From the bench, Aaron watched the game with extreme concentration without losing sight of the ball that went from one side of the court to the other and of the scoreboard that currently showed only 4 minutes having passed since the start of the game against the Kangaroos.
12-8 Kangaroos up by 4.
The Royals had fallen behind by a difference of 4 points due to the great shots from the perimeter by Jerry White, who was 2/2 from the field, scoring by himself half of the points that the Kangaroos currently have.
While Coach Arbitello beat them before and knew the Kangaroos' tactics, they also knew the Royals' tactics, so their coach wasted no time and for this game aligned a pick-and-roll strategy along with the pass-and-shoot to bring out Jerry's shooting skills, and it seems that his plan had yielded results.
"Welcome to the last game of the tournament where the Christ the King Royals face off against the Boys and Girls High School Kangaroos," said Logan's voice pressed to the microphone, narrating the game that was being played.
"Let me tell you, Logan, that my support is with the Kangaroos for this game," added Jerry, Logan's fellow commentator, with a smile while watching the match that was developing.
"Wouldn't it have something to do with the fact that you coincidentally share the name with the star player of the Boys and Girls High School team?" Logan inquired with a smile toward his partner.
"In part, but it also has to do with the fact that the Royals are missing a player on the hardwood currently," added Jerry while he began with his explanation of why he bet more on the Kangaroos. "For those who just came to today's game and missed the Royals' game yesterday, they might not notice anything different," Jerry explained to all the spectators of the tournament.
"But those who did probably know that the only difference is in the center position in which Aaron Reed dominated in the previous match against the Bulldogs," Logan immediately interrupted Jerry, who simply gave an exasperated smile to his partner. "And they are right; the Royals' game with Reed and without him is completely different," Jerry finished saying, deciding to cede the word to Logan.
"And it's not for having anything against Dominykas Milka; he has been a reliable center during these years and together with the Royals he has known how to secure the center position firmly, but it seems that his dominance was threatened by the revelation rookie of this tournament," Logan exclaimed with enthusiasm toward the crowd.
"And it must be said, his ball handling is one that has nothing to envy of most point guards in this tournament, but if to that we add his superior height, which gives him a better vision of the court, he has a clear advantage compared to the rest of the point guards, and we already saw what a tall point guard can do in the 80s when Magic arrived in Los Angeles," Jerry finished saying to focus his attention again on what was happening on the court.
While both commentators narrated the game situation, Coach Arbitello could not stay still and was at the edge of the court line giving frantic indications to the players who were on the court.
"Defense! Defense!" the coach shouted while making signs to his players so that they would quickly go down toward their own side of the court.
In this play, the Royals had gone up with the ball with Corey commanding the rhythm of the game in the center circle of the court, scanning frantically in search of a pass toward any of the players.
In that, he saw an extended hand that had gotten unmarked and had managed to enter the Kangaroos' perimeter, so without hesitation and without wasting time, Corey passed the ball frantically, being received by Maurice who was quickly surrounded by 2 players from the rival team, preventing him from turning with ease.
But Maurice bumped against one of their players only to then step back and turn enough to perform a fadeaway, releasing the ball at the highest point of his jump, but even so, the second defender marking him jumped at the same time as him, reaching to touch the ball with his fingers, making it slightly deviate its trajectory and bouncing on the rim, provoking a fight in the paint.
Dominykas made his best effort to manage to catch the rebound, but the opposing center jumped a millisecond before him, extending his leg forward, preventing him from jumping with ease and preventing him from getting the rebound.
Once the opposing center secured the ball between his hands, he immediately threw it toward his team's point guard while quickly shouting "Counter!" also running toward the other side of the court, taking advantage of the fact that the Royals had gone up too much and leaving their side of the court uncovered.
The team's point guard, as soon as he received the ball, began to dribble it between his legs under the attentive gaze of Corey, who was extremely concentrated trying to decipher in which direction he would move, but what he didn't count on was the pass he gave toward the left, which was received by Jerry, who was already near the perimeter ready to shoot toward the hoop.
Dominykas did the best he could, running as fast as his legs allowed him, trying to reach the paint and be able to block the shot, but despite all his efforts, Jerry managed to shoot another triple calmly, adding another 3 points for his team.
15-8 current score.
"And Jerry White with another triple increases the point difference to 7, making the Royals have to rethink all their strategy for this game," said Jerry. "Not only that, but Jerry White is 3/3 in field goals, showing that he has ice in his veins and great precision in these games," Logan also added, giving his opinion on the Kangaroos' game.
Without wasting time, Coach Arbitello called a timeout, knowing that he could not allow the situation to continue that way or his team would lose. "Change of plans, boys," were Coach Arbitello's first words toward his players. "Reed, you're going in for Dominykas; we must increase our firepower." Addressing Aaron, the coach told him that he would enter in the final minutes of the 1st quarter; originally his plan was to put him to play in the second half, but seeing how bad the situation was going, the coach had no choice but to put him on the hardwood sooner.
