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Backcourt Battle: An Up2U Character Education Adventure - Up2U Adventures Set 3

Page 4

by Rich Wallace


  Jamere tossed him the ball.

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  Kyle nailed the shot.

  Fairfield won the title!

  Ending

  2

  Best for the Team?

  Jamere took a deep breath. “I think it’s best

  for the team if Kyle starts,” he told Coach. “He’s

  a better defender against Freeman.”

  “That’s true,” Coach said. “This is your

  decision to make. But this is just between you and me, Jamere.”

  “I decided to swallow my pride,” Jamere said.

  “If it was anybody but Kyle, I’d feel better about

  this. But I shouldn’t hurt the team because he’s

  a jerk.”

  Coach laughed. “You’ll play plenty. Freeman

  has enough energy to tire out two point guards.”

  66

  Kyle made a few sharp remarks during the warm-up about Jamere losing his starting job.

  “Ignore him,” Hector said.

  “Seems like you tell me that every day,”

  Jamere replied.

  Freeman played a different style today.

  Instead of looking to shoot on every possession,

  he ran the offense like a quarterback. Several

  pinpoint passes led to easy lay-ups by the center.

  Westwood built an early lead.

  Kyle missed four shots midway through the

  first quarter. “Let’s see if you can do better,”

  Coach said to Jamere. “Freeman’s picking us

  apart.”

  Jamere scowled at Kyle as he took his place on

  the court. Kyle looked away.

  I’ll give us a spark, Jamere thought. Kyle might never get off that bench again.

  But Jamere missed his first two shots. Freeman

  continued his sharp offensive play. He took the

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  open shots. He also relied more on smart passing.

  Westwood built the lead to double digits.

  “They’re simply outplaying us,” Coach said at

  the half. He pointed at Kyle, then Jamere. “You

  two. The only way we can win this game is if

  both of you are out there. Playing together. If you

  act like rivals, we’ll get run out of this gym. If

  you act like teammates, we’ll have a chance.”

  Jamere hung back while the others went to

  the court. “Kyle,” he said.

  Kyle stepped closer and stared.

  “We should double-team him sometimes,”

  Jamere said. “Force him to take a bad shot.”

  Kyle nodded. “Look for me making some

  sharp cuts,” he said. “He’ll be expecting me to

  run the offense. Maybe I can shake loose for an

  open lay-up.”

  But Fairfield had dug a deep hole. Kyle’s

  back-door lay-up idea worked once. And, they

  managed to force Freeman into an off-balance

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  shot that missed. But the lead stayed between five and eight points throughout the second half.

  “We need one big run,” Coach said during a

  time-out. He had to shout to be heard above the

  spectators. They were stomping their feet and

  chanting “West-WOOD” over and over.

  Jamere looked up at the scoreboard. 40–34.

  1:38. 4Q.

  Kyle shadowed Freeman, making him stop his

  dribble and force a risky pass. Lonnie grabbed the

  ball and tossed it to Jamere.

  Patience, Jamere told himself. Plenty of time.

  He and Kyle passed back and forth, dribbling

  in and out. Finally Jamere cut into the lane. Kyle

  passed the ball, and Jamere immediately fired it

  back.

  Kyle made the three-point shot.

  Freeman scored again to make it 42–37. The

  spectators leaped to their feet. They stayed like

  that for the rest of the game.

  69

  Jamere set a screen and Kyle eased by. He flipped the ball to Lonnie for a lay-up.

  “Press!” Jamere yelled as he hounded his

  opponent. Freeman tried to pass the ball safely.

  Kyle tipped the pass. Jamere raced toward the

  bouncing ball. He took it in stride and dribbled

  to the basket. His lay-up cut the lead to a point.

  Freeman called a time-out.

  Jamere leaped into the air. Kyle raised his fist

  as they ran to the bench.

  “Make them earn it,” Coach said. “If they

  score two, we hold for a final three-pointer. If we

  get a stop, then one basket will win us the title.”

  “Let’s go!” Jamere said as he joined Kyle on the

  court. Finally, they were playing like teammates.

  The championship was right there for the taking.

  Jamere stuck to his opponent, keeping an eye

  on Freeman, too. The seconds ticked away.

  The ball went inside. Kyle and Jamere crashed

  in to stop a lay-up.

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  But the ball flew back to the top of the key.

  Freeman easily made the three-pointer.

  The fans counted down the final seconds.

  Kyle’s three-point shot at the other end wasn’t

  enough.

  The final buzzer sounded. Game over.

  They’d come so close.

  Jamere sat down hard on the bench, with

  Kyle next to him.

  Jamere wiped his forehead with his wrist.

  “Why didn’t we work together like that all

  game?” he whispered.

  Kyle shut his eyes. “Why not all season?” he

  asked.

  Jamere looked out at the court. Freeman was

  being mobbed by the spectators. “Yeah,” Jamere

  said, slowly shaking his head. “Why not?”

  “We’ll do better next season,” Kyle said.

  Jamere nodded. He liked the sound of that.

  71

  72

  Ending

  3

  Teamwork

  The Westwood gym was even rowdier than

  last time. Jamere did his best to tune it out. He

  felt loose and confident.

  Coach Sanchez had agreed with Jamere’s

  decision to have Kyle play point guard and cover

  Freeman. Jamere would start, too, but with less

  pressure at the other guard spot.

  “Kyle better not freeze me out this time.”

  Jamere bounced the ball to Hector. “This game

  is too important.”

  “That cuts both ways,” Hector said. “You have

  to work with him, too. Pass the ball.”

  73

  “I’m not the problem,” Jamere insisted.

