This choice: Julie, 17 years old, February of Junior year in High School • Go Back...Chapter #2Julie, 17 years old, February of Junior year in... by: BL   26:78
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The scoreboard glared down its foreboding warning, the seconds ticking away. The girls on the court battled for position, scarcely hearing the roaring chants of 'defense', and 'let's go Cardinals' cascading from the crowd. The air in the stadium seemed to pulse with a life all its own, an electricity flowing between the spectators and the participants locked in grim competition. The district championship was on the line, and a conclusion to the contest was fast approaching.
Picking up her dribble, Erika was trapped by a double team. Julie broke to the top of the key, cutting at such an angle that Erika was able to slip the ball past the harassing defense, into her awaiting and very capable hands. The double team followed, almost instantly smothering her with suffocating defense, but Julie threw a head fake, suckering the opposing two guard into leaving her feet. She launched herself at the leaping defender, creating contact, then hung in the air long enough to regain her balance and released a perfect shot. The ball bounced off the back of the rim on its downward arc, dropping through the net with a sweeter sound than the most practiced orchestra could ever hope to produce.
The whistle blew and the ref signaled for a defensive foul. Julie pumped her fist, gave a few high fives to her teammates, and strode to the free throw line with an air of confidence that was chilling. Drawing a deep breath, Julie's steely, cool blue eyes focused on the rim, blotting out all her surroundings. In her mind, she was back in her driveway knocking down free throws, easy as shooting fish in a barrel. Countless hours of practice paid dividends as she raised the ball and stroked it flawlessly through the net.
13:44
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Neither team had any timeouts remaining, so Julie galloped down the court to D up. Number twenty-five, the lightning quick small-forward she was saddled with guarding, caught a pass mid court and dribbled towards her, weaving ever so slightly left to right, then left again.
The offense spread out, running an isolation attack, leaving the lane open. The only thing between number twenty-five and the basket was Julie. A fake to the left, where Julie was leaning, followed by a dazzling cross over dribble, left Julie in her opponent's wake. Turning on her heels and hustling like hell, Julie struggled to make up ground, but it was hopeless. She was beat. As she gave chase, number twenty-five went up for a layup and Julie leapt with everything she had, knowing it was too late, knowing just as well that she had to try. Swatting at the ball, certain she would miss, she surprised even herself as the tips of her fingers made contact with rubber, and the altered shot bounced harmlessly off the backboard.
As she came back down to earth she spun around, trying to locate the ball, and saw that Teresa had already claimed the rebound. Her 6'2" teammate hunched over, protectively wrapping both arms around the rock, and the buzzer sounded. Stunned, the crowd fell silent, and Julie felt a surge of triumph coursing through her body, blotting out rational thought. In that moment, she was a rock star, the biggest sensation since the Beatles. Her team mauled her, whooping and hollering. It was pandemonium, and every Parker girl felt a high that is nearly impossible to articulate with any words.
The game was over; the Parker Bulldogs were district champs, and Julie couldn't believe it.
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