Coach Martinez called the substitution at the five-minute mark, his voice cutting through the gym noise with that practiced authority that demanded immediate attention. "Darius, Connor, you're in. Marcus, Devon, take a seat."
Darius ripped off his warmup and jogged to the scorer's table, his heart rate already climbing before he even touched the ball. Connor was right beside him, their eyes meeting briefly with that unspoken understanding that came from weeks of practicing together.
Before they stepped onto the court, Coach Martinez pulled them aside, his voice low enough that only they could hear over the crowd noise.
"Their freshman point guard is quick, but he commits his hips early on drives. Stay patient." He looked directly at Darius. "And Darius, don't force anything. The game will come to you if you let it."
That was it. No elaborate game plan. No drawn-up plays. Just two observations that felt more like casual comments than actual coaching instructions. But Darius understood what was underneath those words. Read the opponent. Don't press. Let the basketball find its natural rhythm.
The Hustle System activated as he stepped onto the court.
GAME OBJECTIVES ACTIVE:
Record 3 assists Score 6 points Force 1 turnover Shooting percentage above 50%
Time Remaining in Period: 5:00
Riverside Valley 20, Lincoln Heights 17.
Darius brought the ball up court for the first time, feeling the weight of actual game competition for the first time since that loss to Jace Carter. The Riverside Valley freshman point guard picked him up at half court, his stance aggressive but not quite disciplined. Quick hands. Bouncy feet. The kind of defender who relied on athleticism over technique.
Darius crossed half court and immediately looked to initiate the offense. But Ty, who was still in the game, was already calling for the ball on the right wing, his hand up, his body language saying "give me the ball so I can score."
Darius swung it to him. Ty caught it, took one dribble, and immediately rose up for a contested three-pointer over his defender. The shot clanged off the rim.
Riverside Valley grabbed the rebound and pushed in transition. Their point guard drove hard down the middle of the floor. Darius sprinted back, staying between him and the basket, but the kid was fast. He got into the paint and dished to a cutting teammate for an easy layup.
Riverside Valley 22, Lincoln Heights 17.
Connor jogged next to Darius as they brought it back up. "Just keep doing your thing, man. It'll open up."
But when Darius crossed half court again, the same thing happened. Jerome, the center, was posting up hard on the left block, his hand raised, calling for the entry pass like he was Shaquille O'Neal in his prime. Darius tried to feed it to him, but the pass was just a fraction late. The defender tipped it, and Riverside Valley recovered the loose ball.
Their transition offense was instant. The freshman point guard pushed the pace, and before Lincoln Heights could get set defensively, Riverside Valley had scored again off a backdoor cut.
Riverside Valley 24, Lincoln Heights 17.
Seven-point deficit now. The largest of the game.
Darius brought it up again, his mind working through the offensive options. Connor was spotting up on the left wing. Ty had relocated to the right corner. Jerome was still in the post. The spacing was there. The floor was open. But nobody was moving. Everyone was just standing, waiting for the ball to come to them so they could do their individual thing.
He swung it to Connor on the wing. Connor immediately attacked, driving baseline with that smooth athleticism that made him effective at the high school level. But instead of kicking it back out when the help defense came, he forced a contested layup that missed.
Riverside Valley rebounded and pushed again. This time Darius got back faster, denying the point guard the easy drive. The kid passed it to a teammate on the wing who missed a three-pointer. Lincoln Heights finally got a defensive rebound.
Darius pushed the pace this time, attacking in transition before Riverside Valley could set their defense. He got into the paint and kicked it to Ty in the corner. Ty shot without hesitation.
Good.
Riverside Valley 24, Lincoln Heights 20.
Four-point game. The gym was getting louder now. Riverside Valley's home crowd was feeling it, sensing their team had a legitimate chance against the Elite Eight school.
Objective Update: 0/3 Assists
Riverside Valley brought it back up, and this time their offense was more deliberate. They swung the ball around the perimeter, making Lincoln Heights' defense work. Their freshman point guard drove into the paint, and when Jerome rotated over to help, he kicked it to an open shooter in the corner.
