Extra Basket-Chapter 145 - 132: Loan Shark (8)

August 6, 2010 – Old Midtown Arena, 2 Minutes Left in the 1st Quarter

Score: Blazing Fox 24 – Vorpal Basket 21

The gym was a roaring drum of sneakers, squeaking rubber, and echoing shouts. The crowd buzzed with tension, watching as two teams one forged in fire, the other driven by desperation clashed on the court with everything they had.

Ayumi stood at the bench, fists clenched, her clipboard forgotten. She watched Lucas breathing hard, sweat running down his jaw as he stood at the top of the key, surveying the defense.

...

Meanwhile, on the other side

Leonel Blaze dribbled slowly, purposefully. His expression calm. Calculating.

"They’re faster than I expected," he thought.

"But not faster than me."

He glanced at Jace, who nodded without needing a word.

Lucas stood near him, reading his body, tense like a coiled spring.

Ryan hovered by Noah Vance, trying to keep him from setting up the perfect screen.

Back on Vorpal’s bench, Ethan was gripping his knees, watching every movement like a hawk.

"(We’re only down three. Two minutes left. That’s enough to shift momentum... but we can’t panic. Not now.)"

He turned to the bench and barked, "Aiden! Get ready to sub in next dead ball!"

"Me?" Aiden blinked, standing. "Who am I taking out?"

"Josh," Ethan replied. "Let him breathe. You’ll guard Titan."

Aiden paled.

"Me? Malik ’Rimquake’ Reed?! He’s built like a tank, Ethan—"

"You’re the most balanced on defense and stamina right now," Ethan cut in.

"You don’t need to stop him — just slow him down."

Aiden swallowed, then nodded.

"Got it."

..

Back on court—

Lucas faked right, drove left, got by Jace—

But Malik stepped up from the help side like a wall.

"You again," Malik said, his deep voice rumbling.

Lucas planted and passed.

Behind his back.

Straight to Brandon, who caught and rose under the rim.

BANG!

A clean dunk off the glass. The crowd erupted.

Score: 24–23.

Ayumi leapt to her feet, eyes wide.

"Yes! Let’s go!"

Josh clapped as he ran back.

"Nice vision, Lucas!"

Lucas just nodded, focused, golden eyes sharp like a blade.

Leonel walked the ball up again. His eyes flicked to the clock.

(A minute thirty. We’ll slow it down.)

But as he crossed half-court, Evan pressed him — tight.

"You’re not getting another clean lob, maestro."

Evan grinned, eyes locked on Leonel’s chest.

Leonel smirked.

"Cute."

He spun, lost Evan for a second, and attacked the gap.

Ryan stepped up, but Leonel dropped a dime pass under the rim—

DeShawn Briggs. Dunk.

BANG.

26–23.

Louie cursed under his breath on the bench.

"We answer, they answer harder..."

Ethan was silent. But inside, gears turned.

"(I have one more team card... should I use it now?)"

...

On the next possession, Evan dribbled up and called the play.

"Ice Viper!"

It was a fake flare screen that would open space for Lucas to iso at the wing.

Ryan slid across to set the screen, Lucas curled around—

Jace switched on him.

Lucas didn’t hesitate.

He stepped back. Pulled up.

Swoosh.

Tie game. 26–26.

Crowd: "OHHHH!"

Ayumi’s eyes were sparkling.

"Lucas..."

Even Big King and Brick from the shadows leaned forward in their seats.

Brick muttered, "That black-haired punk is getting hotter."

Big King said nothing. His scar twitched.

Jeremy Park, seated beside them, kept silent too but a tiny flicker of hope was in his chest.

Leonel took the inbound.

"(He’s in rhythm now. Let’s see how long it lasts.)"

He brought it up, tried to call a new set but Evan was on him like glue.

Lucas, now guarding Jace, kept glancing between him and the ball.

"(If he pulls up, I need to contest instantly...)"

Jace faked a backdoor cut then sprinted to the top, caught Leonel’s pass—

Launched.

Miss.

Brandon secured the rebound.

Passed to Evan.

They pushed.

"20 seconds left!" Ethan shouted. "Hold for last!"

But Lucas waved it off. He wanted to attack now.

Evan hesitated then nodded and passed it.

Lucas drove.

Malik met him again.

"You again?" Malik smirked.

Lucas didn’t flinch.

He pivoted faked a shot ducked low eurostep

He floated a soft layup off the glass—

It rolled in.

28–26. Vorpal takes the lead.

