Wheel Wizards

by Matt Christopher

  And his arms and upper body were a lot stronger, too.

  After the warmups, Wes put together two teams of three players each: two of the Junior Wizards would team up with either Danny or Con. Wes watched closely from the sidelines, made frequent criticisms, and rotated new players into the lineups.

  Seth started off teamed with Con and a guy named James Jacks, a whip-thin boy who wore heavy leg braces that allowed him to walk, although slowly. As play began, Seth took an inbounds pass from James and wheeled downcourt, with Danny trying to hem him in and slow him down. Spotting Con making a break toward the basket, Seth threw a long bounce pass that Con scooped up without slowing down. Pete, one of the opponents, tried to catch him, but Con was too fast and laid the ball in a moment later.

  “Pete!” yelled Wes from the sideline. “You falling asleep out there? Keep your eye on your man!” Pete flushed, but said nothing.

  Seth began to realize that it wasn't easy keeping an eye on his man and watching to see where the ball was, too. Sure enough, a minute later, as he guarded Danny, Pete whizzed past him on the baseline, caught a pass, and put a short shot in off the glass.

  “Watch the lanes, Seth!” came Wes's voice. “Keep your head on a swivel! You should have seen that one coining! Stay awake out there, everybody!”

  Pete caught Seth's eye and Seth smiled and shrugged. He was getting used to Wes's style of coaching, and the criticism didn't sting as much as it had. And Danny had been right about Wes: He almost never praised anyone.

  Seth ran down a rebound after Danny missed a long shot, and looked for a target for an outlet pass. Con tried to pivot his chair sharply, but James's chair caught Con's while Con was leaning the wrong way, and Con spilled out of the chair onto the hardwood. Wes whistled the play dead, and Seth sped over to help Con up.

  As he came over, Con saw him and waved him away, looking angry. Seth backed off.

  “Remember, don't help anyone who falls unless he asks you for help,” whispered Danny from just behind Seth's shoulder. Meanwhile, Con had levered himself back into his chair and was ready to go again.

  A moment later, Wes sent another Wizard in for Seth, who went to the sideline and thought about Con's reaction when Seth had instinctively come to help. He recalled when he had fallen and Wes had insisted he get into his chair unassisted.

  You all need to be as independent as possible, Wes had said. It was hard to argue with that. Danny and Con were good examples. He wanted to be as independent as possible, too.

  Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that Lou had come into the gym and was leaning against a wall, watching. When his eye met Seth's, he waved. Seth nodded in return and shifted his attention back to the game.

  As he did, the coach said, “That's right, Pender, keep your eyes on the court. This is what you're here for, remember?”

  Just then, Pete let a pass from Danny get by him and roll out of bounds. “Good hands, Pete!” the coach called, sarcastically. “Maybe we can tape a couple of handles on the ball for you. Why don't you come out for a minute and think about what you did wrong just then? Seth, go in for him.”

  Pete looked unhappy as he passed Seth on his way into the game. Seth gave the other boy a wink and took his place on the court.

  Seth, Danny, and James were now on defense. Danny whispered to try a zone, with himself under the basket and the other boys on either side and in front of him.

  Con dribbled forward and stopped a few feet behind the key. When a defender came toward him, Con whipped a pass out to a teammate in the corner, who started in toward the basket. But Seth had anticipated the move and raced forward to block the other player, who rammed his chair into Seth's, hard.

  Wes's whistle stopped the play. “Seth was in position. That's a charge on the offense. Danny's team, inbound the ball.”

  Danny took an inbounds pass from Seth, passed to James, then raced downcourt. James pivoted and passed to Seth, who dribbled fast and furious downcourt until a defender wheeled in front of him. He paused, keeping his dribble, and thought about shooting. But he was too far out. He faked with his head, and the defender moved ever so slightly with the fake. That was all Seth needed. He dribbled closer, dropped a bounce pass to Danny behind him, and set his chair in a perfect pick. With Seth keeping defenders away, Danny lofted a shot that hit nothing but net.

  “Yes!” Danny shouted, and Wes whistled to end the game.

