Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Derek Phelps, Center

  Chapter 2

  Passing Game

  Chapter 3

  Catching Up

  Chapter 4

  Personal Foul

  Chapter 5

  Game Plan

  Chapter 6

  Show Time!

  Chapter 7

  Defense

  Chapter 8

  Fast Pace

  Chapter 9

  Free Throw

  Chapter 10

  Hampton vs. Allen

  Chapter 11

  The Giant

  Chapter 12

  Surprise!

  Chapter 1

  DEREK PHELPS, CENTER

  Derek watched as people came into the gym and sat on the bleachers. The fans for his team, the Hornets, sat on one side, and the visiting team’s fans from Renner sat on the other. I can’t wait for the season to start! he thought. Last year Jason was center, but I’m taller than he is now, so Coach changed the roster.

  Coach Taylor called the team over. “Derek, I want you to do the tip-off.”

  “Okay, Coach,” said Derek.

  “But, Coach,” said Jason. “I always do the tip-off!”

  “Derek is taller than you this year,” said Coach Taylor. “That’s why I made him the center and moved you to forward.”

  “But he’s never done it before,” said Jason.

  “I’m sure Derek can do it,” said Coach. Then he looked at each member of the team. “I’m sure you can all do your job. This is the first game of the season for the Hampton Hornets,” he said. “I know you’ll make me proud.”

  Derek, Jason, and the other players put their hands into the circle. Coach Taylor put his hand on top. Everyone shouted, “Go, Hornets!”

  Derek walked out to center court and waited for the referee to start the game.

  Jason walked up to Derek. “You think you’re so great,” he said.

  “What?” said Derek.

  “You think you’re better than I am,” said Jason, “but you’re not.”

  “I never said that!”

  “I’ll show you who’s great and who’s not,” said Jason. “Just watch your back.” Then he turned and walked away.

  Great, thought Derek. I grow a few inches, and our star player hates me.

  The ref came over with the ball. He looked at Derek and the center from Renner. “Ready, boys?”

  “Ready,” said Derek.

  “I’m ready,” said the other boy.

  “Then let’s get this game started,” said the ref. He threw the ball up into the air.

  Derek jumped up. But the Renner center hit the ball before Derek could reach it. Derek watched the ball fly to the other side of the court.

  One of the Renner guards caught it and ran toward the basket.

  Jason ran past Derek. “I knew you couldn’t do it,” said Jason.

  What a way to start a game, thought Derek. He ran toward the basket.

  As Derek reached the key, the free throw lane, the Renner center was already in the air. How did he move so fast? Derek watched as the ball dropped into the basket. Renner scored.

  Chapter 2

  PASSING GAME

  The score was 25 to 14, and Renner was ahead. Coach Taylor had called a time-out, but he didn’t seem upset. He was talking to Cody about the next play.

  Cody ran back onto the court. The ref handed Cody the ball. Cody took the ball out of bounds behind the basket.

  Then he passed the ball to Garrett. Derek ran over to the key and turned around. He raised his hands into the air.

  Garrett passed the ball to Ryan. Derek ran up to the low post by the basket.

  Ryan passed the ball to Jason. Derek put his hands out, ready to catch the ball. Then a Renner guard stole the ball from Jason. Jason ran after him.

  Derek ran to the other side of the court. I can’t let them score again! he thought quickly.

  As he ran toward the basket, the Renner players passed the ball. It moved closer and closer to the basket.

  I have to hurry, thought Derek. Their center is already in the low post, just outside the free throw lane. Derek ran toward the basket.

  Just in time! One of the Renner forwards passed the ball to their center.

  The center started to jump.

  Derek jumped too. He waved his arms to block the shot.

  Whap!

  The ball flew back toward center court. Cody grabbed the ball and then passed it to Garrett.

  I did it! It’s ours again, thought Derek happily. He headed back toward the other basket.

