Chapter 9: A Hero Awakens

After an intense first half, the scoreboard read 45-36—UConn leading by nine points.

A nine-point lead in the NCAA was a massive advantage, especially for a team as disciplined and talented as Connecticut.

The crowd could feel it. The energy in the arena had shifted—UConn was in control.

Ray Allen and his team could taste victory.

On the other side, UMass looked frustrated.

Their defense hadn't been bad, but Ray Allen was unstoppable.

Their offense was struggling, with Camby fighting against double-teams and their guards struggling to create shots.

And then there was Ethan Walker.

The so-called X-Factor of UMass.

The guy who was supposed to change the game.

Zero points.

Thirteen minutes played.

Nothing.

Had the hype been for nothing?

The commentators were already writing UMass off.

"This game is pretty much over unless something drastic happens."

"UConn is just too good. You can't beat a team like this with one big man and no help."

"They needed Ethan Walker to be a star tonight. Instead, he's been invisible."

That was the narrative heading into the second half.

But in the UMass locker room?

The energy was different.

Coach Randolph wasn't panicking.

Even with a nine-point deficit, he seemed calm—almost… confident.

He looked over at Ethan, finally speaking.

"Ethan, I believe you're ready. This second half? It's all you."

Ethan smirked, stretching his arms.

He wasn't nervous.

He wasn't overthinking it.

He had spent the entire first half watching. Learning.

Now, it was time to act.

---

The second half began with UConn striking first.

Ray Allen drove past his defender, took contact, and still managed to finish a tough layup.

Foul on Camby.

The crowd roared as Allen walked to the line, cool and confident.

Free throw. Swish.

The lead was now 12 points.

The commentators had seen enough.

"It looks like UConn is about to put this game away."

"UMass just doesn't have enough talent to compete at this level."

"They need a hero right now, but who's going to step up?"

That's when Ethan walked over to Camby and patted his shoulder.

"Give me the ball," Ethan said, his voice calm but confident.

Camby grinned.

"I was waiting for you to say that."

---

UMass brought the ball up the court.

Auston Marcos dribbled past half-court, looking for an opening.

The play was simple—the ball went to Camby in the post.

Rooney immediately bodied up, fighting for position.

For most of the first half, this matchup had been even.

Camby was good, but Rooney had done enough to disrupt him.

This time, though?

Camby didn't force the shot.

Instead—he passed.

The ball zipped over to Ethan, wide open under the basket.

The defense had been so focused on Camby, they completely forgot about the one player who had done nothing in the first half.

Big mistake.

Easy layup.

45-38.

Ethan's first points of the night.

---

Ray Allen watched from the top of the key, raising an eyebrow.

That had been a smart play.

But was it just a one-time thing?

Or was Ethan actually a threat?

Allen wasn't convinced yet.

But he was about to find out.

---

On the next UConn possession, Ray Allen got the ball at the top of the key.

Immediately, Ethan stepped up.

He was guarding Allen. Directly.

The arena buzzed.

The commentators were stunned.

"Wait… is Ethan Walker really trying to guard Ray Allen?"

"That's a death sentence. Ray is too quick and too skilled."

On the court, Allen saw the challenge.

He smirked.

"Alright," he said. "You asked for it."

Allen raised his hand, motioning for his teammates to clear out.

One-on-one.

Allen wasn't a flashy ball-handler, but he didn't need to be.

His shooting ability was so deadly that defenders were forced to press up, and that made his first step lethal.

He took a few dribbles, testing Ethan.

Then—he attacked.

A quick crossover into a step-back.

Ethan bit on the fake.

Allen immediately drove forward—past him.

One step.

Two steps.

Straight to the rim.

Camby rotated over, trying to cut him off, but Allen was too smooth.

A perfect finger roll layup floated toward the basket.

The crowd rose to their feet, waiting for the ball to drop.

But then—

SMACK!

A hand came flying out of nowhere.

The ball was swatted against the backboard.

The entire gym froze.

It wasn't Camby.

It was Ethan Walker.

He had chased Allen down and blocked his shot mid-air.

The commentators lost their minds.

"OH MY GOD! ETHAN WALKER JUST BLOCKED RAY ALLEN!"

"No way! That was like a Scottie Pippen chase-down!"

Allen landed hard, looking back in shock.

The entire crowd was stunned.

For the first time all night—he looked rattled.

Ethan, standing over him, smirked.

"Nice move," he said. "Try again."

Allen's face hardened.

This wasn't going to be as easy as he thought.

---

That block changed everything.

It sent a message—Ethan Walker was here.

And UMass?

They weren't going anywhere.

Now, every time UConn had the ball, Ethan was in Allen's face.

He ran through screens, never giving him a clean look.

He fought through contact, refusing to let Allen get comfortable.

And on the offensive end?

Ethan went to work.

Step-back jumpers.

Mid-range pull-ups.

Tough finishes in traffic.

The same moves he had studied from Allen in the first half?

Now, he was using them against him.

The score kept shrinking.

Nine-point lead.

Seven.

Five.

The momentum was shifting.

And UConn knew it.

On the bench, their coach was furious.

"This wasn't supposed to happen!"

But it was happening.

UMass was fighting back.

And leading the charge?

The player everyone counted out in the first half.

Ethan Walker.

The game was no longer a guaranteed win for UConn.

It was now a war.

And the final battle?

Had just begun.