The second quarter started with both teams making substitutions. Coach Anderson kept Darius, Daren, and Eli on the floor but brought in Luis and Devon to give Marcus and Troy a breather. On the other side, Coach Sullivan kept his starting five intact, trusting in their conditioning and his system.
Darius brought the ball up court, his mind processing the defensive setup in front of him. Julian Hayes was waiting for him at the three-point line, positioned in a slight crouch with his hands low and active. Cameron Wells had shifted over to guard Daren on the right wing, his body angled to see both his man and the ball.
Darius dribbled twice with his right hand, testing Julian's positioning. Julian stayed centered, not committing to either side, just mirroring Darius's movements with patient footwork. His feet slid smoothly across the hardwood, maintaining the proper defensive distance.
Darius called for a screen. Eli came up from the left block and set himself between Julian and Darius. The moment contact was made, Cameron Wells rotated over aggressively, showing high on the screen to trap Darius before he could turn the corner.
Darius saw it happening. He retreated back behind the three-point line, creating space. Julian fought through the screen and recovered to his original position. The trap had been avoided, but now the defense was scrambled.
Eli had rolled toward the basket after setting the screen. Derek Grant had stepped up to prevent the pass, leaving Luis momentarily open on the left wing. Darius whipped the ball across the court.
Luis caught it with both hands, squared his shoulders to the basket, and shot. The ball rotated backward through the air, hit the front of the rim, bounced against the backboard, and fell through.
Bayview 41, Striders 39.
Julian took the inbound pass from Derek and walked the ball up court without rushing. He crossed half court and raised his right hand, making a signal to his teammates. Everyone on the Striders moved in response, shifting into their positions like parts of a machine clicking into place.
Cameron Wells set a back screen for Mason Lee, who cut from the right corner toward the basket. Darius saw the cut developing and called out to Devon, who was guarding Mason. Devon tried to fight through the screen, but Cameron had positioned himself perfectly, creating just enough contact to slow Devon down without committing a foul.
Julian saw Mason cutting and fired a bounce pass into the paint. Mason caught it in stride, took one more step, and laid the ball up off the glass. Eli rotated over from the weak side and jumped to contest, his long arm stretching toward the ball, but Mason had already released it. The ball dropped through the net.
Striders 41, Bayview 41.
Darius pushed the ball up court quickly, not wanting to let the Striders set their defense. He crossed half court and immediately looked for Daren on the right side. Daren was running hard, trying to get ahead of Cameron Wells, who was sprinting back alongside him.
Darius threw a lead pass toward the right corner. Daren caught it on the run, took two dribbles toward the baseline to create space from Cameron, who was closing out with his hand raised high. Daren stopped suddenly, rose up, and shot the ball from behind the three-point line.
Cameron's hand was right in his face, but Daren had created just enough separation. The ball arced high and dropped cleanly through the net.
Bayview 44, Striders 41.
Daren jogged back on defense, clapping his hands twice. "Let's get a stop now. Lock in."
Julian brought the ball back up, again moving without urgency. He dribbled at the top of the key and made eye contact with Derek Grant, who was standing at the high post. Derek stepped out and set a screen on Darius.
Darius fought to get through the screen, pushing his shoulder into Derek's chest, but Derek held his ground. Julian used the screen and drove left toward the paint. Eli stepped up from the weak side to help, positioning himself between Julian and the basket.
Julian didn't force the drive. He stopped his momentum and kicked the ball back out to Andre Simpson, who had drifted to the left elbow while Eli was helping. Andre caught the ball, took one dribble to his right to square his shoulders, and shot a mid-range jumper over Luis, who was a step too late closing out.
The ball went through the net without touching the rim.
Striders 43, Bayview 44.
"Rotate faster!" Darius called out, frustration creeping into his voice. "We're giving them too much space."
Darius brought the ball up and surveyed the defense. Julian was on him again, staying low and balanced. Cameron Wells was shading toward the middle of the court, ready to help if Darius drove. Mason Lee was denying Daren the ball on the wing by positioning his body in the passing lane.
