible?” Maya asked while tossing a ball into the air.
“One of the teams left,” Coach Acevedo said. “We’re actually going to be the thirteenth seed.”
“How’s that possible?” Maya asked.
“Believe it or not, another team finished behind us,” Coach Acevedo said, “and according to Showdown rules, teams can’t play teams they faced during pool play in the opening knockout round.”
“Who do we play?” A-Wu and Mehdi asked at the same time.
“Front Street Fury.”
“Yes!” I hammer-fisted the air.
That was the team shooting around when Diego and I were talking. I knew all about some of their players’ games. Diego looked my way. He knew, too.
“The number-one seed is getting a bye to the second round,” Coach Acevedo went on. “Since we already played the Renegades and Almond—and they’re seeded two and three respectively—we’re bumped to thirteen and play the number four seed. Loser goes home, winner plays the winner of the Renegades versus Strike Force.”
“We’re going to annihilate whoever we face!” Diego put up his fists like a boxer and shuffled his feet. “We’re going to shock the world!”
“This is it!” I snatched the ball from Maya and stepped forward. “I’m here to play above and beyond Clifton United basketball.”
“Real Clifton United basketball!” Mega-Man said.
“Exactly.” I smacked the ball. “We’re here to play real Clifton United basketball.”
“It’s our turn now!” Maya said. She spun to Red and gave him a loud two-handed high five.
“Oh, yeah, Maya Wade!” Red basketball-smiled. “It’s our turn.”
“Anything can happen.” I faced Red. “Just ask Valparaiso University, right?”
“Just ask the Valparaiso University Crusaders,” Red said, hopping. “Anything can happen.”
“Anything will happen.” I looked around and made eye contact with everyone. “One more real rise to the occasion.”
Red put his hand in first. Everyone added theirs.
“We will rise to the occasion, which is life!”
