The second half soon started. The tall, dark-haired Culbert player took the tap. Joby and Bud swarmed around him like a couple of bothersome bees. He finally passed off.
Mark intercepted the ball! He dribbled down-court, passed to Perry. Perry's guard was suddenly beside him. Perry stopped, passed to Bud. Bud leaped for a lay-up.
A bucket!
The Lakers fans roared.
Culbert realized what the Lakers were doing. The tall boys put on more speed to try to shake off their guards. Culbert's three smaller players began to handle the ball more often. They took more shots. Most of them were careless ones. They missed the rim completely. But some throws found their mark. The Lakers sank one occasionally, too, but the score was going ahead in favor of Culbert.
It looks as if I'm stuck here on the bench, thought Rusty. I can sink them from the corner. Both corners! I'm sure I can! Didn't I sink nine out of ten during practice Thursday night? And on Wednesday, didn't I sink twelve out of fifteen? Isn't that something Alec should think about?
The score at the end of the third quarter was Culbert — 33; Lakers — 30.
“Rusty, take Mark's place this quarter,” said Alec.
Rusty looked at the coach in surprise. “Yes, sir!” he said.
He reported to the referee. At the start of the quarter he shook hands with his man, then played his usual position. He covered more area now, though, than he used to. During these past many weeks, basketball had strengthened his body a lot. Especially his legs. He moved about faster, and he didn't fall as easily as he used to.
Culbert's tall blond got away from Perry, dribbled all the way down the court, and laid one up. That put them five points ahead of the Lakers.
“Come on, Lakers!” the fans shouted. “Get in there and play ball!”
Lakers' out. They played cautiously. Each pass was carefully made. They could not take a chance of interception.
Rusty crept out of the corner. He swung in behind Perry, took the pass from him, and started to shoot. A quick hand slapped the ball down. It bounced high. Rusty went after it, grabbed it, and dribbled toward the corner.
He turned. A man was coming toward him. Rusty shot quickly. The ball struck the inside of the rim and plunged through the net!
Two points!
“Thataway, Rus!” cried Perry.
Rusty's heart swelled.
A few moments later Perry intercepted a pass intended for the tall blond he was guarding. Like an orange balloon the ball zipped from one pair of hands to another. Finally, Perry took the short pass beneath the basket. He went up, flipped the ball against the board.
Basket!
Culbert called time.
The Lakers didn't mind. They could use a two-minute rest.
16
TIME in. Culbert's out. The tall boys had been taken out, replaced by smaller boys. They were fresh, eager. Culbert began to roll.
Fast dribbling. Quick passes. They sank two long set shots that drew a tremendous applause from the crowd.
The buzzer. Time out for the Lakers.
“Screen Rusty!” said Alec. “Give him some shots!”
Had Alec remembered those nights Rusty had dunked nine out of ten? And twelve out of fifteen?
Culbert played a man-to-man defense But Ted, playing in place of Joby, managed to slip a pass to Rusty. Then Ted got in front of Rusty to give him a screen. Rusty aimed, shot.
Basket!
Later, Perry made the same play. He screened Rusty, and again Rusty sank the shot.
“Good eye!” Perry praised him.
By now Rusty was more “in” the game. He no longer played only in or around the corner. This, he realized, was a game in which he had to participate more than in any game he had ever played.
I hope Alec won't take me out because I'm playing more than just the corner, thought Rusty. I'm sure I won't get hurt. I'm really sure of it!
The Lakers trailed by one point — 39 to 38.
Time was called. The two tall boys returned to the game for Culbert.
“Ted! Corny! Cover that one! I'll cover the blond!” yelled Perry.
In spite of Ted's and Corny's efforts, the tall, dark-haired forward for Culbert took a pass, broke fast for the basket, and dunked a lay-up.
Seconds later Corny sank a long one.
Culbert — 41; Lakers — 40.
Culbert's out. The tall blond took the pass from out of bounds, dribbled it up-court.
Swiftly — as swiftly as he could, that is — Rusty ran forward, reached out his hand, and stole the ball!
He turned, dribbled down-court, and felt as if weights were holding down his legs. A moment ago the clock had said only seconds to play. If he could get past the center line, well within throwing distance of the basket, he might be able to dump it in. If…
He crossed the center line. Culbert men sprang in front of him from both sides. Rusty stopped, aimed briefly, and shot. Just as he did so one of the men leaped forward, struck Rusty's arm! He fell against Rusty, and both of them toppled hard to the floor.
Rusty was stunned. He could not get up. Time was called, and Alec hurried forward from the bench.
He crouched beside Rusty. “Rusty! Where did you get hurt?”
“My head,” murmured Rusty. “I — I'll be all right. Just banged it a little.”
The dizziness cleared. Alec helped him to his feet.
