Loud cheers could be heard inside the basketball court as fans cheered and cheerleaders danced and did a great performance. The players sat on designated benches and watched the performance. After that, the commentator did a quick review of the teams playing and introduced them. Just after that, the game for the day was to commence.

“And finally, the moment you’ve been waiting for, the first match of the Sky City Inter high cup. A game between Sky Hills high school…” he said and the fans shouted at the top of their voices to support the team. At the same time, the players of the team rose to their feet and did a quick meeting among themselves.

“…and as for the opposing team, a school located in the middle of Sky City, Elian Comprehensive High school.” The commentator introduced. Leo’s teammates got up from their seats and they did a quick meeting among themselves.

“Alright boys. This is the moment. No dawdling, no delays, no bad plays. We’ve train so much for this day, so let’s make it count.” Logan to the rest of his team and they nodded.
“Let’s go win this thing captain!” Tyler exclaimed and the rest of the team nodded with a shout before walking to the playing area of the court. Leo smiled as he watched Logan and a part of his team go to the field. Mrs. Hale intentionally decided to not let Leo play, unless things were turning sour. She made team formations and this time, she was using formation D, which consisted of Logan as he Captain and point guard, Tyler as the power forward, Collins as the Center, Jackson as the small forward, and Eddie as the shooting guard.

Before the day’s game, she and her team had assessed Sky Hills high’s team and she noticed that they were a formidable team. However, their attacking power was bad. To make up for this, they decided to fortify their defenses. This way, they wouldn’t be lacking too much. But that was until last year, when a newbie with good skills joined their team. He was well known for his unbeatable agility and control of the ball, and this made Sky Hills high get the third position last year.

Both teams line up facing each other in the middle of the court and shook each other’s hands. Logan shook hands with the captain and Center of Sky Hills high’s basketball team, Alexander Moore

“Haven’t seen your face before. You seem to be the new captain of your team.” Alex said to Logan, who smirked.
“Trust me, I didn’t want to be here too…” Logan replied before glancing at Leo, who smiled at him, “…But things change.” He completed. Alexander scoffed and they left each others’ hands.

“Indeed. Your team used to be the weakest of all. This should be easy for us.” Alexander said with a smirk on his face. Tyler heard this and this got him agitated.
‘I’m gonna make you eat your words.’ He thought inside. Logan on the other hand, just smiled.
“Just like you said. ‘Once’. We don’t intend to lose this time.” Logan said and turned his back on Alex. The latter gazed at Logan’s back with a frown.
‘That guy…’ He said to himself as he also took his position. Tyler was at the front now and was assigned to get the jump ball for his team, while Luke Tylor, Sky Hills high’s small forward, was assigned to get the jump ball.

All players were in position, and the atmosphere was quiet and solemn. Luke looked into Tyler’s face and smiled maliciously. His jumping power was strong and he was slightly taller than Tyler with longer hands too.
‘The advantage is definitely mine.’ He thought. Tyler on the other hand, was remembering Leo’s training and was clear of his own weakness.
‘No matter how high I jump, he’s sure to get the ball first. So a steal will be suitable. Good thing we have Jackson for that.’ He planned. The referee halted the ball and stood in between both boys.
FWEEET!

At the sound of the whistle, the referee threw the ball up and moved away. Luke jumped high enough to get the ball while Tyler just pretended to jump high. However, Luke saw it as his opponent not being strong enough to make that jump, putting a smirk on his face.

They both landed and Luke was red no effort in passing to his teammate, Callum Hernandez, the power forward of his team, who pushed forward. Logan took a deep breath and opened up his domain, and everything seemed like a chessboard to him. He carefully analyzed Callum’s moves and made his deductions and predictions. He immediately did a hand sign and Jackson got the instruction.

Jackson wasn’t the type to talk much, and he obeyed and carried out his operations smoothly and steadily. One could say he was the best small forward. People consider him to be weak, which gives him the advantage, because those who underestimate him never see him coming. Logan went straight to confront Callum and he blocked him. Callum scoffed and tried to dribble Logan, thinking he was easy to get past, however, he couldn’t even move.

Seeing that the odds of him getting past Logan was too low, he bounce-passed to Michael Martinez, his team’s shooting guard who was well known for his three pointer shots, behind him, who was about to receive the ball but Logan smirked.
‘Just as I predicted…’ He thought. Just as Martinez was about to receive the ball, he noticed that it suddenly disappeared from his front.
“What the…” He exclaimed. Unknowing to him, Jackson was fast with his steal and he grasped the ball and pushed forward to the opponent’s hoop. It was too late for Martinez to realize it but his teammates did. Alexander Moore, immediately blocked Jackson.

Jackson kept an expressionless face and bounced repeatedly as he tried to move past Alexander. However, the latter was like a huge wall in front him. Alexander frowned and looked straight into Jackson’s eyes.

“You’re also a newbie. You possess good speed, but this is the end of the road for you. You’re not getting past me.” Alexander claimed. Jackson’s face remained expressionless, but his mind was running through his options.

He glanced around and noticed that all of his teammates were blocked. Seeing this, he sighed. ‘If you can’t get past a wall, guess you’ll have to break it.’ He thought to himself before holding the ball with both hands. The moment he did that, Alexander smirked,

“Seems like you’ve made your choice.” He muttered. He knew Jackson had no choice but to pass or make the shot now. Jackson bent his legs and Alexander concluded that the latter wanted to make the shot. He was confident in his skills as a center. He’s been playing this role for three years, since he joined his school’s basketball team.

Jackson jumped and wanted to shoot but he was outjumped by Alexander who smirked and thought that victory belonged to him. However, he noticed the expressionless face of Jackson form a smile.
“What you don’t know is, I’m a bad shooter.” Jackson said and threw the ball to the ground. Alexander was shocked beyond compare and his eyes were fixated on the ball and he suddenly saw someone catch it.

It was none other than Tyler. Logan had given him a signal to position himself near Jackson, as he was sure that he would need him soon. It was like stationing a chess piece in the right place and waited for the time the opponent would make a mistake or the time he would create an opening for this reserved chess piece to strike.

Tyler caught the ball and wasted no time to dunk.

BONK!
And the first two point basket went to Elian Comprehensive high.