The crowd ROARED.

The buzzer sounded.

End of 1st Quarter.

Ethan exhaled.

"We’re still standing."

"Let’s make sure we finish that way."

...

Start of 2nd Quarter

Lineup: Aiden (SF), Coonie (SG), Louie (PF), Kai (PG), Ethan Albarado (PF/Undersized C)

Score: Vorpal Basket 28 – Blazing Fox 26

The buzzer echoed across the gym, signaling the start of the second quarter. The first five of Vorpal slowly walked to the bench, fists bumping with the new rotation taking the floor.

Lucas passed by Ethan, whispering, "You sure about this lineup?"

Ethan nodded.

"We need to rest you guys. Just trust me."

As he stepped onto the court himself, lacing his hands behind his head briefly to shake off the tension, something shimmered in his vision.

Ethan thought:

"(This team doesn’t have height — so I need to outwork, outthink, and outfight them.)"

"(Dennis Rodman... lend me your instincts.)"

From the sideline, Ayumi watched as the new unit stepped into formation. Her lips were tight.

"They’re small. No natural center. If Ethan can’t hold the paint..."

But then she looked at him — standing there like he belonged in the fire.

...

On the Blazing Fox side, Jace laughed as he watched Vorpal’s new five.

"Yo, Leonel — they subbed in their bench and the short blond guy is at center?"

Malik smirked.

"This’ll be fun."

Leonel didn’t respond. He just narrowed his eyes at Ethan.

"(You’re the coach... and now you step onto the court. Let’s see what kind of resolve you carry, Ethan Albarado.)"

..

Tip-in play resumed.

The ball came to Blazing Fox.

Jace brought it up, guarded by Coonie — fast and twitchy.

But Blazing Fox ran a high pick with Noah Vance, and the ball ended up with Malik in the post.

Malik backed down Louie.

BOOM. BOOM.

The floor seemed to shake.

Louie gritted his teeth.

"(Damn, he’s like a wall.)"

Malik turned went for a fadeaway. He missed.

The ball bounced.

Ethan lunged. Not high. But fast.

He slid in behind DeShawn, boxed out with perfect angle.

"(Positioning... don’t fight strength. Use it.)"

He snatched the rebound.

The bench exploded.

Ayumi’s eyes widened.

"Ethan... got that over Briggs?"

Ethan grinned as he passed to Kai.

"Let’s run!"

...

Vorpal in transition.

Kai led the break passed to Coonie on the wing.

Pull-up jumper.

SWISH.

30–26. Vorpal extends the lead.

....

Back on defense, Ethan barked out orders.

"Switch on screens! Don’t overhelp! Everyone box out!"

Blazing Fox tried to isolate Malik again but Aiden doubled early, then rotated back in time to contest Noah’s drive.

Another miss.

Rebound. Ethan again.

He fell to the floor, hugging it. Got up.

Coonie helped him. "Yo, you good?"

Ethan, breathless but grinning:

"I’m Dennis Rodman, baby."

...

Next play.

Louie got the ball inside but instead of attacking, he kicked out to Kai.

Wide open three.

BOOM.

33–26.

...

The crowd erupted.

Ayumi clenched her clipboard. "This... this might work."

Lucas, watching from the bench, smirked.

"That guy..."

On the Blazing bench, Coach of Blazing Fox stood up.

"Timeout!"

.....

Timeout called. 7:01 left in the 2nd quarter.

Vorpal leads by 7.

As the players jogged to the bench, Ethan was the last to come in.

Sweat dripping. Chest heaving. But his eyes burning.

Jeremy Park, watching in the stands behind Brick and Big King, whispered:

"They’re fighting for me... They’re really fighting."

...

Timeout – 2nd Quarter | Score: Vorpal Basket 33 – Blazing Fox 26

The shrill whistle echoed across the gym as the referee signaled the timeout. The players hustled to their benches, sweat dripping, lungs burning, but energy radiating from both sides like static before a lightning strike.

Over at the Blazing Fox bench, Coach Rios didn’t even sit. Clipboard tucked under one arm, his eyes bore into Leonel Blaze, who casually sipped from his water bottle, unfazed.

Coach Rios narrowed his eyes. "Leonel... about time to unleash the beast."

Leonel blinked. Slowly turned his head to face his coach.

"But I thought... third quarter," Leonel replied, tone even, voice calm.

Coach Rios shook his head, jaw clenched.

