The weekend passed relatively normally. Leonz made sure to keep himself healthy, and thankfully, he was able to recover quickly.
By Tuesday, he was able to start walking without the crutches, though he still had a slight limp in his step.
Wednesday rolled about, and Leonz had to work up the courage to approach Joseph during practice.
The girls were getting ready to leave.
Joseph was seated down, performing his usual dribbling drill, this time able to dribble between both legs while seated.
He looked around until he saw Joseph walking past him, still not changed.
"Hey, um… Captain." (Leonz)
Joseph turned his head, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, so just wanted to ask if we could go and watch the girls play?" (Leonz)
Joseph put his hands on his hips as he thought about it.
"Watch them play? You you wanna go all the way to City F to watch a game?" (Joseph)
"Yes?" (Leonz)
Joseph rubbed his chin before he walked over to Dom.
He got close to the Coach and started talking.
"Leonz suggested that some of us watch the girls play against the Amazons." (Joseph)
"Huh? So he wants to skip practice?" (Dom)
Joseph looked over to Leonz, smiling.
"Yo! Leonz, are ya trying to skip practice?" (Joseph)
Leonz did not reply, mostly because he could not.
Dom looked around the gym. Asher was not there.
"You know what? Quinn, get your ass there with Lovehart. Today's training ain't really for y'all anyways." (Dom)
"You're being real soft with us here. Shouldn't you be screaming at us or something?" (Joseph)
Dom sighed and walked away.
"We have another practice game coming up soon too. At this point in time, I would rather focus on improving the other players." (Dom)
"Got it, got it." (Joseph)
Joseph approached Leonz bearing good news.
"Aight, so the Coach has given us permission to go watch the game, but I think we'll have to arrange our own transportation. No idea why I got roped into this, but oh well." (Joseph)
Joseph glanced back at the team who had all changed into their jerseys. He grabbed his bag and helped Leonz get on his feet as the both of them left the gym.
"The Coach is definitely planning something." (Joseph)
"Huh? What makes ya think that?" (Leonz)
"We got a practice game coming up soon, apparently. Why wouldn't he want me practising with the rest of the guys?" (Joseph)
"Maybe cause you've been putting in the extra hours?" (Leonz)
"Probably." (Joseph)
They left the school.
"Now, Leonz, how do you assume we get all the way to City F and invade Hulu High?" (Joseph)
Joseph and Leonz walked down the street, neither of them really sure as to where exactly they were going.
"The train?" (Leonz)
"Hm… sure." (Joseph)
On the way to Hulu High, they started a conversation.
"So um… Captain… how should I address you?" (Leonz)
"Don't be too formal about it, just call me Joseph." (Joseph)
"Sure, uh… Joseph, just wondering about the team. How many Point Guards do we actually have?" (Leonz)
"We got 2. There's me, then there's John. You probably don't know John since he doesn't really stand out and doesn't get playing time anyways." (Joseph)
"Do you think I can become a backup Point Guard then?" (Leonz)
"Aren't you a Shooting Guard? Why try to be a Point?" (Joseph)
"Y'know, just wondering." (Leonz)
Joseph shrugged as he walked.
"Do whatever you want man. One thing our team absolutely sucks at is ball movement, so if you can help me with that, thanks." (Joseph)
Leonz nodded.
"And also, you won't be the backup PG. Eventually, Coach is going to make you the starting SG, so you won't be coming off the bench anymore." (Joseph)
"But isn't Theodore the SG now?" (Leonz)
"It's temporary. Besides, that guy's flexible, so Coach used him as a Sixth Man last year." (Joseph)
Their conversation continued for some time before it eventually drifted to which types of donuts were the best.
Eventually, they reached Hulu.
Joseph checked the time on his phone.
"We're only slightly late. The game probably just started." (Joseph)
They were at the gate of the prestigious Hulu High. Joseph looked at the school and whistled.
"I know this place." (Joseph)
"Really?" (Leonz)
"Yeah, we played two games against them last year during the season. This is the Hulu Spartans, after all." (Joseph)
Leonz looked around. The facilities looked top-notch.
The duo made it to the gate, where Joseph had to explain that they were there to watch the game.
They somehow got in and were guided by one of the security guards to the gym where the game was at.
Leonz could hear the faint skidding of shoes and the dribbling of the basketball.
They climbed up some stairs and made it to the second floor, where there were other people there.