  “Good shot, Danny,” he said. Turning to the Junior Wizards, he shook his head. “You guys still have a lot of work to do. Tomorrow, we'll work on a few of the biggest problems, and play some more three-on-three. I want to see more concentration on the court tomorrow! Keep your eye on the ball! Anticipate on defense! Remember that you're a team! Okay, that's it for today.”

  Lou came up to Seth and Pete as they headed off the court. “You guys looked all right out there. Seth, that was a great pick you set.”

  Pete looked around to make sure that the coach was nowhere nearby, but Wes was talking to Con and paying them no attention. “You'd never know we ever did anything right if you listened to the coach,” he said, scowling. “He never lets up, never eases off.”

  The three boys left the gym and headed for the parking lot, where Mrs. Pender would pick them up. “I felt the same way you do,” Seth said to Pete, “but now I've changed my mind. I think he knows what he's doing.”

  Lou laughed. “I can't believe my ears! After the way you were putting him down last week. What happened between then and now?”

  Seth smiled. “I just see things a little differently, that's all.”

  “Well, I don't!” Pete's expression was stony. “I still think he's just a bully who gets off on bossing us around.”

  “Well, I think he's teaching us a lot, and not just about basketball,” Seth replied. “Like he said, we have to learn to be independent, and he wants us to toughen up. That's why he is the way he is, I think.”

  Pete looked surprised. “You're defending him? Well, I don't agree with you. Anyway, I better go. See you tomorrow.”

  As he left, Lou asked, “Is he mad at you?”

  “I hope not,” Seth said. He saw Danny just behind them and nodded.

  “That was a really good pick you set,” Danny said. “Also, I heard what Pete and you were saying. Don't worry, Pete isn't in any trouble. But I have to tell you, you sure have come a long way. You'd never have talked like that when I first met you. You're doing great!”

  He raised a hand, and he and Seth exchanged high fives. It was a moment Seth would remember for a long time.

  10

  Seth looked at himself in the locker-room mirror, admiring the black jersey with WIZARDS across the front in gold letters, with gold lightning bolts running down the sides. Pete came up alongside him and smiled.

  “Lookin' good!” he said, adjusting his own jersey. The Junior Wizards' jerseys had belonged to Danny and Con's older Wizard team. Seth and his teammates were about to play their first game, at the school where several of their opponents were students.

  Danny came up and asked, “How are you guys feeling? You up for this?”

  “Absolutely!” Seth replied, hoping his voice didn't sound as nervous as he felt.

  “We're ready!” Pete added.

  “Remember,” Danny cautioned, “this team has been playing awhile and they're well-coached. We played against one of the Tiger coaches last year. Just remember what you've learned and stay cool.”

  Seth's throat felt dry, and he licked his lips. If they could give this team a game and not get blown out, that would be fine with him. His family and Lou were out there, and he didn't want to be embarrassed.

  From the locker-room door, Wes called out, “I'd like the team on the court in a minute, so we can go over a few things. Con, Danny, come with me.”

  Danny clenched a fist and raised it over his head. “All right! Play tough and take no prisoners! See you outside.”

  As he came out of the locker room, Seth looked down to the end of the court, wher
e the Tigers were warming up. They were doing the same drills that Seth and the Wizards did, but, somehow they looked better, as if this was stuff they had worked on for a long time, not just a few weeks. The Tigers looked assured, and they talked it up during the warmups. They had ten players to the Wizards' eight.

  A handful of Wizard supporters clapped and cheered as they hit the floor; Danny spotted his family and Lou, and Lou flashed him a thumbs-up sign, There were more Tiger rooters, however, a few with signs and banners. Pete wheeled himself next to Seth. “They look tough,” he whispered. “Look at the guy with the black headband! He just hit a twenty-footer!”

  Wes clapped his hands sharply, and the Wizards huddled around him. Seth thought that Wes looked nervous, which made him feel even more uptight.

  “Listen up!” snapped Wes. “We've worked hard, so let's make that work pay off. I know there have been times when you've been hating my guts. … Probably most of you do right now.”