"No. We need to get serious now. That motherfucker—"

He jabbed his finger toward Vorpal’s bench, toward Ethan.

"—is stronger than I anticipated. But don’t worry..."

He cracked a slight grin, cold and calculating.

"We just need fifty percent of your full strength."

For a split second, silence.

Then Leonel slowly stood.

"Tch."

He gave a small smirk. "You always say fifty percent like that’s light."

Coach Rios said, dead serious:

"Because your fifty is still everyone else’s one hundred."

Across the court, Ethan Albarado sat on the Vorpal bench, gulping down water, the faint glow of the basketball system still in his vision.

Ethan thought:

"(It’s working. Rodman’s rebound instincts... the spacing, the off-ball movement, we’re breaking their rhythm.)"

"(But it’s not over. They haven’t gotten serious yet. Especially him... Leonel Blaze.)"

As he looked up, his eyes met Leonel’s.

And in that one glance, everything changed.

Leonel’s body posture shifted. Still relaxed... but now something simmered beneath the surface. A flicker of intensity. Controlled violence.

Ethan thought, feeling a chill in his spine:

"(Oh no... they’re unlocking him now.)"

Lucas leaned over from the bench.

"He’s warming up, isn’t he?"

Ethan nodded slightly.

Ayumi’s hands tightened around the clipboard. "Be careful, Ethan... they’re about to get serious."

.....

Back on the court, as the players lined up again, Jace Holloway leaned toward Leonel.

"Bout time you stopped sleepwalking."

Leonel rolled his neck.

"Let’s clean up."

Referee’s whistle blew.

Second quarter resumed.

And now... the real storm was coming.

..

As The buzzer echoed across the gym, and the game resumed.

Both teams returned to the court, but something felt different. The atmosphere shifted, heavier, hotter like standing in the eye of a brewing storm.

Ethan stood on the court now. No center. No height advantage. But he had one thing: the "Rebound King" skill.

[Rebounder King — Dennis Rodman Skill Card]

Effect: Greatly enhances rebound prediction, box-out instincts, and hustle.

Ethan thought, sweat running down his temple:

"(Dennis Rodman’s instincts... I can feel it. Where the ball’s gonna bounce. The angles. The rhythm. It’s insane.)"

"(We don’t need a giant. We need timing.)"

He looked at his current lineup Aiden, Coonie, Louie, and Kai. All bench players. All undersized. But fighting like hell.

.....

Across the court, Leonel Blaze dribbled up, slower this time. Smooth. Unhurried. Different.

Coonie pressed up on him but flinched the moment Leonel looked at him his eyes

glowing with a strange focus.

Leonel thought calmly:

"(50 percent huh.)"

Time didn’t stop but to him, it slowed.

Movements became clearer. Passing lanes expanded. Rotations flickered like afterimages.

He glided past Coonie.

Louie rotated in.

Leonel snapped a bounce pass behind the back, around Louie’s hip. Straight to Jace.

Catch. Step-back. Release.

SWISH.

Score: 33–28.

The crowd erupted. Blazing’s bench roared.

But Vorpal didn’t flinch.

..

Coonie shouted:

"What just— what just happened?!"

Louie clenched his jaw.

"I couldn’t even see the pass coming."

..

Next Possession: Vorpal

Ethan took a breath.

"Focus. Run Isolation B. Feed Louie!"

Louie posted up on Noah Vance.

Back down. Shoulder fake.

But—

Noah didn’t budge.

(Anchor Lock.)

Louie went up—

Smack!

Blocked.

Malik "Titan" Reed took the rebound, pushed the break.

Lucas was up, shouting from the bench:

"TRANSITION! GET BACK!"

Malik didn’t slow.

He launched toward the rim.

Kai stepped in—

Too late.

BOOM.

A dunk like thunder.

Score: 33–30.

Next Inbound Ethan again.

He crossed halfcourt. Leonel waited.

Calm.

Silent.

Ethan’s thought screamed:

"(I can’t go at him straight. He’s in Vision mode. Like every movement I make, he sees three seconds ahead.)"

He passed to Aiden.

Aiden to Kai.

Back to Ethan.

Shot clock ticking.

5... 4...

Pump fake.

Step back.

Ethan pulled up. Mid-range.

Clank.

It bounced hard.

BUT—

He sprinted in. Rodman’s instinct activated.

He flew through the gap, between Malik and DeShawn, both hands up—

Tipped. Secured.

Offensive rebound!

The crowd gasped.

Ethan twisted mid-air and kicked it out—