Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Team Asher - Asher, Tyler, Jasmine, Frank, Paul

Team Troy - Sarah, Troy, Hugh, Kerry, PJ

Asher took the ball from his dad before saying, "Make it, take it. Winner keeps possession." The opposing team captain, Troy, nodded his head in agreement. Asher walked to the free-throw line before taking a deep breath. 'Time to put that practice into work.' 

Asher set his feet square before jumping and releasing the ball. The ball rotated beautifully as it arced through the air before he was greeted with his favorite sound in the world. The swish of a net as a ball goes through it. 

The crowd erupted in cheers as Asher smiled after scoring the shot. 'Wow, I love this spor,t' he thought. Troy nodded his head as he fully expected Asher to score, he had played basketball enough times with Asher to know he could make that shot.

Ben grabbed the ball and handed it to Asher on top of the arc. Jack spoke up on the mic, "Here it is, folks, Asher has secured first possession for his team. The opening game of the 1996 Asher Hawkins Championship has begun." Parents spread around the garden sitting on beach towels cheered for the kids. 

Asher eyed up his defender, Troy. He knew it wouldn't be an easy game as Troy routinely played basketball with him and was just as bad a loser as he was. Asher smirked as he started bouncing the ball in front of him in crossover motions. 

He surveyed his team and saw the other kids were already running around calling for the ball like a bunch of headless chickens. 'Gahhhhh, I knew this would happen' Asher saw Jasmine make a somewhat decent cut to the basket calling for him to pass.

'Welp, here we go.' Asher thought. A quick left-right crossover lost Troy for a moment as Asher drove toward the right elbow. Asher sent a quick bounce pass towards Jasmine.

However, in her excitement to get the ball, Jasmine completely missed the catch, and the ball bounced out of bounds. Jack's voice could be heard ringing across the garden "Ash, with a nice crossover drives towards the right. A beautiful bounce pass, but unfortunately, it misses Jasmine on her cut to the basket. Team Troy ball"

Asher let out a silent sigh before he turned towards Jasmine, whose eyes were watering up in anguish "I'm sorry, Asher, I tried to get it" Asher walked over to her with a smile on his face before he patted her on the shoulder don't worry Jazz, it was my fault it was a bad pass we will get the next one." Jasmine nodded her head in affirmative before wiping her face and turning to defend her player. 

'I have to remember I am not passing to Dad right now, it was too fast of a pass,' Asher thought to himself. Asher turned to face Troy on defense. Troy smirked at him before turning around towards his point guard Sarah.

Sarah was another regular for playing basketball with them. She had dirty blonde hair and a perpetual smile on her face. Ben handed the ball to Sarah before blowing his whistle to resume play. Sarah started to bounce the ball with her right hand and dribble toward the free-throw line. 

Troy tried to lose Asher as he cut towards the basket. Sarah passed the ball towards him when Asher cut in between them and stole the ball. Asher took the ball out towards the three-point line to reset the offense. Jack's commentary was buzzing in the background, but Asher ignored it as he surveyed the court. His teammates once again ran around calling for the ball. 

This time, Asher used a double crossover to lose Troy as he drove towards the basket. The defenders, too focused on staying with their players, didn't even see him cut in as he drove to the rim and layed the ball up with a finger roll with his right hand. 

The crowd cheered as the ball dropped into the net. Jack's voice once again rang across the garden. "Ace with a slick double crossover gets free of Troy and cuts straight to the basket for an open layup. Is this the future of basketball,l ladies and gentlemen?" 

Asher ignored the noise as he took the ball from his dad and started at the top of the three-point line again. 'That's one just need 10 more' Asher thought. As play resumed, the crowd continued to cheer as the kids put on a masterclass of messy basketball.

Lots of running, little passing, and an innumerable amount of missed shots later the score sat at 10-6 Team Asher lead. Asher was heavily panting at the top of the key. Troy was pressing him as much as he could, but Asher was simply better. Asher used a crossover to beat him off the dribble once again and drove straight to the basket.

Team Troy already used to this sight, immediately collapsed in trying to stop him. Asher jumped up to lay the ball in when he saw PJ rushing forward to stop him. Asher pulled the ball back towards him as he flew through the air before passing it over his shoulder.

Jasmine running hard ran towards the hoop along the left baseline when, all of a sudden, a ball dropped straight into her hands; without even taking the time to think, she looked at the basket and threw the ball. It clanged along the rim before dropping straight through the basket.

The crowd was silent for a second before bursting into applause. Jack's voice could be heard saying, "What did we just see, folks, Ace beat his defender, ran straight to the basket, and jumped to score the game-winning shot when 'swosh' the ball was thrown over the back of his head straight to Jasmine who hit the coldest shot since MJ scored over Craig Ehlo to win Game five against the Cleveland Cavaliers"

Jasmine stood in shock before she let out a squeak as Asher hugged her, saying, "You did it, we won." Team Asher quickly surrounded her, cheering. Jasmine was quickly swept up in the celebratory atmosphere and cheered along with them. 

Emma ran over to hug Asher before saying, "Ash, that pass was so cool." Asher smiled at her and hugged her back before saying, "See you in the final, Em" Emma smiled at Asher before walking over to her team and shouting like a drill sergeant, "Let's go, guys we have to beat Jason's team so we can beat Asher in the finals." 

Troy walked over to Asher with a sad look on his face. "Good Gam,e Ash, I thought we could win this, though." Asher smiled at him before giving him a fist bump, "Maybe next time, Troy. You played really well, though." Troy smiled weakly at him before walking over to his parents, who took him in their arms, as he started sobbing.

Ben walked over to Asher and said, "Great game, Ash, I was very impressed." Asher smiled up at his favorite human in the world before hugging him and saying, "Thanks Dad"