Technical Foul (7 page)

Spencer looked at Fiorelli, who frowned and shrugged. “Be right up,” Spencer said. He and Fiorelli went upstairs.

“Man,” said Willie after they’d gone. “I hope they don’t bring those girls down here. Certain times, you just want to be with your boys. This night was supposed to be about getting rid of distractions. If girls aren’t distractions, I don’t know what is.”

They played three more games of pool before Spencer and Fiorelli came back down, alone.

“Got rid of ’em,” Spencer said. “No problem.”

“Yeah
right
,” Fiorelli said, shaking his head. “No problem for you.”

“Aw,” Spencer said, bursting into a giant smile. “Listen, Jason, you made the big sacrifice for the team. And we all appreciate it, don’t we guys?”

“What do we appreciate?” Jared asked.

“Jason here agreed to take Amanda to the movies tomorrow night after we beat South Bergen,” Spencer said. “It was the only way to get them to leave.”

“You’re the man, Fiorelli,” said Willie.

“Yeah, I’m the man,” Fiorelli said. “How do I get into these things anyway?”

“You’re just too good-looking,” Spencer said. “You need to get your face messed up or something. Maybe take an elbow in the jaw during the game.”

Fiorelli blushed again. “Let’s get down to business,” he said, picking up a pool cue. “Me and Jared. We’ll take on anybody.”

Yeah
, thought Jared.
Pool or basketball, I’ll take on the world. That’s enough, for now
.

“G
otta admit, this is a great atmosphere for basketball,” Spencer said as the Hudson City players took to the floor at the Palisades gym. Spectators from all four of the playoff teams had filled the bleachers, and music was blaring from the speakers.

South Bergen was already warming up at one of the baskets, and the players from Palisades and Memorial were sitting on opposite sides of the court, high up in the bleachers, waiting their turn.

“Big advantage for Palisades, getting to have the playoffs at home,” Jared said.

“All the other gyms in the league are too small,” Spencer said. “It’s no problem. We know we can win on the road.”

Jared nodded and looked around the gym.

“Don’t get psyched out,” Spencer said. “This is what we’ve been playing for. Pressure’s good.”

“Pressure’s our friend,” said Fiorelli. He poked Jared in the chest. “‘You! You! You!’ Remember? We thrive in hostile environments.”

“Yeah,” said Jared. “We do.”

 

South Bergen came out shooting, nailing a couple of three-pointers in the early going. Hudson City kept things close with a powerful inside game. Spencer was effective working the ball in to Jared, and Jared hit his first three shots.

“All day,” Spencer said to Jared as they walked toward the bench during a time-out. “That ball keeps coming to you in there.”

“Don’t be surprised if they start doubling up on Jared,” Coach Davis said. “Look for the open man. Keep getting it inside while we’re able to, but sooner or later they’re going to make an adjustment.”

Just as Coach said, Jared found himself double-teamed on Hudson City’s next possession. Spencer got the ball in to him, but a forward darted over to help, leaving Fiorelli alone in the corner. Jared pumped to shoot, then fired the ball out to Jason, who hit the wide-open three-pointer.

“We’ve got too many weapons,” Spencer said as they sprinted back on defense. “They leave Jason open, he’ll slaughter them. They leave just one man on Jared, he’ll eat ’em up inside.”

South Bergen kept making adjustments, having other players help out on Jared, bringing in fresh players to try to slow down Spencer and Fiorelli. But everything seemed to be going Hudson City’s way. By halftime, the Hornets had a twelve-point lead.

“They might as well play with six or seven guys,” Spencer said. “They can’t stop us.”

“There’s still a long way to go,” Coach Davis said. “Stick to our game. Hammer it inside; run when you have the chance. But think
defense
. Do not let them go on a run and get themselves back in this game.”

Jared grabbed a towel and wiped his face and neck. He’d played every minute of the first half and was glad to have a rest. He’d probably played his best half of the season, grabbing a ton of rebounds, making nearly all of his shots, and not picking up a single foul. Everything was working today.

Fiorelli grabbed Jared’s arm as they left the locker room for the second half. “See, my man? No pressure. Just excitement. We use that to our advantage. Am I right?”

“Absolutely,” Jared said. “Let’s keep it rolling.”

