The next morning, the Dust Dogs were doing their usual practice, kind of. The warehouse did not feel like a training place anymore. It felt more like a place where animals were killed, except the animals were still breathing.
Clang.
Tylo's jump shot hit the back of the rim hard and bounced off weakly toward the edge of the court. Nobody moved. Nobody even tried to catch the ball. Kiel and Kael just stood near the three-point line, their arms hanging loose, their jerseys wet with cold sweat.
Near the hoop, Kej grabbed the ball with one hand. His big face twisted, like he was thinking hard about taking the shot, but then he just let the ball drop to the floor with a dull *thud.*
"Man... We can't even do a simple three-man pass," Kiel said, rubbing his forehead with his arm to wipe away the sweat. "The game is in three days. We are completely finished."
