Chapter 5
At practice the next afternoon, Daniel was feeling nervous. He knew Coach Turnbull might talk to him about starting at the next game. He also knew he had embarrassed himself in the last game when he tried to drive to the basket.
The team was in their practice uniforms, sitting on the bleachers. Coach T was standing on the court looking at his clipboard.
“All right, guys,” Coach T said. “Some bad news: Dwayne Illy will not be in school for a week starting this Thursday. That means he won’t be around to play in the game against Killcreek on Thursday afternoon.”
The team groaned. Daniel gulped.
“Aw, man, Dwayne!” Isaac Roth said. “You can’t miss the game.”
Dwayne shrugged. “It’s not my choice, guys,” he said. “What can I do?”
“Everyone settle down,” Coach Turnbull said. “We have a second-string team because sometimes guys can’t make the game. Daniel Friedland will start at small forward.”
A few guys groaned again. Daniel slouched on the bleachers.
“Daniel’s foul shot has really improved this season,” Coach Turnbull went on, ignoring the groans. “He’s going to be a real asset from the line.”
Daniel was glad to hear the coach say that, but he could still feel the eyes of his teammates on him. No one was happy Dwayne wouldn’t be around for the Killcreek game.
And to be honest, Daniel thought, I’m not so happy about it either.
After about a half hour of practice, Coach Turnbull gave a couple of sharp blows on his whistle. “Dwayne,” he called out. “Take ten minutes. Do some laps or something.”
“Seriously, Coach T?” Dwayne said. He spun the basketball on one finger. “I’m in the middle of drills.”
“I see that,” the coach replied. “And I want Daniel to take over at small forward in the drills for a little while.”
Daniel looked up from the other end of the gym. He and the second-string players had been playing some half court.
“You got it, Coach,” Dwayne said. He tossed the ball to Isaac and started a lap.
Daniel looked over at the other second-stringers. Sam shrugged at him.
“Looks like you’ve been promoted,” Sam said. “For now.”
Daniel sighed and walked down the court toward Isaac and the other starters.
“Hi,” Daniel said.
The four boys looked at him, then at each other. “Let’s do this,” Isaac said.
Isaac dribbled up to the top of the key and raised his right hand, showing two fingers.
Daniel knew what he was supposed to do. It was the same play Daniel had seen Isaac and Dwayne do in lots of games during the season.
Isaac would fake a shot, Dwayne would cut across the key, and Isaac would move up the left side as he passed the ball to Dwayne. Then Dwayne was supposed to drive hard to the hoop.
“I can do this,” Daniel muttered to himself.
Daniel looked at Isaac. Isaac pumped once, then cut to his left. Daniel quickly ran across the key just as Isaac’s pass came through.
Daniel caught the pass, spun, and drove to the hoop.
On his last dribble before the shot, though, the ball hit his forward foot and flew out of bounds.
Coach Turnbull blew his whistle.
“You feeling all right, Daniel?” the coach called out.
“I’m fine,” Daniel replied. He looked at Isaac. “Let’s take it from the top. Sorry.”
Isaac shook his head as the assistant coach tossed the ball back in. Then he held up two fingers again to start the play.
Daniel cut across the key and caught the pass just fine. He looked down the lane, and drove to the hoop. He went up for the layup . . .
Brick!
The ball thudded hard into the side of the hoop and ricocheted into the bleachers. Coach Turnbull’s whistle was piercing this time.
“Daniel,” he called out. “Come over here.”
Daniel took a deep breath and jogged over to the coach.
“I know, I know,” Daniel said as he stepped up to the coach. “I must just be a little nervous.”
Coach Turnbull put a hand on Daniel’s shoulder. “Scott Dean has been working hard on his ball handling,” the coach said. Scott was a second-string guard.
“Um,” Daniel said, “yeah, he’s gotten pretty good.”
“Scott might have a little less trouble with those drives that are breaking up your game this afternoon,” Coach T went on.
“Wait a minute,” Daniel said. “What are you saying?”
The coach sighed. “Your foul shot has really improved. Everyone’s noticed,” he said. “But maybe you’re not quite ready to start at small forward after all.”