Chapter forty-nine – Game Day

Part One – Tactics and Starting Five

The gym buzzed with excitement—squeaking shoes on polished floors, balls bouncing, and the steady hum of students filing into the bleachers. Ryan walked beside Ben, both dressed in their team warmups, the Rosehill Wolves logo stitched proudly on their chests. It wasn't just a game—it was their first real shot at proving themselves.

Coach Daniels stood in the center of the court, clipboard in hand, his voice steady but energized. "Alright, listen up!" The team quickly circled around him. "We've scouted Oakridge—they're fast, aggressive, and they press hard on defense. But they're not unbeatable."

He began sketching plays, explaining the strategy clearly and with purpose. "We're starting with control—keep it tight, play smart, use the clock. The key here is discipline."

Ryan and Ben listened closely, focused but both aware that their names hadn't been mentioned yet.

Coach paused, then looked at the players around him. "Starting five—Marcus, Ethan, Jayden, Luis, and Caleb. You're opening. Everyone else, stay sharp. Subs rotate fast depending on rhythm. I want energy off the bench—especially from you two." He pointed at Ryan and Ben.

Ben elbowed Ryan gently, grinning. "Let's make 'em regret not starting us."

Ryan smirked. "Only a matter of time."

Coach Daniels gave them a nod. "We don't win this in the first five minutes. We win it by being the team that never lets up."

The team broke, heading to the bench as the buzzer sounded and the announcer's voice boomed over the speakers.

Part Two – The Tip-Off and First Half

The game began with a roar. Oakridge won the tip-off and immediately pushed the pace, slicing through with fast passes and sharp drives. Rosehill held their ground, working Coach's slow-and-steady plan. The crowd cheered with every shot, every rebound, every defensive stand.

Ryan and Ben watched from the bench, tense but trusting. The score stayed close, Oakridge holding a slight lead, but the Wolves never let it grow too wide.

Up in the stands, Sarah found her seat near the lower bleachers, her heart pounding—not just from nerves for Ryan, but something else. She hadn't been back in Rosehill this long since… well, since she left. Now, she was surrounded by familiar faces, and unfamiliar ones too.

She scanned the crowd—and then froze.

There he was. Richard Morgan. Older, more polished, but still recognizable. Standing near the aisle, wearing a Rosehill pin on his coat. A man beside him turned to say something—tall, a bit rugged, with kind eyes. Sarah didn't know him, but something about him seemed genuine.

Richard's gaze swept across the crowd—and then landed on her.

He blinked, taken off guard. For a second, they just stared at each other.

Sarah nodded politely, not giving away anything, not yet.

The man beside Richard stepped forward. "You must be Sarah," he said warmly. "I'm Jack. I've heard a lot about you—Ben's dad."

Sarah smiled, a little caught off guard by his charm. "Nice to meet you. So you're the one making sure Ben stays out of trouble?"

Jack chuckled. "Trying my best. He and your son seem like good kids."

"They are," she said softly, eyes flicking back toward Richard, who now stood quietly a few feet away, watching but not approaching.

Part Three – Ryan and Ben Enter the Game

Midway through the second quarter, Coach Daniels glanced down the bench. "Whitmore. Harris. You're in!"

Ryan's heart skipped. He stood, clapped his hands, and met Ben at the scorer's table. As they stepped onto the court, cheers broke out from one corner of the stands—Sarah, Jack, and some of their classmates.

Ryan didn't look into the crowd. He was locked in.

Ben whispered, "Time to show 'em what we got."

They took their positions as Oakridge brought the ball down the court. Ryan's eyes scanned the opposing team, heart pounding with adrenaline—not nerves. Not anymore.

It was finally their time.