Half time...
The third quarter started strong.
Both teams began evenly, but it didn't stay that way for long.
Both teams traded baskets for the first few minutes
Then Brian noticed it — Rhythm was changing
Christopher didn't push in again, he planted himself near Gerald.
Gerald glanced at him and nodded.
"Something's coming!" Brian said.
The next possession was violent.
Christopher created a screen, blocking Brian's vision of Gerald and crushing Kingsley back.
Brian covered up — but it was too late.
John cut in from the wing and caught Gerald's pass, and finished easily.
"What happened?" asked Kingsley.
"They broke our rhythm," he replied.
Kingsley, of course, was confused.
Again
— they set a screen, switched passes, and cut into the Emperor's defense.
Tobby stood on guard, but Christopher pushed the ball and finished through contact.
"They're connecting?" Pondered Brian.
Gerald's eyes had that same look he gave Brian when they first met.
'Unshakable Calm.'
His passes landed with precision.
John and Christopher were copying and mirroring his movement perfectly
Another possession
Gerald drove in, kicked the ball out to Christopher, an extra pass to John and—
Swish—
He sunk in a three
Brian turned to Kingsley — "Just keep playing, there's a loophole."
Christopher set a fake screen and slipped past Tobby, he received the ball and dunked it.
Kingsley received the inbound and slammed the ball in frustration.
Solomon's marking had rendered the opposing shooting guard ineffective, while Tobby panted in the bucket
Benaiah slowed the pace.
He attached himself, drawing contact but he laid it in.
The trio responded — Gerald penetrated, John cut in, Christophe faked screens and finished
"That's it." Gerald's driving, John's cutting and Christopher's finishing with fake screens.
Midway through the quarter, Brian began to adjust. He intercepted a pass, pushed the ball forward, and Solomon finished it.
Fatigue began to show on the court.
Benaiah glanced at Brian.
He shook his head in disagreement, "It wasn't yet time."
Final minute of the quarter.
Brian's team played long possession, draining the clock - but he found Kingsley inside.
Swish -
30 - 35
The buzzer sounded.
Brian glanced at Benaiah "It's time."
The fourth quarter began the same way with the third. Gerald drove, John cut in, Christopher set a screen and scored.
30 - 37.
The lead was widening.
Brian brought the ball up this time slowly. Benaiah was beside him.
"You ready?" he asked
"Sure."
They dashed off in opposite directions. Benaiah drifted to the weak side
"No one-two?" pondered Solomon
But Brian released a pass — a cyclone pass — so fast that the defense were two steps late instead of half a step.
Benaiah caught it and finished cleanly.
32 – 37
Again came the next Possession.
Gerald matched up with Brian early. Solomon opened a lane.
Brian faked going with Solomon, drawing Christopher's attention and weaved past them, then he got the ball to Benaiah.
He rose from the corner.
Swish —
35 – 37.
Rhythm was stabilizing.
Brian and Benaiah were moving as one now.
Brian drove, Benaiah drifted, cut in and scored. When Benaiah cut, Brian delayed, use faked screens and scored
Gerald was confused and his team began to fumble.
Brian drove again using Tobby as bait, and dropped the ball to Benaiah on the baseline.
-Swish-
37-37
Christopher reacted aggressively backing down Kingsley and finishing through contact.
37-39
Brian responded.
He picked up the pace, drew the defense towards him, then passed to Benaiah at the wing
-Swish- Three
40-39
Jake called a timeout.
"Your sync is nice, the rest of you should act as options."
Play resumed immediately, Gerald drove, John was cutting - but Brian saw the lane and slid into it.
He tipped the ball loose.
Solomon picked it up and gave a Javelin pass to Benaiah on the sideline.
He pulled up for a lay-up, – a rough one –
but got it in.
The gym erupted
42–39
Two minutes left, Gerald became aggressive and Benaiah had to assist Tobby in stopping him –
Cornered he pushed the ball out of the bracket.
Christopher caught it and
– Swish –
42–42
Benaiah drove in, Brian forward, Kingsley linked up with them but they set him as a screen slipping past two defenders and passed.
Brian jumped
– The shot hung then...
Swish –
45–42
The Furies rushed back, Gerald drove quickly but sloppily, Tobby blocked him.
Strategically positioned, as if waiting for that moment
Brian picked up the ball near half-court. He saw the defense lag and a lane to Kingsley opened — He passed. Kingsley barely caught it and took a risky three point shot
The shot felt like it hung and froze in the air.
– Swish –
47 – 42
Then came the buzzer
The gym erupted with joy
"Didn't know you took 3-point shots" said Brian
"Me neither"
Solomon jumped on Brian. Fatigued, they both fell to the ground
Emperors had taken their first victory of the tournament.
Brian glanced at Gerald, who was lying panting on the floor.
Jake gave a small smile "Yeah, they deserved the win" and disappeared with the crowd.
. . .
Brian sat in the stands towel over his head, The facility was empty or so he thought.
"Nice game" someone called out to him from behind the stands
"Thanks " He replied and turned to see who it was
She had ginger coloured hair packed in a bun, but the angle at which she sat didn't let Brian see her face but her cloth looked similar to his jersey.
"I'm Chloe by the way " her voice was quiet, not low in the sense but calm
"Brian..." he motioned to say
"I know your name, popular shii" She interrupted "that's precisely why I'm here"
"Because you know my name?" Brian questioned with raised eyebrows
"No!" She said, rolling her eyes "those lanes you see, I can see them too, though not visible like yours"
"I can't offer you guidance on that, sadly" he replied
"Yes you can!" Chloe retorted
"I barely even understand it myself"
"It's called court vision" Chloe said
"Court?... vision?"
"Yeah, and impressive and unique ability to visualizer all that happens on the court in a single glance"
"Okay, I'm still not following "
"Me neither" she added "it's why I need your help"
"But you know more about it than me" sighed Brian
"And you'll can use it more"
"Well,..." he said then stopped
A brief silence followed
"Why are you still in the facility?"
"Analysing " Brian replied
"Analysing?!"
"Those so called lanes, they became clearer at one point during the match"
"Exactly" Chloe exclaimed "that's why I need your help"
"It doesn't feel teachable Chloe" Brian replied and got up to leave
"When do we start?" Chloe asked playfully
"I don't know, I can't teach you, meet Jake or someone else who can play"
"See you tomorrow Brian "
"What?!... I just said" Brian sighed "your number "
Chloe gave it to him
"I'll text when I'm free"
On his way to the dorms, Brian thought about this 'court vision'
He scrolled through his phone. Results of the matches were already on Instagram
Gold City Emperors vs Chicago's Fury
47. 42
Miami Heatwaves vs Washington Vizards
38. 30
Vancouver Grizzlies vs Rochester Royale
46. 46
Minnesota Reapers vs. Celtic Verdes
50. 42