The sound of sneakers echoed through the Ironwood gym, steady and rhythmic like a heartbeat that refused to slow down. Three days had passed since the win against Lakeview, but Coach Hale hadn't let the team celebrate for long. The next morning, he had them back in the gym before sunrise.
"Again," Hale's voice carried across the court, sharp and deliberate. "Spacing, communication, discipline. That's how we win."
Tank wiped sweat from his forehead and grumbled, "Man, discipline need a break too."
Ethan smirked, chest heaving. "Tell that to Hale."
"Yeah," Tank muttered. "He'd probably make me run laps for thinking it."
Tyler fired a pass across the floor to Jaden, who caught it clean and exploded toward the rim. He rose off one foot, twisted through a defender, and dropped it in with a soft layup. The sound of the ball hitting the net echoed in the near-empty gym.
Hale's whistle cut through the moment. "Better. That's how we finish plays."
Jaden jogged back to the line, chest slick with sweat, trying to ignore the burn in his legs. He could feel something different about the team now. Sharper. More connected. The ball moved faster. Screens landed harder. Nobody hesitated.
But even with that progress, Jaden knew Hale wasn't satisfied. He never was.
When practice ended, the team dropped to the floor in exhaustion. Hale stayed standing, his clipboard tucked under one arm. His voice dropped lower, calmer.
"You're improving," he said. "But don't mistake progress for perfection. Lakeview gave you space to figure things out. The next team won't. They'll test every crack in your focus."
Ethan spoke up, still breathing hard. "Who's next, Coach?"
Hale's lips twitched into something that almost looked like a smile. "The Showcase. City Arena. Friday night. Every top program in the district's going to be there. Scouts too."
Tank's head snapped up. "Scouts? Like, college scouts?"
Hale nodded once. "If you want eyes on you, that's where it happens."
The room went quiet. For a moment, even Tank didn't have a joke.
Then Tyler exhaled, steady but sharp. "Guess it's time to prove who we are."
---
That night, the gym was empty again except for Jaden.
He stood at the free-throw line, alone, bouncing the ball against the polished floor. The sound was softer now, echoing faintly off the walls. The scoreboard above him flickered in the half-light, its glow reflecting on the sweat across his skin.
He shot. Swish.
Caught the rebound.
Shot again.
Each motion was smooth, almost mechanical. But his thoughts weren't.
He still remembered Hale's words. "You're the heartbeat of this team. Lead like it."
Leadership wasn't just scoring. It was knowing when to hold the ball, when to pass, when to talk, when to stay quiet. It was trust, and that was harder than any crossover.
"Still here?" a voice called from the doorway.
Jaden turned to see Coach Hale stepping out of the shadows, arms crossed. His tone wasn't angry, just curious.
"Couldn't sleep," Jaden said, spinning the ball on his finger. "Figured I'd get some shots in."
Hale walked closer, his footsteps steady. "You played a good game against Lakeview. You kept your head, even when they pressed. That's growth."
Jaden nodded. "We still sloppy sometimes. Tyler rushes, Tank overplays screens. I'm trying to pull it together."
"You will," Hale said. He paused for a moment. "You've got the right instincts. You just don't trust them yet."
Jaden looked down at the ball, then back up. "Trying to."
"Don't try," Hale said simply. "Do."
He turned and started walking toward the exit, his voice echoing softly through the gym. "Tomorrow's the last practice before the Showcase. Rest up. You'll need every ounce of focus."
When the door shut behind him, the gym fell silent again. Jaden stood at the line, staring at the hoop.
Then he took another shot.
Swish.
---
Outside, the air was cold and still. Jaden walked back to the dorms, his breath visible in the night air. He saw Ava sitting on a bench near the court, camera in hand, typing something on her laptop.
"You out here late too?" he asked.
She glanced up, smiling faintly. "Deadlines don't sleep. Neither do you, apparently."
"Trying to keep the shot clean," Jaden said, sitting beside her.
Ava tilted her head, studying him. "You ever stop pushing?"
"Not really my style," Jaden replied, cracking a small grin.
"You know," Ava said softly, "you've changed since the season started. You don't just play to win anymore. You play like you've got something to prove."
Jaden thought for a moment, then shrugged. "Maybe I do."
She smiled, typing a few last words before closing the laptop. "Whatever it is, it's working."
As she stood to leave, Jaden leaned back, staring up at the stars above the quiet campus.
He didn't know exactly what waited for them at the Showcase, but he could feel it building. The pressure, the eyes, the noise.
And somewhere deep down, he knew this next game wasn't just another test.
It was the start of something bigger.