Darius sat on the bench, eyes locked on Micah. He wasn't watching the ball anymore. He was watching how Micah moved when he wasn't involved — how he hovered near passing lanes, how his feet shifted before a screen was even called. The Hustle System ran quietly beside him, feeding data in real time, but Darius wasn't relying on it. He was watching for himself. He was learning.
The game rolled on. Tyrese brought the ball up for the Titans, weaving through defenders before kicking it out to the wing. A quick pass back to the top reset the spacing. Then came the burst — Tyrese drove hard, pulled up just inside the paint, and floated the ball over the help defense. It dropped clean. Score: Titans 72 – Bayview 68.
Bayview responded quickly. Daren initiated the offense, cutting across the lane and drawing two defenders. He kicked the ball out to Eli, who stepped into a mid-range jumper from the elbow and released it with rhythm. The shot was smooth. Score: Titans 72 – Bayview 70.
Coach Anderson turned toward the bench and gave the signal. "You're in."
Darius stood, peeled off his warmups, and stepped onto the court. Malik came off, and one of the guards rotated out. Darius took the point. Daren slid to shooting guard. The shift was subtle, but it changed the rhythm. Bayview's spacing adjusted. The tempo slowed. More control. More reads.
The game restarted. Bayview set up in a tight zone, forcing the Titans to pass around the perimeter. The ball moved from wing to wing, probing for gaps. No one passed to Micah. Darius noticed it immediately. They're keeping him out of the offense, he thought. Why?
Eventually, the ball reached Tyrese, who found Khalil posting up inside. Eli met him at the rim, body tight, arms up. Khalil powered through the contact, twisted mid-air, and finished off the glass. Score: Titans 74 – Bayview 70.
He still has so much energy this late in the game, Eli thought, bouncing the ball with frustration.
Darius took the inbound and pushed up the court. Micah lingered near half-court, watching. Darius kept him in the back of his mind, but Tyrese was the one defending now — light on his feet, hands active, trying to bait a mistake.
Darius made his move. A quick crossover shifted Tyrese off balance. A burst forward created separation. He rose like he was about to shoot, and Tyrese jumped to contest. But Darius wasn't shooting — he passed mid-air to Eli, who caught and rose for a jumper from the baseline.
Micah was already there. But Eli had already released it. The ball dropped through. Score: Titans 74 – Bayview 72.
Darius blinked. He got there that fast? he thought. That's not normal.
The Hustle System lit up beside him. "Defensive acceleration: above average. Reaction time: elite."
Darius nodded. Then I need a plan.
Next possession, Bayview attacked again. Darius had already set the play in motion. He used his teammates like chess pieces — dragging Micah toward the wing with a decoy cut, then reversing the ball to the top. As Micah adjusted, Darius slipped into the gap, received the ball, and rose for a mid-range jumper. Micah lunged — but too late. The shot dropped. Score: Titans 74 – Bayview 74.
Got him, Darius thought. He's fast, but he's still human.
Tyrese clenched his jaw. He walked over to Micah and whispered something in his ear.
The Titans attacked again. Khalil took control at the top. Everyone expected him to drive — even Eli braced for contact. But Khalil stopped at the three-point line, squared up, and shot. The ball arced high, rotated clean, and dropped through the net. Score: Titans 77 – Bayview 74.
Eli froze. He stared at Khalil as he jogged back, calm, composed. But in Eli's eyes, it wasn't just a shot — it was a shift. Khalil had added something new. He can shoot too? Eli thought. Being able to dunk is one thing. But this… this changes everything.
His thoughts were interrupted by Daren. "Focus."
Eli nodded, snapping back. I need to figure out a way to deal with that guy, he thought. He glanced at Micah, who was already looking back. He's such a pest. But it's not like I can't handle him.
Darius took the ball again. But something had changed. Micah had switched onto him. The memory flashed — Tyrese whispering in his ear. Handle Darius.
Micah stepped up, tight, aggressive. Every movement was met with resistance. Every dribble felt crowded. This is different, Darius thought. This isn't just speed. This is pressure.
He tried to shake him — a few quick moves, a hesitation, a spin. Nothing worked. Micah stayed with him, step for step, cutting off angles before they even formed.
Darius tried to pass out of the trap. Micah read the motion, stepped into the lane, and intercepted it clean. The Titans broke fast, pushing the ball ahead and finishing with a clean layup. Score: Titans 79 – Bayview 74.
Darius jogged back, breathing hard. I need a new strategy, he thought.
Daren walked over, leaned in, and whispered something in his ear.
Darius didn't respond. He just smiled.
And the plan was in motion.