“You sure?” Alec said, seriously. “You sure you really want to keep playing?”
Rusty cracked a smile. “I'm sure, Coach. I'm all right, now. Honest!”
Alec grinned, slapped him on the shoulder. “Okay! You've got two foul shots coming. Let's see you make them both!”
Rusty stepped to the free-throw line. The referee handed him the ball. The gym was silent as Rusty took aim, and shot.
In! The ball fell through the rim without touching it.
“This is it, Rus,” said Perry near him. “Make it, and we're ahead!”
Rusty aimed carefully. He was nervous, now. Boy, he was nervous!
He shot. The ball struck the rim, wobbled slightly, then dropped through the net!
“Perfect!” cried Perry.
The Lakers fans roared so loudly the place shook.
Ten seconds to go… nine… eight…
Culbert tried to move the ball as quickly as possible up-court. The Lakers were on them like hornets. Once… twice… the Lakers knocked down passes. Both times Culbert recovered the ball.
Seven… six… five…
Culbert's tall blond had the ball. He charged forward. Perry and Rusty both were in his way. The blond stopped. He feinted in different directions with the ball as Perry and Rusty got closer and closer to him.
Then he shot. It was a hurried throw. It missed the basket by inches.
Perry turned and ran back for the rebound, just as the horn blew.
The game was over. The Lakers were the winners — 42 to 41.
Cheers filled the gym. Cheers from the Lakers' fans.
“Here's the guy who won it for us!” Perry cried. “Come on, fellas! Let's give him a lift off the court!”
Before he knew what was happening, Rusty's teammates had put him on their shoulders, and carried him off the floor.
Rusty heard a voice start singing behind him, and then everyone joined in:
For he's a jolly good fellow!
For he's a jolly good fellow!
For he's a jolly good fellow!
That nobody can deny!
Not only were the players singing, the Lakers' fans were, too.
Rusty turned, and met Alec's eyes squarely. Alec winked. There was no mistaking the happiness in his face. Rusty knew it was because Alec, who could never play basketball again himself, had turned a group of boys into a great basketball team.
That nobody can deny!
That nobody can deny!
For he's a jolly good fellow!
That nobody can deny!
SINK IT, RUSTY
by MATT CHRISTOPHE
R
When coach Alec Daws was handing out uniforms for the newly formed “Lakers” basketball team, Rusty stayed at home. Alec hadn't said anything to him about the team. Besides, Rusty was sure he could never make it. Hadn't Perry Webb, the tallest and best basketball player, said that Alec wanted only good players?
Rusty had recovered from polio two years before. Although his parents reminded him that he was luckier than many victims, he didn't really feel lucky. Things his friends did easily were difficult — sometimes impossible — for him. He wanted to play basketball, but his legs just wouldn't work right. Practicing just made him more impatient and discouraged.
It was coach Alec, himself handicapped, who understood Rusty's problem, who encouraged him to take things more slowly, and gradually find his place on the team. Young readers will enjoy following the progress of both Rusty and the new team.
Jacket and Illustrations
by FOSTER CADDELL
BASEBALL FLYHAWK
by MATT CHRISTOPHER
Being a new boy in a neighborhood is tough enough without being the cause of the baseball team's losing streak. Chico had played baseball when he and his family lived in Puerto Rico. Now he was an outfielder for the Royals.
He knew he could hit and catch as well as anyone. But somehow, when he tried too hard, he made mistakes. One day he hit a home run, but in his hurry he forgot to touch first base and was called out. And there was the time he let himself get caught in a double play when he should have kept his eye on the ball.
He even let his new friend Buddy down by oversleeping on the morning he had promised to deliver newspapers. How Chico finally proves himself a quick thinker makes a story that is exciting and real.
Jacket and illustrations by
FOSTER CADDELL
Sports Stories for Young Readers
By Matt Christopher
Baseball Stories
THE LUCKY BASEBALL BAT
BASEBALL PALS
TWO STRIKES ON JOHNNY
LITTLE LEFTY
LONG STRETCH AT FIRST BASE
CHALLENGE AT SECOND BASE
BASEBALL FLYHAWK
CATCHER WITH A GLASS ARM
Too HOT TO HANDLE
THE RELUCTANT PITCHER
MIRACLE AT THE PLATE
Basketball Stories
BASKETBALL SPARKPLUG
BREAK FOR THE BASKET
TALL MAN IN THE PIVOT
SINK IT, RUSTY
LONG SHOT FOR PAUL
Football Stories
TOUCHDOWN FOR TOMMY
CRACKERJACK HALFBACK
COUNTERRFEIT TACKLE
THE TEAM THAT COULDN'T LOSE
Hockey Stories
WINGMAN ON ICE
Sink it Rusty Page 5