The second quarter ignited in Vellix City Arena, the crowd's roar a jagged pulse through the chipped concrete stand.
Ryan jogged back onto the hardwood, his breath syncing with the rhythm of the restless crowd, the air thick with the tang of sweat and the buzz of a restless city, his sneakers squeaking on the scuffed floor. The Roarers clung to a 28-26 lead, but Ryan's 0-for-4 first quarter left a bitter sting. On the Phantoms' side, Devin Maddox lounged on the bench, his number 10 jersey a taunting beacon, dreads spilling over a towel as he grinned like he'd already won. Ryan's jaw tightened.
Not today, clown.
Two minutes in, Ryan found his groove. He caught a pass from Darius, his hands steady despite the cold start, faked left, and sliced through the paint past a scrambling Phantoms guard. He floated a layup, soft off the glass—finally, it dropped. The Iron City fans erupted, their blue jerseys a defiant blaze in the gray Vellix City sea.