  Hector rolled his eyes. “He’s most of the

  problem. But you’re part of it.”

  Lonnie won the opening jump and tapped

  the ball to Kyle. Jamere was surprised to see

  that Freeman was guarding him. Maybe he

  thinks I’ll be playing the point, he thought. But Freeman continued to cover Jamere after several

  possessions, even though Kyle covered Freeman

  when Westwood had the ball.

  Both teams were ice-cold. Westwood called a

  time-out midway through the first quarter. The

  game was tied, 2–2.

  “Great defense so far,” Coach said. “Keep

  shooting. The shots will go in.”

  Jamere hadn’t taken a shot yet. Freeman had

  guarded him tightly. The best Jamere could do

  was to set screens for the others and make a few

  passes.

  Kyle poked Jamer
e’s shoulder. Jamere turned.

  74

  “Cut to the basket,” Kyle whispered. “Try to get a jump on Freeman.”

  Jamere nodded. He might catch Freeman off

  guard with a quick cut inside.

  Freeman finally made a shot to give Westwood

  the lead. Jamere hung back on offense, passing

  back and forth with Kyle. Then he stood still for

  a second, acting lazy, before darting toward the

  hoop.

  Kyle sent a perfect bounce pass into the lane.

  Jamere scooped it up. He made a lay-up, despite

  getting fouled from behind by Freeman.

  “Smart move, Jamere!” Coach called.

  It was a good move. But Jamere knew the

  “smarts” had come from Kyle. Jamere made the

  free throw.

  Freeman hit a couple of jumpers. Now

  that Jamere wasn’t covering him, he’d noticed

  something about Freeman’s style. When play

  stopped for a free throw, Jamere waved Kyle over.

  75

  “Freeman doesn’t like to go to his left,” Jamere said. “Force him in that direction. I’ll help out.”

  The strategy worked. Twice Kyle overplayed

  Freeman to one side, not letting him drive to the

  right. The first time, Jamere stole the ball. The

  second, Freeman missed an off-balance shot.

  “Not as loud in here as last time.” Jamere

  turned to Coach during a rest.

  “That’s because we’re outplaying them,”

  Coach said. “Don’t worry. It’ll get loud again.”

  Coach was right. When Freeman hit a long

  three-pointer, the fans erupted in cheers. They

  grew even louder when he sped past Kyle for a

  lay-up.

  “I think Kyle’s hobbling,” Jamere said.

  “I think so, too. Report in.”

  Jamere kneeled by the scorer’s table until the

  next whistle. “Ankle okay?” he asked Kyle.

  “No problem,” Kyle said. But then he winced

  in pain.

  76

  Kyle stayed on the bench for the rest of the half. Westwood led by three points at the break.

  “Kyle’s done,” Coach said. “Can’t risk a worse

  injury to that ankle. So Jamere, Derek, and

  Hector, the guard play is all up to you.”

  Kyle waved Jamere and the guards toward him

  as they left the locker room. “He’s not Superman,”

  Kyle said, referring to Freeman. “But he’ll always

  take a shot if he can. Double up on him. Force

  him to take bad shots.”

  Kyle grabbed Jamere’s jersey and held him

  back. “You’ve got this,” he said. “Freeman’s going

  to score, but you can limit him.”

  “Thanks,” Jamere said. “How bad is the

  ankle?”

  “It’ll be all right,” Kyle said. “But not today.

  This one’s up to you.”

  Jamere guarded Freeman throughout the

  second half. Whenever Freeman slipped away,

  Derek was there to help. But Freeman didn’t pass

  77

  to an open player. He ducked his head and tried

  to drive. Jamere stole the ball twice. Fairfield

  built a lead.

  Kyle’s advice had paid off.

  Less than a minute remained in the game.

  Fairfield led, 45–33, and had wrapped up the

  championship.

  Jamere finally left the court for a rest. He

  walked along the bench, shaking hands with his

  teammates. When he got to Kyle, they both let

  out a laugh.

  78

  “No more weak links,” Kyle said. “Great game,

  Jamere.”

  “No more annoying jerks, either,” Jamere said.

  “Just champions. And teammates.”

  79

  Write Your Own Ending

  There were three endings to choose from

  in Backcourt Battle. Did you find the ending you wanted from the story? Or did you want

  something different to happen? Now it is your

  turn! Write the ending you would like to see. Be

  creative!

  80

  WaWa

  UP2U

  llac

  A d v e n t u r e s

  e &e&

  C H A R A C T E R

  KKiKin

  E D U C A T I O N

  g

  After the starting point guard sprains his

  ankle during a game, Jamere steps in until his

  Ad U

  rival teammate returns for the championship.

  ve P2n

  But with both boys expecting to start in the

  tu Ure

  zM@KF@LDSGDHQBN@BG@RJR*@LDQDSNCDBHCD

  s

  who wil play. The ending is Up2U!

  Backco

  BOOKS IN THIS SET:

  urt Ba

  Backcourt Battle

  ttle

  The Creepy Doll

  Lost in Space

  The Starving Ghost

  I S B N 978-1-5321-3028-1

  9 0 0 0 0

  9 7 8 1 5 3 2 1 3 0 2 8 1

  Document Outline

  Cover

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1: Ignore the Noise

  Chapter 2: Bye-Bye?

  Chapter 3: On Fire

  Chapter 4: A Rough Start

  Chapter 5: Winning Streak

  Chapter 6: Kyle’s Return

  Chapter 7: Loud and Rowdy

  Ending 1: Facing His Fear

  Ending 2: Best for the Team?

  Ending 3: Teamwork

  Write Your Own Ending

  Back Cover

 

 

 


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