The gym was boiling. Sweat, noise, heat. Everything mixed into one blur of chaos. The scoreboard read 59 to 53. Four minutes left.
Ray Hale stood at the top of the key, the ball bouncing slow between his hands. His eyes scanned the floor, calm, patient, lethal. Southpoint's offense opened like clockwork. Two cuts, a screen, one hesitation. Ray exploded through a gap, spun off Ethan, and hit a jumper that snapped the net.
59 to 55.
Jaden caught the inbound and pushed the ball up fast. His lungs burned, his mind clear. Coach Hale's voice echoed faintly. Control the tempo. Lead with your head, not just your fire.
He slowed it near half court, eyes locked on Ray. Tyler slid wide to the corner, Tank stepped up. The screen connected hard. Jaden darted around it, Ray recovering late. Jaden attacked, faked the layup, and dropped a bounce pass behind him. Ethan caught it clean and slammed it through.
61 to 55.
The crowd jumped to their feet. The sound shook the building.
Ray brought it back with zero emotion. He crossed, pulled back, hit a hesitation dribble so quick Jaden froze for a split second. Ray surged through and finished through contact. The whistle blew.
And one.
He made the free throw. 61 to 58.
Jaden dribbled up slow, scanning the defense. Southpoint switched into a trap, forcing him toward the sideline. He fired to Ethan, who kicked it back, then found Tyler curling up top.
Tyler pulled and released.
Clang.
The rebound shot high. Ray grabbed it, already sprinting.
He pushed full speed, crossed behind his back, stepped through traffic, and fired a deep three right over Jaden's hand.
Nothing but net.
Tie game. 61 to 61. Two minutes left.
The gym roared so loud the floor vibrated.
Coach Hale didn't call timeout. He just pointed. "Hunter, take it!"
Jaden nodded, jaw tight. He brought it up slow, staring across at Ray. The air between them was heavy. Every drop of sweat felt like fuel.
He dribbled once, twice, then attacked left. Ray cut him off. Jaden planted, spun back right, stepped behind the screen, and pulled from the elbow.
The shot arced high and dropped clean through.
63 to 61.
The Ironwood crowd erupted. Tyler pounded his chest as they got back on defense.
Ray didn't blink. He took the inbound, crossed half court, called a play, and slipped through the screen like smoke. Ethan met him in the lane, but Ray dished underhand to his big man, who threw it down hard.
Tie game again. 63 to 63. One minute left.
Nobody sat. Nobody even breathed.
Coach Hale's voice cut through the noise. "Hunter! Finish it!"
Jaden took the inbound and let the crowd fade into static. The lights were hot, the air thick, his heart pounding in his chest.
Tank came up to screen. Ray slipped around it fast. Jaden kept dribbling, looking for space. Tyler wasn't open. Ethan was covered.
Clock ticking.
He crossed right, spun left, then drove through a tight gap in the defense. The help came late. He went up strong, felt contact, but kept his focus as the ball rolled around the rim.
It hung for a second, then dropped.
65 to 63.
The gym exploded. The crowd was screaming so loud it felt like thunder. But there was no time.
Ray caught the inbound and took off like lightning. Fifteen seconds.
He weaved through defenders, crossed half court, and attacked the paint. Tank stepped up, arms high. Ray stopped, pulled back, and faded.
The ball flew. The buzzer screamed.
It hit the back rim, bounced high, then rolled off.
The gym erupted into chaos.
Jaden ripped out his mouthguard and threw his hands up as the crowd poured in. Tank grabbed him from behind, yelling, "We did it, Silk! We did it!"
Ethan hugged Tyler near half court, both laughing through exhaustion.
Coach Hale stood on the sideline, arms crossed, a rare smile pulling at his face.
Southpoint players walked off, silent. Ray lingered, hands on his hips, eyes locked on Jaden.
Jaden looked back. No taunting, no words. Just respect.
Two players. One battle.
Coach Hale clapped once. "That's how you finish!"
The noise washed over them as Ironwood celebrated.
Jaden looked up at the scoreboard. 65 to 63. His chest rose and fell hard, sweat dripping from his chin.
He'd carried them through it. The noise, the pressure, the heat.
He had heart.
And that made all the difference.