"Understood, coach," Aaron nodded while he quickly took off the jacket he was wearing and prepared to warm up in the remaining minutes left of the timeout, but while Aaron was training, he didn't notice how Dominykas clenched his fists in a clear sign of frustration at the idea of being swapped.
He had made his best effort on the court, but even so, he was swapped without hesitation by Coach Arbitello who, seeing the state of his player, decided it was the best moment to give him some words. "Dom, don't take it personally; you know this is for the good of the team, right?" the coach asked toward his player, who after inhaling and exhaling deeply said, "Understood, coach."
After that, Dominykas decided to sit with the rest of the substitutes, placing a towel over his neck and grabbing a drink that Artie passed him, slightly sulky.
As soon as the people saw Aaron take off his jacket and begin to warm up, the public's reaction was not long in coming. "Look, it seems that Coach Arbitello will put Reed on the hardwood," said Logan, being the first of the 2 commentators to see him warming up. "Let me tell you that this decision could work or end very badly," added Jerry, having mixed opinions about Aaron's entry onto the court.
"Let's remember that the royals' number 15 had to leave in the last quarter of yesterday's game against the Bulldogs due to an injury he suffered after a flagrant foul by Gardner, the Bulldogs' center," Logan informed the spectators.
"He's going in," said Hector, who was seated next to Paola and Melissa watching the game and paying special attention to Aaron, who was warming up.
"I hope he's okay," said Melissa, joining her hands in a sign of prayer without taking her eyes off her son nor off the bandage he was wearing on his left forearm. "Hey, trust him; you know he's not one of those who does things without thinking," said Paola, putting her hand on Melissa's lap in a clear sign of support, slightly calming Melissa's state.
But they were not the only ones debating that; in other stands, this matter was also being discussed. "Do you know that number 15?" asked a boy who had not come the day before but knew that his friend had. "You don't know him? He practically led the massacre against the Bulldogs," responded his friend with incredulity seeing that he didn't know Aaron.
"Seriously? But if he did that, why didn't he play from the beginning?" the spectator from the stand kept asking, paying more attention. "In yesterday's game, they committed a flagrant foul on him and he ended up with a wrist injury," his friend explained, sighing, while pointing to the bandage Aaron wore on his forearm.
"Do you think he'll be able to play like he did yesterday?" his friend asked interested, wanting to see the same attention the other witnessed. "I hope so," was the last thing the person said.
As for Aaron, as soon as he entered the court, he wasted no time and began to move seeking spaces between both teams, knowing that his function now was to score and trust most of the defense to his teammates.
And the opportunity was not long in coming since in one play, Omar was in possession of the ball, who taking advantage of his speed ran quickly across the court until he was heavily blocked by the Kangaroos players, preventing him from being able to penetrate the hoop.
But despite that, a smile crossed his face knowing that he had fulfilled his objective of attracting the players' attention, so he quickly passed the ball to Corey, who didn't hold the ball for long and passed it toward the other corner where Aaron was already in possession and calmly shot the ball against the hoop.
"Swish," was the sound made by the ball passing cleanly through the hoop, adding 3 valuable points to the Royals.
15-11 current score.
"Don't let him shoot!" Jerry shouted to his teammates, knowing that in the practice before the start of the game Aaron had made several long-distance shots, so it was dangerous to leave him without a good marking.
In this possession, the Kangaroos were more aggressive, taking the ball quickly toward the opposite hoop, planning to use the same strategy of their outside shots.
The team's point guard got Corey and Maurice off him and before the boys could surround him again, he made a pass toward the paint in which Roland and the Bulldogs' center disputed the pass, but Roland could not beat him and the center received the ball, but against all odds, he passed the ball toward the corner where Jerry was already in possession ready to shoot.
According to the Kangaroos' coach's strategy and philosophy, it was: "if you can score 3, do it; 3 are always better than 2." So as soon as Jerry held the ball between his hands, he jumped, placing the ball over his head.
But what he didn't see or count on was the person who quickly approached him and with great timing jumped at the same time as him, and leaning his body toward him, slammed his hand against Jerry's, causing the ball to go out of the court's limits.
Looking closely, Jerry only saw a wide back with the number 15 on the back, who as soon as he turned and made eye contact with him said, "And that wasn't even with my good hand," to then turn and concentrate on the defense.
"And a brilliant block by Aaron Reed, who despite playing with only one hand shows a solid defensive capacity," Logan said quickly upon seeing the play that had been performed.
"I must say, Logan, I'm impressed by the consistency and dedication of the kid in playing even while being with the injury," said Jerry, praising Aaron's performance in the minutes he has been playing.
While that was happening, the Kangaroos felt the change in the Royals, who looked more revitalized and energetic as soon as Aaron entered the court, so the best they could do was score more points than the other team to win and be champions.
Authors thought's
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