Chapter 17: The Rivalry Game – Second Half

The halftime buzzer had faded, but the energy in the Ironwood locker room felt like a live wire sparking in every corner. Players sat slumped on benches, sweat-soaked jerseys clinging to their bodies. Tank poured water over his head, Tyler stared silently at the floor, and Ethan sat with his elbows on his knees, eyes locked on the whiteboard where Coach Hale scribbled frantic notes.

Jaden leaned back against his locker, his chest still heaving from the relentless pace of the first half. The scoreboard still burned in his mind: Ironwood 33 – Ridgeway 32.

Coach Hale turned around, the marker still clutched in his fist. His sharp blue eyes scanned every face in the room, his voice low and controlled when he spoke.

"We're ahead, but barely. Ridgeway isn't just going to roll over in the second half. They'll come out harder, faster, and more desperate. D-Rock's going to keep bullying the paint, and Carter's going to start hunting for fouls. But listen to me" Hale paused, pointing the marker straight at Jaden, then at Tyler, then at Ethan. "You three set the tone. If you break, the whole team breaks. If you stay focused, we win this game."

Ethan nodded firmly. Tyler cracked his knuckles, his jaw set. Jaden locked eyes with Hale and gave a sharp nod.

"Stick to the game plan. Communicate. Play smart," Hale said. "Now let's finish this."

The team erupted into a collective cheer as they rose from the benches and jogged back toward the tunnel. Jaden walked beside Ethan, his voice low.

"You ready for this?"

Ethan smirked faintly. "You know it, Silk."

The gym erupted into noise as Ironwood stormed back onto the court.

The third quarter began at a blistering pace. Ridgeway came out swinging, their guards driving hard into the paint and their forwards crashing the boards with reckless abandon. D-Rock was a wrecking ball under the rim, throwing elbows and lowering his shoulder into Tank every chance he got.

"Box out, Tank!" Ethan shouted as another rebound slipped through their fingers.

Jaden gritted his teeth as Ridgeway pulled ahead 40–35 within the first few minutes. Coach Hale's voice boomed from the sidelines.

"Settle down! Run the play!"

Jaden took the inbound pass and jogged up the court, his dark eyes flickering across Ridgeway's defense. Tyler was shadowed tightly on the wing, and Tank was locked in a bruising battle with D-Rock down low.

Jaden called for a screen, and Tank lumbered up to set a pick. Jaden exploded around it, slipping past Ridgeway's point guard and rising into the air for a floater.

The ball arced high and kissed softly off the glass before dropping cleanly through the net.

The crowd roared as Jaden jogged back on defense.

But Ridgeway answered instantly. Marcus Trent fired a sharp pass to D-Rock, who caught it near the baseline. Tank braced himself, feet planted firmly, but D-Rock lowered his shoulder and bulldozed his way to the rim.

The whistle blew.

Foul on Tank.

D-Rock flexed one massive arm as he walked to the free-throw line, his smirk aimed directly at Tank.

"Better luck next time, big guy," D-Rock said with a chuckle.

The free throw swished through the net, and Ridgeway's lead grew to six points.

Time blurred as the third quarter wore on. Ironwood clawed back basket by basket, but Ridgeway kept answering with relentless aggression.

With two minutes left in the third, the score sat at 50–47 in Ridgeway's favor.

Jaden caught a pass at the top of the key, his mind racing. Tyler moved into position on the wing, hands ready. Tank fought for space under the basket, his face twisted in exhaustion.

"Eyes up, Silk!" Ethan called from the corner.

Jaden spotted a tiny gap in Ridgeway's defense and darted forward, slicing through two defenders. He leapt into the air, his body twisting mid-flight as he spotted Tyler open beyond the arc.

With a flick of his wrist, Jaden fired a cross-court pass.

Tyler caught it, squared up, and let it fly.

The ball sailed cleanly through the net.

The gym exploded with noise as Tyler jogged backward, three fingers raised in the air.

"Let's go!" Tyler shouted, his voice sharp with adrenaline.

The fourth quarter began with the score tied 55–55.

Every possession felt like a war. Ridgeway ramped up their physicality, bodies colliding in the paint, fouls called and missed in equal measure.

With four minutes left on the clock, Ironwood trailed 62–60.

Coach Hale called a timeout, his voice low and calm as the team huddled around him.

"We're right there," Hale said, pointing at the scoreboard. "But you have to want it more than they do. Every screen, every pass, every shot...it has to count. Hunter, Crane, Cross, Tank and Leo you five finish this game. Make it count."

Jaden's head was buzzing with adrenaline as he stepped back onto the court. Tyler pounded his chest once, locking eyes with Jaden.

"Let's shut them down, Silk."

The final two minutes were chaos.

Tyler hit a clutch three-pointer from the corner to tie the game. D-Rock answered with a brutal putback dunk. Ethan fought through Ridgeway's defense for a layup.

With thirty seconds left, the scoreboard read 68–68.

Jaden dribbled at the top of the key, his heart pounding. Marcus Trent was in front of him, crouched low, eyes sharp.

Ten seconds remained on the clock.

Jaden drove left, then crossed right, his body moving like water. Marcus stumbled slightly, and Jaden took his chance.

He rose into the air, the rim inches away.

But out of nowhere, D-Rock leapt into his path, his massive arms outstretched.

Jaden twisted mid-air, releasing the ball with just enough spin to arc over D-Rock's fingertips.

The ball hit the backboard, bounced off the rim, and dropped in.

The gym exploded.

Ridgeway had one final possession with five seconds left.

The ball was inbounded to Marcus Trent, who sprinted up the court. Jaden stayed glued to him, arms out, feet moving.

Marcus launched a desperate three-pointer at the buzzer.

The ball sailed through the air…

And bounced off the rim.

The buzzer sounded.

Ironwood had won.

Jaden dropped to his knees, his chest heaving as the crowd erupted into deafening cheers. Ethan pulled him up into a hug, and Tank's massive arms wrapped around both of them.

Tyler walked over, his hand outstretched.

"Hell of a game, Hunter."

Jaden smirked, gripping Tyler's hand tightly.

"Same to you, Crane."

As the team celebrated, Coach Hale stood at the edge of the court, his arms crossed, a rare smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

They had survived Ridgeway.

But the season was far from over.