The effect from the monstrous dunk was immediate as the crowd starts going nuts with people pulling out their phones and cheering loudly.
Lance's team seems invigorated by the incredible play as they settle back into their defensive posture, their intensity growing along with his. But for the opposing team, it feels like they are being suffocated.
The pressure Lance and his team are putting on them is choking as Todd passes the ball into Jean as they move down the court.
The glue man, Kira, sets Jean a screen and rolls on a cut to the basket, but this time Lance's team is prepared. Communicating well, they switch with the cut and flowing with the screen's movement. However, this is what Jean and Kira had intended, helping to switch Ren off Jean and onto Kira giving them a strong mismatch. Lance, having switched onto Todd, due to an off ball screen from their center, is standing in the corner with a tough choice.
'Do I crash in for help defense or stay on my man and risk a three? Ahhh, come on Ren.'
Despite all his pleading, Ren cannot guard Kira. There is more than a difference in height but in skill. Ren, to his credit, is a decent passer with solid handles but he is far outclassed by Kira as a quick size up move from Kira creates enough space for him to blow by Ren to the hoop. Lance makes his decision, and stays put.
'Three is more than two. Three is more than two. Damnit!'
Kira, with no one to contest him, sinks the easy layup and begins to move back down the court.
17-16.
Lance inbounds the ball to Ren as they jog down the court. Lance glances down the court and sees that his team is overloading the right side of the court with Sora gesturing to Lance.
Lance, having a slight idea of what they are planning. Sets a weak screen on Jean before rolling towards the basket. The opposing team's center, Henry, rolls with Lance as Jean sticks to Ren. Thinking they stopped the play, the defense lets out an anxious breath knowing Ren can't iso Jean.
However, once Lance reaches the low block, he stops and turns towards the overloaded corner, where Sora has already made his run. Caught off guard by the sudden move, Todd turns and runs behind him keeping his eyes solely on Sora.
Lance, ready on the low block, plants his feet and set a hard, off ball screen onto Todd sending him sprawling letting Sora slip completely free. Henry, who was at a standstill, recognizes what is happening to late and can't get his burly frame moving fast enough to contest the shot.
Ren, seeing the wide open Sora, passes to him as he arrives at the empty corner. From there it is a simple catch and shoot, as the ball swishes through the net. A beautiful, makeshift play from Ren, Lance and Sora that resulted in a effortless looking bucket.
20-16
The crowd can't help but animatedly discuss the beautiful play amongst themselves as Jean catches the inbound and immediately passes the ball to Todd.
Todd, feeling aggrieved from the hard screen, dribbles the ball up and is met by Sora. Todd makes a quick crossover to the right, blows by Sora and pulls up for three as he fades away. The ball arcs through the air as the crowd holds it's breath as the fading, awkward three pointer drops down slowly before banking off the backboard and into the net.
20-19
As the opposing team celebrates, Lance makes his move as he begins streaking down the court. Sora quickly inbounds the ball to Ren who runs down the court as well. The opposing team hastily moves back onto defense as Henry anchors himself down in the paint and Jean picks up Ren.
Lance sees Henry but doesn't stop as he continue to charge towards the rim and once he gets about four steps out, looks at Ren and points skywards.
Ren, gets an unsure look on his face but throws the alley-oop anyways as the ball soars into the air. Henry, seeing the pass, gets a weird look on his face that quickly shifts to horror as Lance leaps so high it looks as if he is walking on air.
Henry moves to contest with a less than impressive jump but, in fairness, does get his burly body in the way. Unfortunately for him, he positioned himself to far under the basket letting Lance get far to close to the hoop before they meet in the air.
Lance, reaches down with one hand and grabs the top of Henry's head as he puts all his focus on grabbing the ball with his other. Upon feeling it meet his hand, he let's out a thunderous yell as he goes to slam it into the hoop.
But Lance, having never played center before, is not very, well, adept at catching Oops. As the dunk progresses he feels the ball slipping from his hand just a bit as it slams down onto the block at the back of the rim sending it sky high.
Him and Henry collapse into a heap as both watch with baited breathe as the ball descends, hits the front of the rim. Hits the side of the rim. And daintily drops into the net as the scorekeepers card flips over, 22-19, Lance and his team wins.
The crowd goes wild as they surround Lance, practically forcing him to his feet as they pull out their phones, cheering loudly for him. Lance, despite his height letting him tower over the crowd, feels suffocated by the fervent cheers of the crowd.
Trying to push them away he sees a sliver of pink hair in the small mob of people. Pushing forwards with his prodigious strength, Lance stumbles upon Annie who looks shocked yet furious at seeing him.
Lance yells over the cheering crowd at Annie,"Hey An, what are you doing here!"
"YOU SAID YOU'VE NEVER PLAYED BASKETBALL BEFORE YOU LYING SACK OF SH-"
"Woah, woah! What's with the hostility!"
"I ONLY AGREED TO WORKOUT WITH YOU THIS SUMMER BECAUSE I WANTED TO HELP YOU IN CASE YOU WERE BAD! SO WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!"
Lance, moves over to console his, strangely pissed off sister as he pats her back, "I really have never played before. Besides the only reason I could do that was because of your help trai-"
Lance doesn't get to finish that sentence as a fist nails him hard in the solar plexus sending him doubling over as Annie starts storming off. Her thoughts a whirlwind of emotion.
'I'm glad he seems so happy, BUT WHY DID HE HAVE TO PUT ME THROUGH HELL IF HE WAS THIS GOOD! DAMN OAF!"