  Several players laughed, and Seth suddenly felt a little better.

  “The team you'll be playing against today has a full year of experience. Only four of them are as new to this game as all of you are. The Tiger coach emphasizes defense. They'll switch from zone D to man-to-man and back again; try to recognize which they're using. They play aggressively, so keep your cool.

  “If they're using a zone, try to flood the zone —move a few guys into one area so they have to scramble. When they play man defense, look to set picks and switches.

  “When they have the ball, I'll signal what defense you should use. Move the ball on offense, keep your passes sharp, and talk to each other, on offense and defense. Help each other out wherever you can. Keep your heads on swivels, keep your eyes on the ball, and give it a hundred percent. If you play your best, then you're doing a good job, win or lose. And, win or lose, this game will be a valuable learning experience for you all.

  “Let's have your hands.” All the Wizards stuck their hands into the middle of the huddle, and Wes covered their hands with his. “Are you ready?”

  “YEAH!” they shouted.

  Wes named the starters, including Seth and Pete, and assured everyone that they'd get plenty of playing time. “You'll get breathers, and you'll need them, I promise you.”

  “You bet you will,” echoed Con, with a smile.

  “Remember what you've been working on,” Danny urged, as the teams took the court. The two referees had the team members shake hands. One ref tossed a coin to see who would get the ball, and Pete called, “Tails.”

  The coin came up tails, and Pete inbounded the ball from under the Wizards' basket. He threw a bounce pass to Seth, who headed toward midcourt, dribbling and checking to see what defense the Tigers were using. Suddenly, a hand reached in and whipped the ball away. A Tiger had come up on Seth's blind side for the steal. Two Wizards were racing downcourt, unaware of the turnover.

  “Hey!” Pete yelled, moving toward the man with the ball, who flipped it to a teammate waiting under the Wizards' basket. The man put in the easy shot, and the Tigers led, 2–0.

  “Watch the hall!” bellowed Wes.

  The Wizards brought the ball upcourt again, and Seth saw Pete unguarded twelve feet from the basket. As he fired a pass, two Tigers converged on Pete and had him trapped in the corner. Pete searched desperately for someone to pass to, and James Jacks wheeled toward him, waving an arm. Pete hurled a baseball-style pass in James's direction, but James couldn't control the ball, which rolled out of bounds. The ref whistled the ball dead, and the Tigers put it in play.

  Seth glanced at his family and Lou in the stands as he raced back on defense. A Tiger player with awesome biceps sped past Seth, and he tried to catch up. Looking back over his shoulder, he saw a pass headed toward the Tiger, who was intent on an easy fast-break basket. He gave his wheels a hard pump and lunged forward, reaching out a hand and deflecting the ball out of bounds, foiling the easy basket. On the sideline, the other Wizard players clapped.

  “Good D!” called Con. As the Tigers put the ball in play, a muscular Tiger forced his way next to the key, just to the side of the basket. When a teammate's shot went off the rim, he tipped the ball out to another Tiger. Seth tried to muscle him away from his spot, but the guy was too big and strong. The Tiger rebounded another shot and bounced the ball to a player on the baseline, who sank it despite being rammed by Pete. The ref called Pete for a foul, and the Tiger hit the free throw. It was 5–0. Wes signaled for a time-out.

  Seth felt stunned as the Wizards huddled around their coaches. “Welcome to the world of wheelchair basketball,” said Con.

  Pete scowled and muttered, “These guys are too much for us.”

  Seth snapped, “What are you talking about? We're going to get better!” He suddenly felt a competitive anger he hadn't felt since before his accident.

  “Quiet, everybody!” Wes said. “We've only played a couple of minutes, so don't panic. I called time so you wouldn't lose your heads out there. Remember, these guys are veterans, and this is your first time. Remember your prepared plays and stick to them. We'll play a half-court game for now, no fast breaks, just move the ball around and be alert.

