At the day of the practice game, the Beasts gathered to warm up. They ran down the court, stretched and did some shooting around while waiting for the Gunners.
As expected, Asher was nowhere to be seen.
Not long after, the Gunners made their appearance.
The two captains, Joseph and Lelo both approached each other before the start of the game, shaking hands.
"Let's have a good game." (Lelo)
"Likewise." (Joseph)
Leonz watched from the side, getting his second start because of Asher's absence.
The Gunners' uniform was red, with a pair of pistols as their team logo.
The game was set to start. The starters walked up to the middle of the court, getting into position. While the guys were playing, the girls were doing practice of their own.
***
Zodiac Beasts vs Wildside Gunners
Beasts:
PG: #1 6'4 Joseph Quinn
SG: #22 6'2 Leonz Lovehart
SF: #15 6'4 Theodore Hatchet
PF: #6 6'8 Toby Garland Jr
C: #33 6'11 Crox Devonte
Gunners:
PG: #77 6'6 Lelo Montez
SG: #10 6'3 Dominico Das
SF: #45 6'6 Tony Makex
PF: #25 6'9 Bash Hadma
C: #2 7'1 Frank Contid
Time: 12:00
Score: 000-000
***
The two Centers got ready for the jump ball. Joseph stood all the way back.
'BEEEP' (whistle)
The ball was thrown in the air.
Both Crox and Frank jumped for it.
Frank, being taller and with a bigger wingspan, managed to tap the ball behind him.
The Beasts fell back on defence as Lelo brought the ball up. Joseph stood in his way, playing lighter defence compared to when playing against Harley and the Jesters.
"Left screen!" (Theodore)
Joseph felt the defender to his left, but it was too late. Lelo drove past him, causing a switch.
Theodore was about the same size as Joseph, so there wasn't much of a difference.
Lelo passed the ball back out to reset the possession, their SG, Dominico caught it.
From the moment he caught the ball, Leonz stepped up to play defence. Dominico swung his elbows a couple of times, Leonz leaning back to avoid getting hit in the face.
Lelo ran out, Theodore on him. The ball was passed to Lelo, who held it as the shot clock winded down.
Frank ran out slightly, setting a screen on Theodore. Lelo drove past the screen, resulting in a face to face against Crox. With the shot clock almost expiring, Lelo jumped up for a mid range jump shot.
Crox jumped, trying to contest the shot.
Joseph ran into the paint. The ball bounced off the rim and right into the hands of Joseph. Joseph held the ball, seeing the Gunners running back on defence.
He passed the ball ahead to Theodore, who was past the half court line. Theodore dribbled it out and passed the ball back to Joseph when he crossed the line.
Lelo was on Joseph, standing near the three point line.
Joseph surveyed the court before passing the ball to Theodore. Theodore did a jab step on Tony(SF) before driving past him. Theodore tried going for a finger roll, but the ball was swatted by Frank.
Bash(PF) caught the ball. The Beasts fell back on defence, Joseph observing the Gunners.
Lelo brought the ball up and passed it high. Frank caught it in the high post, about where the free throw line was. He held it and tried to back down Crox, but Crox was much stronger than the skinny Frank.
Instead, Frank did a spin, extending his right arm high above his head, lifting his right leg as he lifted the ball high. He let the ball go at the apex of the move, his arm fully extended above him, Crox nowhere near blocking the shot.
A sky hook.
The ball bounced around the rim a few times before dropping in. Crox inbounded the ball to Joseph, who brought the ball up the court.
"Don't mind! Let's get one of our own!" (Joseph)
Joseph did a slight jab, Lelo still holding firm. Leonz ran up from the left, his defender trailing him. Leonz set up a screen to Lelo's right.
Joseph drove where Leonz had set the screen.
Dominico(SG) switched onto Joseph. Lelo had also gotten over the screen and was defending Joseph.
"Don't switch!" (Lelo)
Joseph took a couple of steps before turning around, passing the ball back to Leonz, who was almost wide open.
Dominico ran and jumped, but Leonz had already set and released the shot.
