CHAPTER 61: GAME FULL OF STRATEGY

Alaric stood in the center circle, giving quick instructions. This time, he kept it short, direct, and firm.

"Jordan, take the middle. Rael, front. Elliot in the back. Thomas, hold the right side. Don’t ask why. Just trust me and do it."

Jordan, solid and powerful, raised an eyebrow but nodded. Rael muttered something under his breath, hesitant to be placed up front again, but didn’t argue.

Elliot, slimmer but with sharp instincts, took the position near Northvale’s rim. Thomas, a medium-built, nimble player, guarded the right flank.

The formation looked strange to some in the audience. The weakest player placed out front, seemingly as the first wall against enemy attacks. But Alaric had a reason: he wanted the team’s energy to be used in layers. Start light, then scale up to the stronger defenders at the back. A more measured distribution.

Once the ball was in play again, the new strategy started to show results. Westminster, who’d easily broken through before, now had a harder time. Rael still struggled in duels, but he was decent at stalling the attack.

When opponents got past him, Jordan was ready in the middle, using his size to block their path. Elliot in the back made several key saves, stopping the ball just before it reached the basket.

Momentum began to shift. Alaric nailed a smooth three-pointer, followed by a fast break from Thomas, who stole the ball and scored. Northvale gained three points in a row. The score turned 7–5 in their favor. The Northvale crowd came alive again, their cheers ringing across the court.

But the lead didn’t last long. Westminster quickly adapted. Players 11 and 7 ramped up their offense, targeting Rael who was starting to tire. Within minutes, Westminster reclaimed the lead. The score now stood at 9–8.

Another whistle. The players from Northvale trudged back to the bench, visibly drained. Their faces were marked with fatigue.

Alaric sat down, grabbed his water bottle, and downed half of it in one gulp. His chest rose and fell as he stared at the scoreboard: 9–8. So close, but still not enough to pull ahead.

With a rough voice that he tried to keep steady, he addressed the team.

"Listen, we’ve been playing well. The strategy worked. It gave us points. But if we’re not in sync, it’s useless. Our coordination is still off. It doesn’t matter how good the game plan is without communication, none of it means anything."

Jordan looked down, wiping the sweat off his face as he quietly listened. Rael stared at the floor, clearly feeling the weight of his mistakes. Elliot reached over and gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

Alaric continued, "If someone’s blocking an opponent, the rest of the team needs to react quickly. Don’t just freeze. I know you’re trying to think things through. And yeah, the challenge is real. We have to analyze in real time. This isn’t like regular play where you get time to think."

"Here, we need to act fast, think smart, and stay sharp. All at once. I get it, it’s not easy. But as long as we’re still on the court, we have to give it everything we’ve got."

For a moment, there was silence. Only the roar of the crowd in the stands filled the air. From the corner steps of the bleachers, a group of Northvale girls were still cheering.

They waved their handmade posters with enthusiasm, but between the cheers, some of their voices could be heard muttering under their breath. "Why does it feel like our team’s not really taking this seriously?" one girl whispered. Another chimed in, "Yeah, thank goodness for Alaric, Elliot, and Jordan. If it weren’t for them, we’d be getting crushed right now."

Alaric caught part of that. He glanced toward the crowd, his ears picking up just enough of the words. He wasn’t offended. If anything, he gave a faint, wry smile.

They weren’t wrong. The team’s performance was all over the place compared to their opponent’s.

He stood up and looked at his team again. There was still one round left. One chance to turn things around, not just for the scoreboard, but for their pride. He didn’t need to say it aloud. The fire in his eyes said enough.

The final whistle to return to the court was about to blow.

And Alaric was ready.

The long whistle signaling the start of the fourth quarter pierced through the air. The entire stadium erupted into cheers as fans from both campuses stood up, some clapping, others whistling, and a few shouting the names of their star players. This was the deciding quarter, everything was on the line. Anything could happen.

