“An incredible game deserves an incredible finish,” Coach Acevedo said in the huddle. He handed his iPad to Red. “We need our close-out play. It’s time for Pacer.”
“Oh, yeah!” Red smiled an above-and-beyond basketball smile. “I’m the man, Coach Acevedo.”
“You are the man, Red.”
“Who’s playing where, Coach Acevedo?” he asked.
“That’s your call. We’re going with the same five.”
Red looked at me.
I pointed to Maya. “She takes the shot,” I said. “She hasn’t missed all game.”
“That’s not completely true,” Maya said, smiling. “I’ve missed three shots this—”
I cut her off. “You’re not missing this one.”
“No way,” she said. “There’s no way I’m missing this one.”
“Maya Wade’s not missing this one,” Red said.
Then he went over the play.
“Mason Irving makes the pass. Eduardo ‘Super-Size’ Lopez and Amy ‘A-Wu’ Wu clear space in the middle of the court. Diego Vasquez catches the pass. Maya Wade takes the shot.”
“Maya Wade makes the shot,” she said.
“Works for me.” Coach Acevedo laughed. “Hands in.” He looked around the tight huddle and made eye contact with everyone. “Let’s go win this game. On three, Pacer. One, two, three…”
“Pacer!”
* * *
“Here we go,” the referee said, holding the ball out to me. “Ball’s in.”
Tweet! Tweet!
I jab-stepped left and broke right. Since we were taking the ball out after a basket, I was allowed to run with the baseline, but their big man defending the inbounds didn’t know that. With a clean look downcourt, I pump-faked like a quarterback and let fly. As my pass soared over the court, Super-Size and Speedy cleared room for Diego at the far key. Diego leaped for the ball and, before landing, two-handed it to Maya streaking down the sideline …
… but his touch-pass was behind her. Still, Maya somehow managed to get her fingers on the ball and tap it forward. She dribbled once with her left, picked up the ball, and then in one motion and on the run, took the shot from beyond the three-point arc.
The ball seemed to travel in slow motion …
Swish!
Clifton United celebrated at center court like we’d just won the Larry O’Brien Trophy.