After that happening, we went home. Some of the guys were distressed about the situation, as we wasted the practice. But I assured everyone that it would be worthy.
The next morning came, and the news about our game came out. They omitted the part where it was forced by the other team's coach, and highlighted the plays our team made. They showed the video of us hitting threes and dunking.
In the end it just served as promotion material for our team, and it might alleviate the burden on the director's next decision.
In the afternoon, the news came. One of the TV stations in the district decided to select a team at 'random' to transmit the games, and that if the team was defeated, it would follow the team who won.
The chosen one was our team. It wasn't coincidently, because it was one of the requirements I had agreed with the director.
I asked for all of our games to be transmitted from the beginning.
This way we will be the headlines of every major news in the next few years as we put up a show.
I want our team to be the best to ever play in the history of middle school basketball.
It was still in the middle of the week, and the news was released before school was over, before practice started.
I arrived a little later than the other guys because I was talking to Jessica.
When I arrived, everyone already knew. The one that really thought of the reason was Mike. He didn't tell the others, but he asked directly.
"It was you, wasn't it?" He asked holding the phone and showing the screen with the news.
Everyone looked at me and took a few seconds to understand what was happening.
"Yes, I did it." I said solemnly.
"That's why I told you guys to win yesterday's game." I continued.
The fastest ones to understand the whole situation was the coach and Mike, as they listened about arguing with Lawton.
After that we proceeded with our practice. Physical training, and afterward a 5v5 game.
The rest of the week passed normally. No more peculiar events.
Saturday night came and I got ready to go out with Jessica.
I asked for a cab to go to her house and go together to the American Airlines Center.
We decided to have something to eat as we still had time. She asked for Kolaches and I asked for some Tacos.
We ate and talked while going back towards the Arena. As we arrived, there was a half-court shot contest. But you had to hit at least 3/5.
There was a 1000$ dollar prize, and the team would donate 1000$ more for the local charity.
I was filling like trying so I went to the line, there were 6 more people.
The first two people hit one shot and the third hit two. The rest didn't hit the rim.
I went as the last. Everyone had given up. But it was at this moment that Doncic and Nowitzki arrived to start their warm-up, so they were hyped, cheering for the players.
I shot the ball, as it made a great arc and went in, only hitting the net.
A few people cheered, but very few.
I shot the ball again and it went in exactly like the last one.
I held the ball immediately after and shot it. Again, it went in.
This time a lot of people got up and started to cheer. The MC congratulated me and announced the prize again. I asked for the microphone and said.
"I wanted to thank the team for the opportunity, and would like to play a 1v1 match with Luka right there." I said as I pointed at him warming up.
"If he wins, my 1000$ goes to the charity, but if I win, he donates 10k." I continued.
The MC panicked and grabbed the microphone out of my hands. He was about to try to fix the situation and deny the challenge. But Luka came running in our direction and accepted it.
As we got to one side of the court, Luka turned towards me.
"So, how do you wanna play?" He asked in his accent, that honestly is kinda nice.
"Let's do 11, with 2's and 3's, and the one who makes the shot keeps the ball. Wanna shoot for it?" I replied.
"Good, let's do it." He smiled. He seemed rather amused by the situation.
Before I shot the ball, I looked at Jessica in the stands and smiled at her, she saw me and smiled back.
I shot the ball from the free-throw line and made it. He shot it and made it as well.
We started to shoot and went 19 straight, until the staff came and said we had to hurry up.
Seeing this I suggested going farther from the rim every time we make the shot.
And so we did.
We managed to go to the logo before Luka missed.
After this, he changed his face to one of seriousness. That was too much. I went past 55 feet without missing a shot. 'What the hell?' He thought.
He had originally planned to play with me and maybe win, which then he would donate the money anyway. It wasn't for popularity, it was for the fun and he would help anyway in the end.
But now he is going to have to try harder.
He checked the ball. I started to probe him. He reached his hand towards me and just waited.
I dribbled to the right and stepped back to my right and then shot the ball quickly for the 3 points.
He tried to contest the shot but was late. He checked the ball again and tried harder this time.
I started to dribble the ball and took some distance. He guarded me 2 feet away from the three-point line. He was serious!
I started to jog to the right, I did the hesitation and dashed towards the basket. He kept guarding me. I faked the shot dribbling the ball to my left hand and raising it. He jumped for it and I made the layup with my right hand.