Leonz looked down at the court where the game was ongoing.
As someone who had never watched a game without actually playing in it, the angle from the top was unnatural to Leonz.
It looked like the girls had a timeout, the Stars and the Amazons gathered around their bench as their Coaches went through the game plan.
Leonz looked at the scoreboard.
***
Time: 4:19
Score: 20-12 (Amazons lead by 8)
***
"Oh, the girls aren't playing too well to start." (Joseph)
Joseph and Leonz stopped and looked over the railing to watch the game. Leonz scanned the court to find Madelyn.
#12 Kalakos
She was on the bench, looking like she had yet to step on the court.
'BEEEEP' (whistle, end of timeout)
Leonz saw as Madelyn got up and started walking towards the court. She had a serious, and kind of pissed expression on her face as she stepped on the court.
Another girl approached her, standing near her.
It was Stars ball.
The girl seemed to make Madelyn even more pissed, because Madelyn did not have the same carefree demeanour she normally had.
"That's No. 1 for the girls, I think." (Joseph)
#9 Taffee
Leonz kept quiet as he watched the game. The PG for the girls, someone he did not talk to at all brought the ball up the court.
Madelyn ran around Taffee and out of the three point line where she caught the ball. She swung her body low as Taffee closed in on her.
Madelyn drove to the rim, but Taffee managed to defend her well enough.
Madelyn then stopped, back towards the basket. Taffee hounded her, reaching with her hands and poking the ball out of Madelyn's hands.
Madelyn reached out and grabbed the ball, keeping her back to Taffee.
She spun to her right, faking a shot to get Taffee in the air before she spun left, dribbling once.
The Center tried moving to defend Madelyn, but Madelyn threw a floater which hit off the backboard, going in.
Madelyn ran back on defence, puffing up her cheeks as she did so.
The ball was inbounded to Taffee, who dribbled up the court.
Madelyn was 5'10, Taffee was about 6'1
Madelyn was originally guarding someone else, but with a screen and a switch, Madelyn ended up guarding Taffee.
Taffee drove to the right, Madelyn following after her. Taffee bumped into Madelyn on the drive before going up for the shot.
'BEEEEP' (whistle)
The shot hit the front rim, where it bounced to one of the Centers.
Madelyn did not look happy.
"Shooting Foul, #12 Blue. Two free throws." (Referee)
"Tch." (Madelyn)
She walked away.
"How the fuck is that a foul? She bumped into me!" (Madelyn)
Madelyn was talking to the captain of the girls team.
"Calm down, just don't get a technical." (Captain)
Madelyn stood at the three point line, waiting for the free throws to be shot.
(1/2) made
(2/2) made
The ball was inbounded to the PG of the Stars, Madelyn running back on defence, Taffee on her.
"Still can't score without free throws, eh?" (Madelyn)
Taffee did not reply.
Madelyn ran out and caught the ball at the three point line once again. She swung her body low when turning back to face the rim.
While in momentum, she drove right before spinning to her right too, creating space between her and her defender.
Madelyn went up for a basically wide open shot, Taffee's contest nowhere close.
The ball bounced on the front rim before bouncing in.
Madelyn puffed up her cheeks again before running back on defence.
The Amazons tried switching Madelyn on Taffee again, but Madelyn stuck with her mark.
The ball was passed to the girl Madelyn was guarding.
The girl glanced around before driving in to the paint. Madelyn tried reaching for the ball.
The girl brought her arms up with Madelyn's left arm across hers.
Madelyn ended up pulling her arm down in the act of shooting.
'BEEEEP' (whistle)
"Shooting Foul, #12 Blue. 2 free throws." (Referee)
A substitution was made for the girls, Madelyn was sent to the bench.
She sat down, pissed.
"Can't they play without drawing fouls? What a bunch of pussies." (Madelyn)
"Calm down Kalakos." (Coach Ceres)
Ceres observed the court, not liking it.
"They're trying to foul you out on purpose. You've barely played, but you already one foul early and another just now." (Ceres)
"If they keep giving them these Tickie tack fouls, of course I'm gonna get fouled out." (Madelyn)
The girl who was fouled shot the free throws.
(1/2) missed
(2/2) made
***
Time: 3:21
Score: 23-16 (Amazons lead by 7)
***
#12 Kalakos:
Minutes played: 1min 30 secs total
4 points, 1 assist, 2/3 FG, 3PF