Chapter 64 – Eyes on the Quarterfinals

The gym buzzed with energy the next afternoon. Practice hadn't even started yet, but the Rosehill Wolves were already fired up. Sneakers squeaked against the polished floor, the smell of sweat and effort already thick in the air.

Coach Daniels stood at the whiteboard, clipboard in hand, a diagram of the bracket drawn out in bold marker. The words "Regional Tournament – Quarterfinals" were scrawled at the top.

Ryan stood near Ben, both of them freshly changed and focused. Across the gym, Savannah and the rest of the cheer team were watching, practicing chants during breaks. Anna gave Ryan a quick glance—something soft passed between them before they looked away.

Coach clapped his hands. "Alright, listen up!"

The chatter died down.

"This is what we've worked for. This isn't just about playing hard—it's about playing smart. We're in the regional tournament now. Four games. That's it. Four wins and we take the whole thing."

He pointed to the bracket.

"Quarterfinals are this Friday. Win that, we're in the semifinals next week. If we make it through that—finals, same week. It's fast-paced. Tough. No second chances."

He looked around at the team. "This first school we're up against—Kingsridge Prep—is disciplined. Big team, aggressive defense, but they rely too much on their starting five. If we keep pushing the pace, we wear them down."

He turned, facing the players. "That's where our bench becomes our strength."

A few guys straightened, pride on their faces.

Coach continued, "Starting five for Friday is Ryan, Ben, Malik, Theo, and Jayden. But we're going to rotate fast. Keep the energy high. Defense first. We control the tempo."

Ben grinned and elbowed Ryan lightly. "Starting five again. Let's go."

Ryan just gave a short nod, already locked in.

Coach moved on. "We're running two-a-days starting tomorrow—morning conditioning, afternoon strategy. Be ready. If we want this, it starts now."

He paused, then smiled slightly. "You've all come a long way. I've seen the growth—not just as players, but as people. Let's show them what Rosehill Wolves basketball really means."

The team broke out into applause, claps and calls echoing through the gym.

After the official huddle, practice kicked off. They ran drills, worked on zone defense, and watched clips of Kingsridge Prep's previous games. The team's chemistry was better than ever—passes crisp, communication sharp, and the hunger to win showing in every rep.

As Ryan pushed through a full-court drill, he could feel it—the shift. This wasn't just about high school basketball anymore. It was about proving something. To himself. To everyone who doubted him.

And beside him, Ben was thriving. His defense was a wall, his energy contagious.

When practice ended, the team collapsed onto the benches, tired but fired up.

Coach Daniels looked at them all. "We've got the talent. We've got the drive. What we need now—more than anything—is trust. Trust in each other. Trust in the work. Quarterfinals are in three days. Let's make every minute count."

As the team broke, heading toward the showers and locker rooms, Ryan lingered for a moment. He looked around the gym—the court where everything had started.

Then he looked at Ben and nodded.

"Let's win this whole thing."

Ben grinned. "One game at a time, bro. But yeah… let's do it."