The Ironwood gymnasium was packed to the rafters. Fans filled every seat, their faces painted in Ironwood's black and gold, while Ridgeway supporters clustered in the visitor section, chanting loudly and waving banners. The air vibrated with raw energy, the kind that tightened chests and made hands shake.
Jaden stood near the free-throw line, bouncing the ball slowly. His sharp dark eyes scanned the court, taking in every detail, the creak of sneakers, the faint drip of sweat on the polished hardwood, the intimidating presence of Darius 'D-Rock' Lane under the rim.
D-Rock stood like a stone wall, his massive shoulders squared, and his eyes locked on Jaden with predatory focus. The Ridgeway jersey stretched tight across his broad chest, and his deep voice carried across the paint.
"You ready for this, Hunter? You might have danced your way through Pinehill, but this is Ridgeway. We don't play nice."
Jaden smirked faintly, his fingers gripping the ball tighter. "Don't worry, D-Rock. I didn't come here to play nice either."
The referee blew his whistle, signaling the tip-off. Ethan stepped into the center circle, facing Ridgeway's towering center. The gym went silent, every eye locked on the two players.
The ball went up.
Ethan leaped, fingertips grazing the ball, but Ridgeway's center was taller and longer. He tipped the ball back to his point guard, and Ridgeway's offense went into motion.
The opening minutes were chaos. Ridgeway played with aggression, bodies colliding in the paint, elbows flying in the scramble for rebounds. D-Rock was a force of nature, boxing out Tank with brutal efficiency and muscling his way under the basket for easy layups.
Jaden gritted his teeth as Ridgeway pulled ahead 10–4 in the first few minutes. Coach Hale's voice thundered from the sideline.
"Settle down! Play your game!"
Jaden dribbled up the court, his sneakers squeaking with every sharp turn. Tyler moved into position at the corner, his hand raised for a pass. Tank set a screen near the free-throw line, giving Jaden a moment of space.
Jaden took it. He exploded into the paint, weaving through Ridgeway's defense like a needle through fabric. Two defenders collapsed on him, hands reaching for the ball, but Jaden slipped through, rising into the air.
With a flick of his wrist, he dished the ball behind his back to Ethan, who caught it and slammed it home with both hands.
The crowd roared as Ethan jogged back on defense, pointing at Jaden. "Nice feed, Silk!"
But Ridgeway wasn't slowing down. Their guards moved like shadows, quick and sharp, passing the ball with pinpoint precision. Jaden found himself matched up against Marcus Trent, Ridgeway's quick-footed shooting guard.
Marcus smirked as he dribbled between his legs, his movements fluid and confident. "Hope you brought your dancing shoes, Hunter."
Jaden stayed low, his eyes locked on Marcus's chest, not the ball. Marcus jab-stepped left, then drove hard to the right. Jaden mirrored him step for step, forcing Marcus to pick up his dribble.
Frustrated, Marcus spun and fired a contested jumper.
The ball clanged off the rim. Tank grabbed the rebound and hurled the ball downcourt to Tyler, who was already sprinting toward the basket.
Tyler pulled up at the three-point line, rose, and fired.
The ball splashed cleanly through the net.
"Let's go!" Tyler shouted, pumping his fist as the crowd erupted again.
By the middle of the first quarter, the score was locked at 15–15. Both teams traded blows, the game transforming into a brutal chess match with every possession.
Jaden wiped sweat from his brow as he jogged back on defense. Across the court, D-Rock caught an entry pass in the low post, his massive frame backing Tank toward the rim.
Tank grunted, his feet digging into the hardwood as he fought to hold his ground.
"Help him out, Hunter!" Ethan called.
Jaden sprinted into the paint, his arms raised high as he doubled D-Rock. For a split second, D-Rock hesitated, his eyes flicking toward Jaden.
It was all the opening they needed.
Tank swatted the ball out of D-Rock's hands, and Ethan grabbed it, immediately firing an outlet pass to Jaden.
Jaden caught it in stride and took off down the court, Ridgeway's defense scrambling to keep up.
The gym seemed to tilt as Jaden picked up speed, his eyes locked on the rim. He planted his left foot, coiled like a spring, and launched into the air.
For a brief moment, everything went silent.
The golden glow of the stadium lights reflected off the backboard. The roaring crowd became a distant hum.
Jaden's hand slammed the ball through the hoop with a sharp crack, and the rim rattled violently.
The gym erupted into chaos as Jaden landed lightly on his feet, his chest rising and falling with sharp breaths.
"Silk!" Tank roared from downcourt. "That's what I'm talking about!"
But as Jaden turned back on defense, he caught D-Rock's cold glare from the other side of the court.
"This ain't over, Hunter," D-Rock said, his deep voice carrying over the noise.
Jaden smirked, wiping sweat from his brow. "Not by a long shot."
As the first half wore on, fatigue started to creep in. Ridgeway's relentless physicality was wearing on Ironwood, and every possession felt like a war.
With a minute left in the second quarter, Ridgeway led 32–30.
Coach Hale called a timeout, and the team huddled around him, their faces slick with sweat and their chests heaving.
"Listen to me," Hale said, his voice sharp and commanding. "We're still in this. Every possession counts. Keep your heads on straight, and don't let them bait you into playing sloppy."
Jaden nodded, his jaw set. Tyler wiped his face with a towel, his eyes locked on the scoreboard.
As they stepped back onto the court, Jaden could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on him. The crowd, the lights, the sweat it was all building toward something.
With seconds left on the clock, Jaden held the ball near midcourt. Tyler set a screen, Tank boxed out D-Rock in the paint, and Ethan hovered near the baseline.
Jaden drove hard into the paint, Ridgeway's defense collapsing around him.
At the last moment, he spotted Tyler wide open at the wing.
Jaden fired the pass. Tyler caught it cleanly, set his feet, and let the ball fly.
The buzzer sounded just as the ball snapped cleanly through the net.
The crowd erupted as the scoreboard updated: Ironwood 33 – Ridgeway 32.
Jaden turned toward Tyler, who grinned wide and pointed back at him.
For now, Ironwood had the lead.
But the war was far from over.