The buzzer echoed.
Second quarter—no more waiting.
I walked to the scorer's table as the ref nodded.
"Sub in."
The gym buzzed with energy.
Trash talk flew from the Portsmouth Vultures' bench, but I didn't hear it.
My eyes scanned the floor.
Lucas Graves – SF (#10)
Evan Cooper – PG (#9)
Me, Ethan Albarado – G/F (#1)
Ryan Taylor – PF (#11)
Brandon Young – C (#15)
Scoreboard glared: Vorpal Basket 19, Portsmouth Vultures 14.
We led, but not enough. The game was still in the mud—sloppy elbows, forced shots, playground pace.
Not my kind of game.
That's why I stepped in.
Not to match their energy.
To control it.
Ball inbounded. Their point guard took it up.
Marcus Flynn. Lean kid. Smooth handles. Quick release.
He looked like someone who spent more time hooping at cracked parks than practicing in gyms.
Unpredictable. Flashy. Dangerous in the open floor.
But I'd been watching him the entire first quarter from the bench.
