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The referee stepped into the center circle, holding the ball as Jacob Wilkins stood poised for the tip-off, towering over Bloomington North's center, who looked uneasy. The whistle blew, and the ball shot into the air. Jacob leapt, swatting the ball back toward CJ who wasted no time setting the offense in motion.
"Let's run!" CJ shouted, driving up the middle and calling out the play.
Quintin sprinted to the right wing, clapping for the ball. CJ delivered a crisp pass, and Quintin wasted no time launching a three-pointer over his defender.
"Green!" BJ said from the stands as the ball splashed through the net.
"Let's go!" Quintin shouted, backpedaling on defense.
Bloomington North tried to answer back, feeding their big man in the post, but Jacob wasn't having it. He stood his ground, forcing the player to kick it out. The Bloomington guard hesitated, then launched a contested shot from the perimeter. It clanged off the rim, and Amir Taylor leaped high for the rebound.
"Push it!" Coach Saint yelled, waving his hand forward.
CJ was already sprinting, and Amir hit him with a full-court outlet pass. CJ caught it in stride and finished with an easy layup. 5-0, Gary West.
BJ leaned over to Xavier. "Man, they can't keep up with CJ. Bro got a motor."
"Not with that defense," Xavier replied, shaking his head. "They're gonna get run outta here."
Bloomington North settled into their offense on the next possession, setting a high screen to free their point guard. He drove into the lane and put up a floater over Jacob, but he swatted it away.
"Hell nah!" Jacob bellowed as the ball flew into the hands of Isaiah.
Isaiah dribbled upcourt, surveying the floor. Quintin darted to the left corner, calling for the ball. Isaiah made a pinpoint pass, and Quintin caught it, faked a three, and drove the baseline. Two defenders came in on him, but he calmly dished it to Amir under the hoop. Amir rose for a powerful two-handed dunk.
"BOOM!" BJ yelled, standing up. The crowd erupted as the backboard rattled.
"Amir, don't hurt the rim!" Coach Saint called out, grinning on the sideline.
Bloomington North called a timeout, and their coach furiously yelled at his players. Meanwhile, Gary West's players jogged to the bench. Coach Saint pulled his clipboard out, scribbling down adjustments.
"Keep up the tempo," Coach Saint instructed as his team huddled around him. "We're dictating the game. CJ, I want you to pressure their point guard full court. Quintin, keep attacking those gaps they can't stop you on the drive."
Back on the court, Bloomington North struggled to find any rhythm. Gary West's defense was suffocating, with CJ and Quintin trapping the ball handler and forcing a turnover. Quintin snagged the loose ball and took off down the court.
"Show me something, Q!" Isaiah called out from behind.
Quintin rose up for a one-handed slam, hanging on the rim for a split second before dropping to the floor. The crowd went wild, and even BJ couldn't help but let out a loud, "Yessir!"
By the end of the first quarter, Gary West was in complete control, leading 18-5.
As the second quarter began, Coach Saint clapped his hands and shouted, "Alright, keep up the pressure, but let's get some fresh legs in!" He pointed to the bench.
"Erwin, Darius, Jalen, Travis, and Terrence, you're in!"
Isaiah, Quintin, Amir, CJ, and Jacob stayed on the bench.
On the first possession of the second quarter, Jalen Moore took control at point guard. He dribbled upcourt, calling out a play while Travis McNeil positioned himself in the corner.
"Screen high!" Jalen yelled as Darius Collins set a pick. Jalen used the screen, slashing into the paint. Bloomington's defense collapsed, leaving Travis wide open in the corner. Jalen kicked the ball out, and Travis let it fly from beyond the arc.
"Bang!" BJ said from the stands as the ball swished through the net. 21-5.
Bloomington North tried to respond, working the ball around the perimeter before their shooting guard attempted a three. Travis closed out hard, forcing a miss. Terrence Washington snagged the rebound and immediately pushed the ball upcourt.
"Move! Move!" Coach Saint shouted from the sideline.
Terrence attacked the rim, drawing two defenders before dishing a no-look pass to Erwin Dawson, who cut along the baseline. Erwin finished with a smooth reverse layup. The bench erupted in cheers, towels waving as the score climbed to 23-5.
Bloomington North finally broke through on the next possession, hitting a contested jumper to bring it to 23-7.
Coach Saint stood and signaled for another substitution. "Jacob, Amir, and Quintin, you're back in! Darius, Terrence, and Travis, good work!"
The fresh trio brought energy back into the lineup. Quintin wasted no time making his presence felt, slashing to the basket on his first touch and finishing with a tough layup through contact.
"Let's go, Q!" BJ shouted.
At the other end, Bloomington North worked to get their big man involved. Their center caught the ball on the block, but Jacob Wilkins wasn't giving an inch.
"Hold your ground!" Coach Saint yelled.
Jacob forced him into a tough shot, which bounced off the rim. Amir grabbed the rebound, and in one fluid motion, he fired an outlet pass to Quintin, who was already streaking down the court. Quintin threw down a thunderous two-handed dunk, bringing the crowd to its feet.
Bloomington North called another timeout as the scoreboard flashed 29-7. The Gary West players jogged back to their bench, clearly in a rhythm.
"Keep it rolling," Coach Saint said in the huddle. "Don't let up. We're dominating because we're playing as a team. Amir, keep controlling the boards. CJ, you're back in for Jalen pressure their point guard. Quintin, you're on fire, but keep looking for your teammates."
The rotation continued, with players subbing in and out as the half progressed. Bloomington North managed a small run to cut the deficit to 31-14, but Gary West quickly answered with back-to-back buckets from Amir and Isaiah, both on strong finishes in the paint.
By halftime, Gary West led 38-16, the varsity squad playing like a well-oiled machine.
"They're making this look easy," BJ said, shaking his head.
Xavier grinned. "Wait until the second half. That's when they really turn it up."