Chapter 6
Trey threw in the ball to Isaac to start play after the first basket.
The coach and Trey’s teammates were still in good spirits. Coach T walked along the sideline, clapping.
“Look alive out there, guys,” Coach T shouted. “Let’s make sure that’s the last time Eastlake steals from us in this game, okay?”
Trey hustled to his spot down the court.
I can’t believe I let Pete get that steal, he thought. Well, I’ll show him who the better player is.
Isaac called a give-and-go, but Trey didn’t want to just pass the ball back to Isaac. Trey wanted to be the one to score the next basket. He had to show Pete he was just as good.
When the pass came, Trey dodged Pete, caught the pass, and went straight to the hoop. With a little fancy dribbling through his legs, Trey went up for the layup.
But too many Eastlake players were on him, including Pete. There just wasn’t room.
Trey tried to lay the ball up underhanded, but missed. The ball slammed into the bottom of the backboard.
The whole basket shook. Then the ball went flying out of bounds.
“Trey!” Isaac called out. “That was a give-and-go. Why’d you drive?”
Trey looked over at the bench. The coach looked angry, and Trey felt like an idiot. So far, Pete looked like a great player. Trey lost a pass and blew a layup.
Eastlake started their possession. Trey hoped their point guard would pass to Pete. That way, Trey would have a chance to make up for his mistakes and show up his cousin at the same time.
But Eastlake’s point guard glanced toward Pete, then passed to their small forward. Eastlake’s small forward drove hard to the basket, so Trey fell off Pete and doubled up on the forward.
“Trey!” Coach T called from the sideline. “Get back to your man!”
But it was too late. The Eastlake small forward cut his drive short. He passed the ball under his other arm — right to Pete Smith.
Pete was wide open. He casually raised the ball and sank a perfect shot from downtown. Three more points for Eastlake!