'Swish' (net)
Leonz clenched his right hand before running back on defence. Joseph high-fived him on the way back.
Lelo brought the ball back up.
The Beasts were lucky that there was a defensive breakdown by the Gunners, otherwise, Leonz would have unlikely gotten an open shot.
"Sharpen up boys, let's keep the focus!" (Joseph)
Lelo stopped a step away from the three point line and brought the ball up to his head. He jumped, shooting the ball. Joseph stepped forward, extending his hand, but not jumping.
When the ball left Lelo's hand, Joseph turned back to see where the ball had gone. The ball bounced off the backboard before hitting the side of the rim, missing. Crox jumped for the rebound, but Frank reached out from behind, grabbing the ball out of the air.
The two big men landed. Frank did a pump fake, sending Crox in the air before he extended for an easy layup.
***
Time: 10:45
Score: 3-4 (Gunners lead by 1)
***
Joseph brought the ball up, still surveying the Gunners. Frank was doing whatever he wanted, and the Beasts needed a way to stop him.
Joseph saw Leonz running out again, but waved him off. Leonz stopped at the left wing, Dominico standing close by. Joseph then threw the ball over to Toby, who was inside.
Bash(PF) kept close to Toby as Toby attempted to back down Bash. Toby got a relatively deep position, but Frank had moved closer to him.
Toby grabbed the ball with both hands. Joseph ran in, but Lelo was keeping close to him, preventing the pass.
Toby looked out and threw the ball out, where Leonz had ran to. Leonz caught the ball at the top of the three point line.
Dominico jumped to try and block it. Leonz did a pump fake, Dominico flying by him. Leonz set his feet quickly before shooting another shot.
The ball hit the inside of the back rim, going in.
The Beasts ran back on defence.
Lelo brought the ball up again, looking at Joseph as he did so.
The rest of the team except Frank were at the three point line. They were playing a 4 out 1 in.
Lelo did a slight in and out before performing a cross over into a drive. Joseph kept to Lelo's left as Lelo drove right.
Joseph reached out and managed to poke the ball away from Lelo's right arm as he was dribbling. Theodore swooped in and grabbed the loose ball, throwing it forward to Joseph.
Joseph had been running down the court the moment he poked the ball away. He caught it and ran towards the rim, no one in his way.
With about three dribbles, he was already at the rim, an easy layup.
Lelo had pursued him, but was unable to jump for a block.
The next possession, Lelo passed the ball to Dominico, who was being guarded by Leonz.
Leonz closed the gap, not giving Dominico a chance to shoot a three.
Dominico swung his arms again to make space. When Leonz leaned back, Dominico lowered his body and drove to the rim.
Leonz kept close to him, making sure Dominico was unable to get an easy shot. Dominico stopped in his tracks and tried to pump fake.
Leonz jumped, reaching up. When Leonz landed, he jumped again, his arm still extended. Dominico shot a contested midrange shot which missed.
Crox had managed to box out Frank effectively, getting the rebound. Crox passed the ball ahead to Joseph, who had started a fast break.
Leonz ran on offence as well.
Joseph had Lelo and Tony(SF) in front of him. The other players were all trialing them. Leonz ran to the left corner, Dominico hot on his trail.
Joseph drove hard to the rim, drawing the two defenders who were in the three point line. Joseph took two long strides before jumping.
Lelo reached out, erasing any chance of a layup.
Joseph threw a fastball to the corner, where Leonz had just ran to. Leonz caught the ball and shot while still in momentum.
Dominico jumped too from where he was, but was just out of reach.
Leaning to the left, Leonz let go of the ball. He landed and fell back, sliding on his ass as he watched the ball.
The ball rattled in the rim before going in.
"Bang!" (Leonz)
Leonz got onto his feet as quickly as he could, running back on defence. Leonz high-fived Joseph on the way back.
The Beasts had a hot start.
'BEEEP' (whistle)
"Red timeout." (Referee)
***
Time: 9:38
Score: 11-4 (Beasts lead by 7)
***