  It was the Hornets’ turn to score. Garrett passed the ball to Ryan. Ryan dribbled toward the basket.

  The Renner players surrounded Ryan, so he did a left fake. Then he passed the ball to Cody.

  Cody was on the wing, but the Renner players were all over him.

  Cody faked right and passed to Ryan on his left.

  The Renner team ran toward Ryan.

  Ryan pivoted and passed to Jason.

  Derek waved his arms at Jason. Jason looked at Derek and shook his head.

  I’m open, thought Derek. Jason can see that.

  But Jason wouldn’t pass. He just jumped and shot.

  Chapter 3

  CATCHING UP

  Derek looked at the scoreboard. Renner was beating Hampton, 37 to 35. They were catching up.

  It was Renner’s turn to have the ball. One of the Renner guards threw the ball in. Derek turned around so he could see where the ball was going.

  A quick pass. Derek ran closer to the basket. Another pass. The ball was at center court.

  A third pass, and now the players from both teams were over by the basket. Derek watched as the Renner players passed the ball again.

  The Renner player jumped and so did Derek. Derek waved his arms as he defended the basket. Whap! Derek hit the ball away. Garrett ran after the ball.

  Derek ran past Garrett to the other basket. Ryan stopped at center court. He turned around to face Garrett. Garrett passed the ball to Ryan.

  Derek raised his hands. No one is here but me, he thought. Ryan turned and looked at Derek. Ryan passed the ball to Derek.

  Derek caught the ball. Then he turned and jumped.

  The ball sailed through the air.

  It hit the rim and dropped into the basket. Two points.

  Now the score was tied at 37! Derek looked over at Coach Taylor. “Atta boy!” said Coach. Then Derek saw Jason. Jason was frowning. What’s the matter with him? Derek thought. Doesn’t Jason want us to win?

  Chapter 4

  PERSONAL FOUL

  Derek jumped up to block yet another shot, but the Renner center faked his jump. Instead he threw the ball to one of the Renner forwards. Before Derek could reach him, the Renner forward tipped the ball into the basket. Now the score was 39 to 37.

  The ref handed the ball to Cody. Cody stepped out of bounds and looked at the court. Then he threw the ball.

  Ryan moved in to catch the ball, so Derek ran back across the court. There was only a minute left to play.

  Cody dribbled the ball and passed it to Ryan. Ryan did a fake to the right and passed the ball to Garrett on his left.

  Derek moved to the low post under the basket. Garret dribbled the ball to the point and looked for an opening. Derek waved his arms. Garrett passed him the ball.

  At last, thought Derek as he turned toward the basket. Now we can finally tie the game.

  Suddenly Derek was sitting on the floor. All he could see was a forest of legs. The referee blew the whistle. “Personal foul,” he called.

  The Renner players looked at one another, and then at their coach.

  Did they think no one would notice? Derek thought. He picked himself up as Coach Taylor talked to the referee.

  Derek walked over to the free throw line. Players from both teams lined up along the lane. The ref handed Derek the ball.

  Everyone turned and looked at Derek.

  “Don’t mess up,” said Jason.

  Derek looked at Jason. Then he looked at the basket. I hate free throws, he said to himself. Derek lifted the ball into the air and paused. Then he shot it. The ball hit the rim and bounced out.

  The ref threw the ball back to Derek.

  “Come on, Derek,” said Cody. “We need this point.”

  “He can’t make it,” said Jason.

  Yes, I can, thought Derek, and he lifted the ball up. Derek studied the basket. Then he threw. The ball landed on the top of the rim. For just a second nobody moved. Then the ball rolled slowly off the rim. No basket. Not again!

  Derek ran in to catch the rebound, but the Renner guard beat him to it. Before Derek could catch him, the Renner guard made a basket.

  Bzzzt! The buzzer sounded. The game was over!

  Jason ran up to Derek. “We lost the game because of you! You’re making us all look bad!”

