While the match was going on, Leonz had gone to the infirmary to see the doctor.
Rodney Totem, the guy who had accompanied him, helped support Leonz as he walked.
"How are ya feeling?" (Rodney)
"Like shit." (Leonz)
Rodney nodded.
"That injury's gonna be a problem. It's gonna take a couple of weeks to heal, and you're not likely to play that soon, huh?" (Rodney)
"Yeah, guess so." (Leonz)
""The actual season starts next month, so you'll likely be able to play by then. Hopefully, our entire team will be able to play." (Rodney)
Leonz still thought it was odd that Asher would skip the practice game.
"Hopefully." (Leonz)
They walked in silence for a few moments.
The both of them entered the gym once again. Leonz stepped in, seeing the tired expressions of the Beasts.
Leonz's eyes drifted to the court, where Harley was nowhere to be seen. At the other side, on the Jesters bench, Harley sat down, looking at the court with a smile.
Harley noticed Leonz and waved, giving an apologetic smile.
Leonz looked up at the scoreboard.
***
3rd quarter
Time: 8:28
Score: 66-58 (Jesters lead by 8)
***
Leonz sat down and pressed an ice pack to his ankle, feeling down. He looked up at the scoreboard again.
At the start, Harley had completely dominated the Beasts while Leonz was still playing, it was shocking how they were still somehow in the game.
Coach Dom sat down beside Leonz.
"How are you feeling?" (Dom)
"Like shit." (Leonz)
Dom nodded and looked at the court.
"I know you ain't feeling the best, but I want you to watch the game and observe how they move. I don't think you have much experience, correct? I need you to watch what goes on." (Dom)
Leonz nodded and watched, but he noticed something odd. Joseph was not on the court.
Leonz noticed Joseph sitting on the bench, head hung Low as he steadied his breathing.
"He isn't feeling well." (Dom)
"How long as Snyder been out?" (Leonz)
"He hasn't subbed in since around two minutes left in the first. It's about the same time Quinn subbed out." (Dom)
Leonz then realised what was going on. To the Hesters, it really was a practice game. It was to give Harley a sort of test run with the team, to see how he would fit in.
The rest of the time was for the bench to play.
"Coach, from what you've seen, where do you think Snyder would rank if he played in Middle School?" (Leonz)
Dom looked out at the court.
"I don't know. I've never seen many of the Middle School games. But comparing Snyder and Monegotomy… let's just say that I would much rather have Snyder on my team." (Dom)
The Beasts fought hard, most of them managing to get playing time.
Eventually, the game ended.
***
Final Score: 97-93 (Jesters win by 4)
***
Both teams lined up and shook hands with each other. Leonz remained on the bench because of his injury.
Joseph walked up, still slightly shaky on his feet. He shook hands with the Jesters until he eventually shook hands with Harley.
"Good game." (Joseph)
"Man, your ideas are pretty good." (Harley)
Harley glanced up at the audience who were leaving.
"Would be a shame if other schools tried the same thing on us." (Harley)
Joseph shrugged.
"I wasn't able to do anything at all." (Joseph)
Harley laughed.
"Well, I hope we'll be able to play against each other some other time! Until the next time we meet!" (Harley)
***
Zodiac Beasts vs Homer Jesters
Score: 93-97 (Jesters win)
Leading scorers for both teams:
Beasts: #15 Theodore Hatchet (19 points)
Jesters: #17 PG Harley Snyder and #10 SF Leonard Harper (16 points each)
Leading assists for both teams:
Beasts: #0 SG John Harper (8 assists)
Jesters: #3 PG Yom Dumars (7 assists)
Leading rebounds for both teams:
Beasts: #33 C Crox Devonte (12 rebounds)
Jesters: #8 C Thomas Crowell (17 rebounds)
Leading steals for both teams:
Beasts: #99 SF Darius Topac (4 steals)
Jesters: #17 PG Harley Snyder (3 steals)
Leading blocks for both teams:
Beasts: #33 C Crox Devonte (4 blocks)
Jesters: #8 C Thomas Crowell (8 blocks)
Field goal percentage for both teams:
Beasts: 43%
Jesters: 39%
Key matchup:
#1 PG Joseph Quinn vs #17 PG Harley Snyder
Quinn: 7 points, 1 rebound, 5 assists, 2 steals, 0 blocks, 3/9 FG, 1/4 3PFG, 0/2 FT, 3PF, 5 TOV
Snyder: 16 points, 0 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, 6/6 FG, 1/1 3PFG, 3/3 FT, 1PF, 2 TOV
***
The Beasts walked into the bus, all of them tired. Rodney helped support Leonz onto the bus.