The fourth quarter began. This time, Alaric and Elliot took the lead in the game. Rael and Jordan, whose performance had been strong in the earlier quarters, were now showing signs of fatigue. Their focus wavered, though they weren’t entirely out of the game. Alaric knew he had to rely more on Elliot.

And Elliot proved his instincts. Several times, he anticipated the opponent’s movements, blocked passing lanes, and even made crucial steals. Alaric and Elliot became the dynamic duo that kept Northvale in the game during this final stretch.

Alaric patted his chest, steadied his breath, and gave his teammates a meaningful look. "Focus. Don’t think about the score. Think about the game. Take it one second at a time."

The ball was thrown into the air, and Jordan, still holding his ground in the center, tapped it towards Alaric. Without wasting any time, he sprinted toward the opposing ring. Two Westminster players immediately blocked his path, their large bodies aggressive.

With a quick fake, Alaric spun and passed the ball to Elliot, who was coming in from the left. Elliot didn’t go for the direct shot. Instead, he faked a pass, throwing off his defender, then leaped and slammed the ball into the hoop.

"YEAAHH!!" The Northvale crowd exploded in cheers.

The score, which had been 9–8, was now tied. Westminster scored a point, and Northvale quickly answered. Back and forth. The scoreboard grew more intense. The fans in the stands stood, shouting every time the ball sailed through the hoop.

The climax came in the final minutes. Alaric broke through the defense with a quick dribble, then passed to Elliot, who jumped and dunked the ball. Northvale took a slim lead. The Northvale supporters erupted, shaking the entire stadium.

But Westminster quickly responded. The number 11 player, the star of the game, charged down the court. Rael tried to stop him, but was overpowered. A quick shoulder push sent Rael sliding back, and number 11 glided past him into the paint.

Elliot rushed in for a block, but the opponent was too fast. The ball swished through the net. The score shifted again: 10–9, Westminster.

Alaric gathered his team for a brief huddle. "Listen up, don’t focus on just one guy. Number 11 is good, but he’s not invincible. If he gets through, make sure you have his back."

The game went on. The pace grew more frantic. The ball exchanged hands at lightning speed, the sound of sneakers squeaking on the hardwood echoed, and sweat dripped onto the floor.

Then, Thomas, who had been holding the right side, stepped up. With a brilliant interception, he stole the ball from Westminster. Without hesitation, he tossed it to Alaric, who was already in position. Alaric sprinted forward, the seconds seemed to stretch, the defense closed in, but he paused, then did a step-back.

Shot!

The ball soared through the air, perfectly sinking into the basket.

The score was tied again: 10–10. The stadium roared.

Northvale supporters leapt to their feet, waving their hands, screaming. Some even stamped their feet on the bleachers. "NORTHVALE! NORTHVALE!"

But Westminster wasn’t done. They slowed down the game, playing the ball patiently, wearing down Northvale’s stamina. Finally, Westminster’s number 7 found an opening, broke through on the right, and with a powerful leap, slammed the ball home.

Score: 11–10.

There were only 30 seconds left. Everyone in the stadium held their breath.

Alaric clutched the ball. His breaths were heavy, but his eyes sharp. He glanced at Elliot and gave a quick signal. Elliot nodded. They didn’t need words.

Alaric dribbled hard, shaking the floor. Two defenders rushed to trap him, but he deliberately drew their attention. As they focused on him, Alaric launched the ball into the air. Elliot was ready. He jumped, caught the ball midair, and attempted a layup.

The ball flew toward the hoop, hit the rim, then bounced out.

Miss.

The ball did not go into the basket.

Westminster quickly seized the ball, running down the clock. The final seconds ticked away, and the final whistle blew. The game was over. The score remained 11–10 in favor of Westminster.

A heavy silence settled over the Northvale bench. Some players bowed their heads, others lightly slapped their thighs in frustration, feeling the sting of having come so close but falling short.