  Chapter 5

  GAME PLAN

  For the next week, Derek practiced free throws all the time. He practiced on the weekend and after school. I have to get this right, he told himself.

  Derek walked into the gym on game day. I am so ready for this game, he thought. Then he saw Jason.

  “Why did you bother coming?” said Jason. “We all know you can’t play.”

  Ryan looked away. He didn’t say anything. “Jason, stop the trash talk,” said Cody.

  “Over here, boys,” said Coach. “We have to talk.”

  Derek waited for the other boys to walk over first. He followe d behind them and stood in the back.

  “Come on, Derek,” said Coach. “I want everyone to hear this.” Derek moved into the circle.

  “We’re playing Curren today,” said Coach. “My old friend Coach O’Reilly is their coach. We played together when we were your age, back when the dinosaurs were alive,” said Coach Taylor.

  “Dinosaurs?” said Ryan.

  “Sure,” said Coach, “we used dinosaur eggs instead of basketballs.”

  “What?” said Cody.

  “Just pulling your leg,” said Coach. “Anyway, I want to win this one.” He looked around at all the players.

  Jason looked at Derek. Then he looked back at Coach.

  “We’ll do our best,” said Cody.

  “That’s all I ask,” said Coach. He took out his notebook.

  “Derek, I want you to do the tip-off again,” said Coach.

  “What? But he missed the last one,” said Jason.

  “Give him time,” said Coach.

  “But I never miss,” said Jason.

  “Let’s go over these plays,” said Coach. “I want to use the two-three zone defense. Derek, you’re the tallest, so stay right under the basket.”

  “Sure, Coach,” said Derek.

  “I play that spot,” said Jason.

  Coach looked at Jason, “You’re the second tallest, Jason,” said Coach, “so I want you in the corner on the right.”

  “The corner?” asked Jason.

  “Yes. And you, Ryan,” said Coach, “protect the left corner.”

  “Okay, Coach,” said Ryan.

  “And you two guards,” said Coach, “you’ll stay between the point and the wing. Garrett, you play the right side.”

  “I’ll take the left,” said Cody.

  “Now, let’s get out there and show my old buddy who’s got the better team!” said Coach with a big smile.

  Chapter 6

  SHOW TIME!

  Coach put his hand into the center of the team huddle.

  All the other players put their hands in and shouted, “Go, Hornets!”

  Then the ref walked to the center of the court. “It’s time,” said Coach Taylor. “Let’s show them how Hornets sting!”

  “Yeah,” said Jason, and he punched his fist into the air.

  Derek walked out to center court to do the tip-off.

  The ref looked at Derek and at the center from Curren.

  “Ready to play?” the ref asked.

  Derek nodded. “Ready,” he said.

  “Yeah,” said the Curren center.

  Here goes nothing, thought Derek. The ref threw the ball up into the air. Derek jumped as high as he could.

  But the center from Curren hit the ball away. Not again!

  Derek ran to the other side of the court. “I told Coach you couldn’t do it,” said Jason as he ran by. Derek ignored Jason and kept running. He had to get under the basket!

  “Defense!” yelled Coach Taylor. “Defend your zones!”

  Derek ran into position under the basket. The Curren players passed the ball left, then right. Derek watched the players weave in and out. Block it, Cody! Block it, Garrett!

  But the ball came closer and closer.

  Then one of the Curren guards passed the ball to their center.

  Here we go, thought Derek. He watched as Jason moved right to try to block the Curren center. The Curren center faked right and then jumped left. He shot the ball toward the net.

  Derek reached up and jumped as high as he could. It’s up to me now.

  The ball sailed over Derek’s hands.

  Swoosh! The ball landed in the net.

  Two points already!

  The ref gave Cody the ball. Cody went out of bounds and everyone ran into position.

  Cody passed the ball to Garrett. Garrett dribbled the ball to center court.

  Derek ran into the key. He was ready.

