Chapter 10: Turning the Tide

Hiss!

The entire basketball hall at the University of Connecticut fell into a stunned silence.

For a moment, all anyone could do was take a deep breath.

What they had just witnessed was unbelievable.

A chase-down block on Ray Allen, followed by a full-court pass from Camby, leading to a wide-open fast-break layup.

UMass had cut the lead to single digits.

48-40.

The momentum had completely shifted.

---

The energy inside the arena was electric.

The same commentators who had spent the first half doubting Ethan Walker had suddenly become his biggest supporters.

"In the second half, Ethan has transformed into a completely different player!"

"Oh, my God! We said he was the X-Factor, and he's proving it right now!"

The shift in tone was impossible to ignore.

Even the UConn head coach had noticed.

His once calm demeanor had vanished.

Now, his expression was filled with concern.

This was not part of the plan.

Ray Allen had been unstoppable in the first half.

But now?

Ethan Walker had flipped the script.

The head coach rubbed his temples, trying to think.

There was only one option left.

"Ray," he called out.

Allen looked over from the court, his breathing heavy.

"Stop playing their game," the coach instructed. "Stick to your strengths. Keep moving off-ball—don't let them drag you into isolation."

Allen nodded in understanding.

He had let the moment get personal.

Trying to outplay Ethan one-on-one had been a mistake.

His real weapon was his ability to move without the ball.

It was time to return to what he did best.

---

On the next possession, UConn ran their play to perfection.

Ray Allen zigzagged through multiple screens, using his elite footwork to create separation.

Ethan fought through each pick, but UConn had prepared for this.

After a series of quick movements, Allen was finally open.

The pass came on time, on target.

Ray rose up, his form picture-perfect.

The crowd held its breath as the ball soared through the air.

Clang!

He missed.

The ball bounced off the rim, and Camby snatched the rebound like a man possessed.

"Shit!"

Allen clenched his fists in frustration.

That was his shot.

That was his moment.

But for the first time all season, he felt tired.

Was Ethan really wearing him down?

---

Meanwhile, UMass had another chance to cut the lead.

Ethan brought the ball up the court, his eyes scanning the defense.

Before he could even set up a play, Ray Allen stepped forward.

He was no longer just focused on scoring.

Now, he was trying to stop Ethan by force.

"I'm locking you down," Allen muttered under his breath.

Ethan smirked.

"Try."

The entire UConn defense tensed up, ready for battle.

Auston Marcos, noticing the tension, wasted no time and passed the ball to Ethan.

It was an official one-on-one showdown.

Allen vs. Walker.

The crowd exploded with excitement.

Ethan took a few slow dribbles, surveying Allen's defensive stance.

Then—he exploded forward.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

His crossover was quick, precise, and deadly.

Allen reacted instantly, stepping in to cut him off—

But Ethan was ready.

He faked left, then burst right, leaving Allen a step behind.

The lane was open—only one defender stood in his way.

Rooney.

The big man had been solid all night.

As Ethan approached, Rooney squared up, preparing for the block.

But then—

Ethan's eyes flicked to the perimeter.

A fake pass.

Both Allen and Rooney flinched, shifting slightly toward the passing lane.

That was all Ethan needed.

With a quick adjustment, he took one extra step forward, gathered the ball—

And tossed it into the air.

Everyone froze.

What was he doing?

Then—

Camby exploded off the ground.

His body soared above the defense.

With one powerful motion—

BOOM!

A violent two-handed slam dunk.

The entire backboard shook from the impact.

The arena erupted.

---

"OH MY GOD!"

"THAT WAS INSANE!"

The commentators were losing their minds.

"ETHAN JUST DESTROYED THE ENTIRE UCONN DEFENSE!"

"HE BROKE DOWN RAY ALLEN AND THEN THREW A PERFECT LOB TO CAMBY!"

"This kid is changing the game by himself!"

Even the UConn players looked stunned.

Ethan had just single-handedly ripped apart their entire defensive scheme.

Ray Allen?

Completely speechless.

For the first time all game—

He was the one getting outplayed.

---

The scoreboard flashed brightly.

48-42.

The 12-point lead had shrunk to just six.

UConn's head coach was panicking.

"They're taking control of the tempo," he muttered. "If we don't adjust fast—"

But it was already happening.

The momentum had completely flipped.

And leading the charge?

The player everyone had doubted.

Ethan Walker.

---

The next possession was UConn's most important of the game.

They needed to stop the bleeding.

Ray Allen knew it.

His coach knew it.

The whole team felt it.

Allen demanded the ball.

He was done playing games.

If they needed a bucket, he was going to take it.

He took a deep breath, then started moving off the ball again.

Screen.

Cut.

Crossover.

This time, he found space.

Wide open.

The pass came—perfectly timed.

Allen rose up for the shot—

And then—

"NO WAY!"

Ethan flew through the air, extending his full wingspan.

A perfect contest.

Allen rushed the release—

Clank!

Another miss.

Camby grabbed the rebound.

The UMass crowd went wild.

---

Ethan took the outlet pass, immediately sprinting full speed.

Two UConn defenders scrambled back, trying to stop him.

He didn't hesitate.

He took one step past half-court…

Pulled up…

And fired.

A deep three-pointer—right in Ray Allen's face.

Swish.

---

The arena exploded.

The UConn bench went silent.

The scoreboard changed.

48-45.

Three.

Point.

Game.

UMass was officially back.

And Ray Allen?

He was no longer the best player on the court.

Ethan Walker had taken that title for himself.