The air around the court buzzed with tension as the Red Hawks and Street Knights stepped onto the blacktop, each team taking their place on opposing sides. The crowd wasn't huge yet—most people were still gathered at the main court or watching other games—but a small group of spectators had begun to cluster around, drawn in by the energy radiating off the players.
Lucas wiped his hands on his shorts, his gaze locked on the three players in gray jerseys standing across from them. The Street Knights were a mixed bag: one guy, stocky and broad, clearly the team's enforcer, stood near the paint with a confident smirk. Another, tall and wiry, had his arms crossed and looked ready to block every shot within ten feet of the rim. The third, a short, cocky-looking kid with a mouth that wouldn't stop moving, dribbled the ball casually as he smirked at Lucas and his team.
"You boys ready to get schooled?" the short kid called out, tossing the ball between his hands. "Hope you brought more than those Walmart T-shirts."
Miguel immediately stepped forward, grinning. "Oh, don't worry. These T-shirts are gonna look great while we run you off the court."
"Yeah? We'll see," the short kid shot back, chuckling as he tossed the ball to the ref.
The ref stepped to the center of the court, blowing his whistle to call the players in. "Alright, you know the rules. First to 11 wins. Scoring by 1s and 2s. Call your own fouls, but keep it clean. Let's play ball."
Lucas stepped into the circle for the jump ball, facing off against the wiry kid. Jaylen and Miguel positioned themselves behind him, both crouched and ready.
"Let's get it," Lucas muttered, bouncing slightly on the balls of his feet.
The ref tossed the ball into the air, and the game was on.
The Street Knights won the tip, with the wiry kid tapping it back to their stocky enforcer. The Red Hawks quickly fell into their defensive positions, Jaylen guarding the paint while Lucas and Miguel stayed tight on the perimeter.
The ball moved quickly to the short kid, who jab-stepped before launching a deep two.
"Money!" he shouted as the ball soared through the air—only to clank off the rim.
Jaylen snagged the rebound with ease and immediately passed to Lucas, who pushed the ball up the court.
"Let's set up!" Lucas called, dribbling toward the right wing.
Jaylen moved in for a screen, planting his feet firmly as Lucas dribbled around him. The Street Knights' wiry defender hesitated for just a second, giving Lucas enough space to rise for a midrange jumper.
The ball swished cleanly through the net.
"1-0," Lucas said calmly, jogging back on defense as Miguel clapped him on the back.
"Nice shot, sniper," Jaylen said, smirking.
The Street Knights answered back on the next possession, their stocky player bullying his way into the paint for an easy layup. Miguel tried to contest it but ended up getting shoved aside.
"Too small," the stocky player said with a sneer as he jogged back.
Miguel narrowed his eyes, but Lucas clapped his shoulder. "Don't let him get in your head. Next play."
As the game continued, the Red Hawks began to find their rhythm. Lucas orchestrated the offense, using Jaylen's screens to create space and slipping crisp passes to Miguel when he drove to the basket. Miguel, for all his earlier struggles with over-dribbling, had started making smarter decisions, kicking the ball out when he didn't have a clean lane.
"Bang!" Miguel shouted after hitting a contested layup over the Street Knights' wiry defender, putting the Red Hawks up 4-2.
The Street Knights tried to answer with a deep two from their short shooter, but Lucas closed out hard, forcing an airball.
"Brick city," Lucas said under his breath as Jaylen grabbed the rebound and quickly dished it to him.
The highlight of the game came midway through, with the score tied at 5-5. Lucas called for a pick-and-roll, and Jaylen set a massive screen that left the wiry defender stumbling. Lucas threaded the ball perfectly to Jaylen as he rolled to the basket. The defender tried to recover, but Jaylen used his height and positioning to shield the ball, finishing with a clean layup off the glass.
The small crowd around the court erupted, and Jaylen grinned as he jogged back. "That's what I'm talking about!"
"Where's your defense?" Miguel taunted the Street Knights, pointing at their stunned faces.
But the Street Knights weren't backing down. The short kid finally found his rhythm, hitting a long two to tie the game at 7-7.
"That's how you shoot," he said, glaring at Lucas as the ball sailed through the net.
Lucas ignored him, calling for the ball as Miguel brought it up.
"Let's run it again," Lucas said, signaling for Jaylen to set another pick.
This time, the defense anticipated the play, trapping Lucas as he came off the screen. Thinking fast, Lucas swung the ball to Miguel on the wing.
Miguel hesitated for a second, then drove hard to the basket, finishing with a smooth finger roll to give the Red Hawks the lead again.
"8-7," Miguel said, shooting the short kid a cocky grin.
The game stayed close as both teams traded buckets, the score climbing to 10-9 in favor of the Red Hawks. The tension was palpable, the crowd leaning forward as every possession grew more important.
"Next point wins," Lucas said, clapping his hands as the Street Knights brought the ball up.
The short kid tried to shake Lucas with a series of flashy crossovers, but Lucas stayed locked in, his feet sliding perfectly in sync with the ball handler.
"You're not getting past me," Lucas said, his voice calm but firm.
Frustrated, the short kid launched a contested two that clanged off the rim. Jaylen secured the rebound, quickly passing to Lucas.
"Let's finish this!" Lucas shouted, pushing the ball up the court.
Jaylen sprinted ahead, setting a screen near the top of the arc. Lucas used it to perfection, stepping into open space just outside the three-point line. Miguel's defender sagged off, expecting Lucas to pass, but Lucas pulled up confidently, his Bronze Catch & Shoot badge kicking in as the ball left his hands.
The ball arced high, spinning perfectly before dropping cleanly through the net.
"Game!" Lucas shouted, his voice cutting through the cheers of the crowd.
The three of them huddled up, grinning as they caught their breath.
"That's how you close," Jaylen said, slapping Lucas on the back.
Miguel grinned, his earlier frustrations forgotten. "They didn't know what hit 'em."
Across the court, the Street Knights glared at them, their cocky attitudes replaced with quiet frustration.
Lucas looked over, offering a respectful nod. "Good game."
The short kid scowled but nodded back. "Yeah… good game."
As the crowd dispersed, Lucas, Jaylen, and Miguel walked off the court, the adrenaline still pumping through their veins.
"One down," Lucas said, his voice steady but determined. "Two more to go."
Jaylen smirked. "We keep playing like that, we're taking this whole thing."
Miguel grinned. "Let's see who's next."
The tournament had only just begun, but the Red Hawks were already making a name for themselves.