And they did. South Bergen made a couple of short runs, getting the lead down to eight points in the fourth quarter. But the Hudson City players kept their poise. Jared finished with 24 points and the Hornets eased into the championship game.

“One more,” Fiorelli said as the players swarmed into the locker room. “Hudson City. Basketball champions. Nobody thought they’d be hearing that a few weeks ago.”

J
ared stood in the kitchen and looked out at the driveway. The night was cold, but he needed to burn off some energy, to dribble for a few minutes at least and shoot some layups. All day long he’d been thinking about tomorrow night’s championship game. Palisades had defeated Memorial in the second semifinal. Of course, Palisades had handled Hudson City the previous week.

“What’s up, Jared?” Mom asked.

“Nothing,” he said. “Just think I’ll go out and shoot.”

“This late? It’s freezing.”

“I know. But I need to blow off some steam.”

“Why don’t you play your guitar?”

“Not the same,” he answered. “I need something physical.”

“I see. Tomorrow’s a big day, huh?”

“Giant.”

Jared took the ball and headed outside. He dribbled in toward the basket and pivoted, turning his back to the hoop. He feinted left, then swerved and laid the ball off the backboard.

That would be the key. Get the ball inside and overpower the Palisades’ center. Then stop him on the other end and get that fast break going.

Jared wanted to win the championship at least as much for his teammates as for himself. They’d come a long way, overcoming so many rough spots. Now, on the brink of the title game, he was more nervous than he’d ever been.

So much could happen. Palisades could shut down Hudson City’s fast break the way they had last time. Jared could go cold and miss some crucial shots. He might even lose his temper again.

No, he wouldn’t let that happen. He backed in toward the basket, dribbling the ball and working against an imaginary defender. He gave a quick juke to his right, then pivoted left and lofted a soft little jumper into the basket.

That was how it would go. Tough and focused. Physical but clean. Smart, hard basketball. That much was certain.

J
ared stared at the back of the seat in front of him on the bus ride to Palisades. They’d routed this team once but got pounded the second time. What would happen tonight?

“We’ll run ’em ragged,” said Fiorelli. Jason wasn’t chattering as usual, but he kept making comments like that, trying to start a conversation. Jared would just nod and say, “Yeah.” He could taste the meal he’d eaten right after school—a chicken parmigiana TV dinner. It was a spicy blob sitting in his stomach.

“We’ll get the outside shots falling so they can’t double up on you, then hammer that ball inside,” Fiorelli said.

Jared nodded again and glanced out the window. His breath made a steamy fog on the glass.

“I just wish we would get there and get started,” he said. “The wait before the game is the toughest thing in sports.”

 

The Palisades cheerleaders were on the court when Hudson City emerged from the locker room, and the pep band was blaring away. Banners hung on the walls above the bleachers on both sides of the court: “Rip Hudson City!” and “Palisades Rules.”

Jared’s parents and many others had made the trip to the game, but the spectators were at least 90 percent for Palisades. There was even some booing as Hudson City began warming up.

Spencer called the starters over and they huddled at the free-throw line. “We love this, don’t we?” he said. “We love shutting people up.”

“That’s our mission,” Fiorelli said. “The worse they try to make it for us, the better we play.”

“No intimidation,” said Willie Shaw, who rarely said anything in the huddles.

“Championship game,” said Ryan Grimes. “Everything we’ve worked for.”

The other players all looked at Jared, who swallowed hard as the sour taste of tomato sauce came up. He stared at the floor for a few seconds, then lifted his head. “Five of us,” he finally said. “A team. Nobody beats us when we play like a team.”

“Amen,” said Fiorelli. “Let’s remember that.”

 

Palisades came out fired up, showing much more energy than the subdued but patient Hornets. The point guard—Leon Johnson—had a hot hand early on. “Neon!” came the cry from the crowd every time he hit a shot.

Jared got a couple of rebounds, but Palisades hustled back to thwart the fast break each time. So Spencer bided his time, passing off to Fiorelli and the others and calling for the ball right back if a shot didn’t open up. Eventually, the good shots came, and Hudson City kept pace. Fiorelli and Shaw each had a pair of baskets, and Spencer hit a three-pointer.