Leonz sat near the front where Dom was.
"Go get that checked by an actual doctor later today. Get crutches if you need to." (Dom)
"Got it." (Leonz)
Leonz leaned back into the seat as the bus started moving. He felt so bad that the pain did not bother him.
Dom leaned closer to Leonz to speak to him.
"What did you observe from the game?" (Dom)
Leonz turned to face the Coach, not really in a mood to talk.
"Um… I don't know?" (Leonz)
"What do you think this team lacks?" (Dom)
Leonz tried thinking about it, but was honestly not in the mood. Any other time, but not when he was injured and embarrassed.
"Defence?" (Leonz)
"Defence isn't much of a problem. There's several bigger problems." (Dom)
Joseph sat behind Leonz, and had leaned on the seat to listen into the conversation.
"We ain't got much three point shooting." (Joseph)
"Yeah, the team's three-point shooting is horrendous. Excluding the freshmen, the best shooter is probably Theodore, and he's an average shooter at best." (Dom)
Joseph rubbed his head, sighing.
"I gotta work on that shot more then." (Joseph)
"Yeah, and drag a few others too." (Dom)
Dom then pointed at the exhausted team in the bus.
"The other problem is regarding the team's stamina as a whole." (Dom)
"Tsk." (Joseph)
Leonz was understandably confused.
Dom pointed at Joseph.
"This idiot exhausted all his stamina in about 9 minutes guarding Snyder. The rest of the team can't play extended minutes either." (Dom)
"It's just after the break, we'll get in shape sooner or later." (Joseph)
"You better. There'll come a time where we will likely have to play the starters the whole game." (Dom)
"In the Finals, maybe. Not like we'll get there." (Joseph)
Leonz hung his head. There was someone like Harley playing for a different team, who knows what other players are out there too.
"But from this practice game, we managed to find out one of our biggest competitors out there. There was only one person there to do some scouting, so other school may not be too aware of the Jesters." (Dom)
"Like it matters. The Jesters are in a different conference anyways." (Joseph)
"Huh?" (Leonz)
"Cities A to D are a part of the Western Conference, Homer is part of City D. We're a part of City E, which is a part of the Eastern Conference. Instead of the Jesters, we got to worry about the reigning champions Spartans." (Joseph)
"The Spartans are good, so if you want to have a chance to win the Championship, the team has work to do." (Dom)
"Chances of winning is low anyways." (Joseph)
Leonz processed the information. They would likely meet the Jesters in the regular season, but in the playoffs, the only way they would meet the Jesters was if they both got to the Finals.
"Would the Jesters even make it to the Finals?" (Leonz)
There was a pause.
"The Western Conference is quite good, I would say. They got several talents, but it's really evenly spread. The Eastern Conference, however, is really top heavy, so our competitors are schools who are favourites to win." (Dom)
Leonz nodded.
"The Spartans, the Knights and a couple of other contenders." (Joseph)
Leonz suddenly felt dread. If the top players in high school were anything like Harley, Leonz knew that his level was far too low to compete.
He remained silent for the rest of the journey as Joseph tried to lighten the mood in the bus with some stand up comedy, in which he stood and fell.
After they got off at Zodiac Academy, the sun was already starting to set.
Joseph followed Coach Dom to the General Office, the rest of the guys leaving. Leonz followed after Dom, wanting to ask a question which he had in mind for some time.
"Um… Coach, how do I improve my game?" (Leonz)
"I haven't seen much of your game, so I can't really tell. What level are you expecting to achieve?" (Dom)
"I want to be a player like Snyder." (Leonz)
"You want to be that freak?" (Joseph)
Dom nodded and pointed at Leonz.
"Then go and do it. Get to that level, get anywhere close, then we'll talk about it." (Dom)
"But what do I train first?" (Leonz)
"Handles, go dribble the ball casually first while you heal. When you arrive to practice from now, you're doing nothing but dribbling drills." (Dom)
"Thanks, coach." (Leonz)
Leonz staggered off in his own, walking slightly better, though limping a lot. Rodney waited at the gate to help him.
Joseph looked at Leonz as he left.
"Are you thinking of making him a Point Guard?" (Joseph)
"Who knows?" (Dom)
"You should be able to tell that Lovehart won't be able to reach Snyder's level, right? His play style is completely different." (Joseph)
"One's a ball dominate guard that leads the team effectively, the other's a supporting player that plays better with an effective playmaker. Of course I can tell the difference." (Dom)
Joseph shrugged and went to the General Office to return the keys and report that the team was back.
"And I need you to be that effective playmaker." (Dom)
Joseph glanced at Dom when he left the General Office. He shrugged before walking off.