Three-pointer. Good.
Riverside Valley 27, Lincoln Heights 20.
Seven-point deficit again. Three minutes left in the period.
Darius brought it up, his mind racing through options, through reads, through possibilities. He called for a screen from Jerome. The center came up and set a solid pick, but the moment Darius used it to turn the corner, Jerome immediately rolled to the basket with his hand up, calling for the lob pass.
Darius saw it developing, saw the opportunity, but he also saw that Jerome's defender had perfect position. The pass would get intercepted or deflected. So Darius pulled it back out, looking for a better option.
But Jerome was already frustrated, his arms going up in that universal "why didn't you pass me the ball" gesture that every basketball player has used at some point.
Connor was open on the weak side, but Ty had already started cutting toward the ball, his body language demanding the pass. Darius swung it to him.
Ty attacked immediately, driving hard into the paint. Two defenders converged on him. Connor was wide open in the corner. Darius had relocated to the top of the key, also open. But Ty forced a contested layup that missed.
Riverside Valley grabbed the rebound and scored again in transition.
Riverside Valley 29, Lincoln Heights 20.
Nine-point game. Two and a half minutes left.
"Come on, guys!" Connor shouted, frustration creeping into his voice. "Move the ball!"
But it didn't change. The next possession, Jerome got the ball in the post and immediately went up for a hook shot, even though he was double-teamed. The shot was blocked, and Riverside Valley took it the other way for another easy basket.
Riverside Valley 31, Lincoln Heights 20.
Eleven-point deficit. Two minutes left.
Darius brought it up again, and this time he tried something different. He waved everyone to space out, creating isolation at the top of the key. The freshman point guard picked him up, his stance aggressive but readable.
Darius went at him, using a quick crossover to create separation. He got into the paint and rose up for a floater. The shot was good, kissing off the glass and dropping through.
Riverside Valley 31, Lincoln Heights 22.
Objective Update: 2/6 Points
But immediately after, Riverside Valley answered. Their offense was starting to click now, finding rhythm against Lincoln Heights' disjointed defense. They scored on a pick-and-roll, the freshman point guard showing surprising court vision by threading a pass through traffic to his rolling big man.
Riverside Valley 33, Lincoln Heights 22.
One minute thirty seconds left in the period.
Darius pushed the pace again, attacking before the defense was set. He drove into the paint and kicked it to Connor on the wing. Connor shot immediately.
Miss.
Jerome grabbed the offensive rebound but instead of passing it back out to reset, he went up for a putback. Miss.
Riverside Valley secured the rebound and took it the other way. Their freshman point guard scored on a layup, finishing through contact from Darius.
Riverside Valley 35, Lincoln Heights 22.
Thirteen-point deficit. One minute left.
Darius had touched the ball on almost every possession since checking in. He'd made the right reads, found the open man, tried to get everyone involved. But the assists weren't coming because his teammates weren't converting. The points weren't accumulating because he couldn't get clean looks. The impact he'd expected to make, the way he'd imagined himself taking over the game and showing everyone what he was capable of, none of it was happening.
He was invisible. A ghost on the court. Passing the ball to players who ignored him. Setting up plays that never materialized. Running an offense that didn't exist because everyone was playing their own game.
Fifty seconds left in the period.
Ty launched another contested three. Miss. Riverside Valley rebounded and scored again.
Riverside Valley 37, Lincoln Heights 22.
Fifteen-point deficit.
Darius brought it up one more time, his legs feeling heavier than they should after just five minutes of play. Not from physical exhaustion, but from the mental weight of trying to play team basketball on a team that didn't want to be a team.
He crossed half court and stood there at the top of the key, the ball in his hands, his teammates scattered around the perimeter all waiting for their turn to shoot, none of them cutting, none of them screening, none of them doing anything that resembled actual offensive basketball.
And Darius realized, standing there with the shot clock winding down and his teammates staring at him expectantly, that he had no idea what he was supposed to do.