“Not bad,” said Coach Davis after one quarter. Palisades led by two, but Hudson City hadn’t gotten into any kind of groove yet. Jared hadn’t scored and the Hornets hadn’t run. “Look for the opportunities,” Coach said. “Stay patient.”

Opportunities
, Jared thought. He motioned to Spencer as they walked onto the court. “Start driving to the hoop,” he said. “I’ll set the screen.”

Jared had been thwarted by Palisades’ big center in the first quarter, unable to get free. The Hornets needed to open things up.

Hudson City had the ball to start the second quarter. As Spencer dribbled near the top of the key, Jared struggled to get open under the basket. His bigger opponent stuck to him tightly. Jared took a quick sidestep, then made two quick strides to the side of the free-throw line. Spencer drove hard, slicing past Jared, who stood his ground as Leon Johnson crashed into him. Spencer shot past and went in unguarded for a layup.

“Nice job,” Spencer said as they ran back to their defensive end of the court. “Keep mixing it up like that. They’ll fold.”

Johnson answered with a driving layup of his own, shooting the ball just over Jared’s outstretched fingers.

Back on offense, Jared again moved to the foul line. This time, Spencer passed off to him, then darted toward the basket. Jared slipped him the ball on a nice give-and-go, and Spencer again made an easy layup.

“We’re picking them apart,” Spencer said a few minutes later during a time-out. Hudson City had taken a two-point lead, and Palisades seemed confused and sloppy on defense. Jared’s screens and passes had led to two more baskets.

By halftime the lead was up to four. Jared hadn’t scored and he had two fouls, but who cared? This was the championship game. They were leading.

 

“It’s right there,” Fiorelli said in the locker room. “It’s like, one hour from now we’ll be jumping up and down and screaming after we win this thing. Not ‘Neon. Neon. Neon.’ Try ‘Spencer, Willie, Jared!’ We just keep on playing our game, whatever way it comes down. If we need to nail the threes, we do it. If we need to hammer it inside, we do it. Whatever it takes. We do it.”

Jared quickly peeled an orange and wolfed it down. His stomach had settled as soon as the game began, and now he was hungry and thirsty. He took several swallows of Gatorade and wiped his face with a towel.

“Let’s run,” he said, looking Spencer squarely in the eyes. “We get that fast break going and we can put these guys away.”

But it was Palisades that went on the run as the third quarter began. They had brought in their backup center, who was smaller but quicker. Neon Johnson hit a layup and Palisades’ other guard made a nice baseline jumper to tie the game at 28 apiece. The crowd went wild.

“No problem,” Spencer said to Jared as he dribbled up the court. “You and me again. Let’s go.”

Jared moved to the basket, then hustled out to set a screen for Spencer. Spence drove hard, using the screen, but the Palisades’ center moved off Jared and picked up Spencer instead. Jared rolled toward the basket, and Spencer sent a bounce pass into his path. Jared hauled it in on the run and made his first shot of the game.

“Lots of options there,” Spencer said as they ran back. “Keep picking them apart. You and me.”

But Palisades kept up its hot shooting and gradually built a small lead. Then Spencer scored off another give-and-go from Jared, and Jared scored again on a feed from Willie. The teams entered the fourth quarter all tied up.

“Suck it up now!” Spencer urged his teammates in the huddle. “One more quarter. It’s all or nothing.”

Jared set a hard screen for Spencer on the Hornets’ first possession, but was whistled for a foul. Palisades brought the ball downcourt and Johnson drove into the lane, forcing Jared to cover him. Johnson and Jared both left their feet, with the shooter twisting and getting off a shot as Jared tried desperately to block it.

Again came the whistle. Jared’s second foul in a matter of seconds. Johnson went to the free-throw line. Fiorelli came over and gripped Jared’s arm. “That’s four on you,” he said.

“I know,” Jared said, spitting out the words and shaking out of Fiorelli’s grip. “Two bad calls.”

“Think!” Fiorelli whispered. “We can’t have you foul out.”

Jared shook his head in disgust and glared at the referee who’d made the call. Johnson made the first free throw, but the second one bounced off the back of the rim. Jared felt a new surge of energy and leaped higher than he even thought he could, grabbing the ball and coming down with his elbows out and his shoulders tensed.