  “Always know where your opponents are and where the ball is. On that first play, some of you rushed downcourt without bothering to make sure the ball was coming with you. Keep an eye on the ball! Otherwise, you're in for hard times. Now, take your time, look for good shots. Remember your basic plays: pick-and-roll, give-and-go, all that stuff. When you have the ball, find an open man. When you don't have the ball, get open.

  “All right! Let's show this team that they can't just roll over us!”

  Seth took the inbound pass, tossed to James, and got the ball back at midcourt. Sensing movement on his left, he yanked the ball away just before a Tiger defender could snatch it. The Tigers were in a tight man-to-man defense. Suddenly, Pete made a quick pivot, and Seth whipped him the ball. Pete lofted a twelve-footer that went in off the glass to make the score 5–2.

  During the next few minutes, Seth and his teammates realized that the Tigers, while more experienced, weren't supermen. At one point, James made a steal and Seth converted a fast-break layup. Seth's arms were aching, though, when Wes sent in subs for him and Pete with three minutes left in the first quarter.

  Con came over as Seth caught his breath. “Good move on the fast break!”

  Seth wiped his face with a towel. “We can! play with these guys! Way to go, James”

  The wiry James had just drawn a charging foul by getting into the lane and holding his position against a Tiger who was trying a layup. When the Wizards scored on a slick give-and-go, the score was 9–6; the Wizards were only three down.

  At the end of the quarter, however, the Tigers led, 11–6. During the second quarter, Seth was all over the court. He made steals, assists, and an outstanding defensive play when he lunged to knock a Tiger pass out of bounds and fell out of his chair in the process. He waved away offers of assistance and got back in the chair, while even Tiger fans applauded. Pete made some great moves with his chair and shook loose for a few shots. As a team, the Wizards showed that they, too, could play tough defense. At halftime, the Tiger lead was only 22–20.

  Wes didn't actually smile during halftime, but he admitted that the team had had some good moments. When he said this, Seth winked at Pete, who grinned.

  “In the second half,” said Wes, “let's try a full-court press on them, see if that rattles their brains. Also, if you see a fast-break chance, go for it. We might catch them by surprise. And keep up the D—no easy baskets.” He looked around. “Danny, Con? Anything to add?”

  Con said, “Their guy in the black headband loves shooting from downtown. Give him room and let him bomb away — he's not as good as he thinks he is.”

  “All right!” Wes leaned forward. “This is your game to win? Go out and fight!”

  Early in the third quarter, the Wizard full-court press created two turnovers that Jed to easy baskets, and the Wizards wer
e in the lead, 24–22! The teams exchanged baskets for a few minutes before the Tiger coach called time to make adjustments. Later in the quarter, the Tigers took the lead back, and the period ended with the Wizards down, 32–28.

  Looking around between quarters, Seth realized that the Wizards were tired; the extra Tiger players kept them fresher.

  With the Wizards down by four at the start of the fourth quarter, Wes sent Seth and James back into the game. Seth felt rested and sank a shot off a beautiful pass from Pete, cutting the Tiger lead to two.

  But that was as close as the Wizards could get. The Tigers tired the Wizards out, and, even though there were no serious defensive goofs, the Tigers pulled away to win, 43–34.

  Afterward, several Tiger players came over and congratulated Seth on his play. One said, “I figured this game would be a laugher, but I was wrong.”

  Seth's family came up and praised his play. Phyllis hugged her brother. “I am so proud of you!”

  Lou nodded, smiling. “You guys are going to win some games, I know it!”

  Wes called the team together. “As far as I'm concerned,” he said, “this was a win. You did a great job, and you're going to get better. We'll work more on conditioning, so you don't run out of gas late in the games.”

  While Mr. Pender drove the Penders and Lou for some ice cream, Lou asked Seth, “Are you down about losing the game?”

  Seth thought for a second and grinned. “No way! This is only the beginning! You wait and see!”

  11

  I don't know,” Lou said, as he and Seth left school on a sunny afternoon. “Can you understand what we were taught in math today? I don't get it, that's for sure.”

  Seth grinned. “I think I'm going to ask Phyllis for a little help tonight. She's the math whiz. Come over if you want.”