  But the Curren center stood between Derek and Garrett, so Garrett passed the ball to Dylan.

  Dylan faked left, and the Curren center moved toward him. Suddenly Derek was open.

  Derek reached out, and Dylan passed him the ball.

  Chapter 7

  DEFENSE

  Derek jumped up to shoot the ball. The Curren center turned and hit Derek’s arm. The ball fell to the ground.

  Tweet! The ref blew his whistle. “Personal foul.”

  Derek walked to the free throw line. Cody came over to talk.

  “You have to make these free throws,” said Cody. “We need the points.”

  “I know, I know,” said Derek. “I’ll do my best.”

  The players lined up along the free throw lane. The ref handed Derek the ball. Derek stared at the basket. He tried to ignore Jason. I can’t let him make me miss, he thought to himself.

  Derek lifted his arms and shot. Blap! The ball hit the rim and dropped out.

  “Not again,” said Jason.

  The ref handed Derek the ball. One more try.

  Derek lifted the ball. I have to make this one! He pushed his arms up. But the ball bounced off the backboard.

  One of the Curren guards caught it. He passed it to another Curren guard.

  The players all turned and started moving toward the other basket.

  “I don’t know why Coach made you center,” said Jason as he passed Derek. “Just because you’re tall doesn’t mean you’re any good!”

  “Defense,” yelled Coach from the sidelines. Derek turned and ran toward the other basket. I have to defend my zone! he thought.

  Before Derek could reach the key, the other side had scored!

  Jason ran back to Derek.

  “Where were you? You’re supposed to be under their basket when they have the ball!” he yelled.

  Derek looked at Jason. “Sorry.”

  “Sorry doesn’t cut it,” said Jason. “We’re here to win, not apologize.”

  “Look alive,” said Coach.

  Derek turned and saw that Cody had taken the ball out of bounds. Derek ran back to center court to get ready.

  Chapter 8

  FAST PACE

  The team from Curren loved the fast pace. Derek ran up and down across the court more times than he could count. By the last quarter, the score was 70 to 69, Curren.

  Coach Taylor called a time-out. “We have less than a minute left,” he said. “We only need one basket to win.”

  “We won’t let you down, Coach,” said Cody. He put his hand into the circle.

  Coach put his hand in, so Derek did too. Ryan, Garrett, and Jason put in their hands. Jason’s hand was on top. “Go, Hornets,” they all yelled. And then the Hornets walked out onto the court.

  The ref handed Cody the ball. Cody walked out of bounds with it and turned around slowly.

  Derek ran to midcourt. We’ve got to do this right! he told himself.

  Cody passed the ball to Ryan. Ryan pivoted and passed the ball to Garrett. Derek ran under the basket.

  Cody ran into the key. Garrett passed Cody the ball, but the players from Curren were all over him. Cody did a fake and passed to Dylan. Dylan moved into the wing.

  Derek put his hands up to catch the ball, but Jason ran in front of him. Dylan passed the ball to Jason instead. Jason turned around, so Derek put his hands out to catch the ball. Jason shook his head. Then he jumped up to shoot.

  The Curren center jumped too, and before the ball reached the basket, the center hit the ball away.

  Why didn’t Jason pass me the ball? thought Derek angrily. I was right under the basket.

  One of the Curren forwards grabbed the ball. Everyone ran to the other end of the court. The clock was ticking down.

  Derek ran as fast as he could to the other basket. I have to block this!

  He jumped up, and wham! He hit the ball away.

  “Attaboy, Derek,” yelled Coach from the sidelines.

  Cody grabbed the ball, and the race was on. Everyone ran back to the other end of the court. Derek ran back to the basket and waited.

  Cody passed to Garrett. Garrett passed to Dylan. Dylan passed to Ryan. Then Ryan pivoted and passed the ball to Derek.

  At last, thought Derek, and he jumped with the ball. But an arm came out of nowhere and pushed Derek.

 

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