Darius dribbled left, drawing Julian with him, then quickly reversed direction and drove right. Julian slid his feet laterally and stayed in front. Darius stopped his drive at the free-throw line and looked toward the basket. Derek Grant was standing directly in his path, arms raised, taking away any driving lane.
But Eli had rolled to the basket after setting another screen on the weak side. Derek saw him too late. Darius bounced the ball between Derek's legs. Eli caught it with both hands and laid it in before Derek could recover.
Bayview 46, Striders 43.
Coach Sullivan called out from the sideline, his voice calm but firm. "Derek, stay home on your man. Let them take the mid-range shot. Don't leave the paint open."
Derek nodded, his face showing no emotion, just focus.
Julian brought the ball up and ran another set. This time, the ball moved from Julian to Cameron to Mason to Andre, each pass crisp and purposeful. The ball swung back to Julian on the left wing. Darius was guarding him closely, his hand up to contest any shot.
Julian shot-faked once. Darius didn't bite. Julian shot-faked again. Darius stayed grounded. Julian then drove hard to his right, forcing Darius to turn and run alongside him. Julian got to the baseline and stopped, rising up for a fadeaway jumper.
Darius jumped to contest, his hand reaching toward the ball, but Julian had created just enough separation. The shot fell through.
Striders 45, Bayview 46.
Darius pushed the pace again, attacking in transition before the Striders could fully set their defense. He drove hard toward the right side of the basket. Julian was backpedaling in front of him. Derek Grant was rotating over from the middle of the paint.
Darius saw both defenders converging on him and kicked the ball out to Daren at the top of the key. Daren caught it, took one dribble to his left to get his feet set, and shot another three-pointer. Cameron Wells was closing out hard, his hand reaching toward the ball.
The shot went up and fell through the net just as Cameron's hand passed by.
Bayview 49, Striders 45.
The gym erupted. The Bayview student section was on their feet, chanting Daren's name. Daren turned and pointed at them, his face lit up with competitive fire.
Julian didn't react. He simply caught the inbound pass and walked it up court. At half court, he made another hand signal. The Striders ran another action. Mason Lee came off a double screen set by both Derek and Andre on the left side. He curled toward the top of the key and caught a pass from Julian.
Devon was fighting through the screens, but he was two steps behind. Mason rose up without hesitation and shot the three-pointer. The ball rotated perfectly through the air and dropped through the net.
Striders 48, Bayview 49.
"Come on, Devon!" Darius shouted. "You have to get through those screens faster."
Devon nodded, breathing hard, clearly struggling with the physicality of the Striders' off-ball screens.
Darius brought the ball back up. He crossed half court and immediately passed it to Eli at the high post. Eli caught it and faced up against Andre Simpson, who was guarding him with his arms spread wide and his knees bent.
Eli jabbed left, then drove right. Andre slid his feet and stayed in front. Eli stopped his drive and rose up for a mid-range jumper from the elbow. Andre jumped to contest, his hand stretched toward the ball.
The shot went up and fell through the net.
Bayview 51, Striders 48.
Julian came down and ran another pick-and-roll with Derek. This time, Darius went under the screen, trying to stay attached to Julian. Julian pulled up for a three-pointer from the top of the key. Darius was a step late closing out.
The ball hit the back of the rim and bounced out. Eli grabbed the rebound with both hands, turned, and immediately looked up court.
Darius was already running. Eli threw a long pass that Darius caught in stride near the three-point line. Julian was sprinting back to defend, but he was still five feet away.
Darius took two dribbles toward the basket, rose up, and shot a floater over the outstretched arm of Derek Grant, who had rotated over to help. The ball floated high, hit the backboard, and dropped through the net.
Bayview 53, Striders 48.
Coach Sullivan called timeout.
As both teams walked to their benches, the difference in energy was noticeable. Bayview's players were animated, talking loudly, slapping hands. The Striders walked calmly, their faces showing no frustration, just focus.
Coach Sullivan gathered his team in the huddle. "They are playing well. That is what good teams do. But we have been here before. We do not panic. We do not abandon the system. We execute better. Sharper cuts. Quicker rotations. Smarter decisions. That is all."
His players nodded. No one looked worried. They had been trained for moments like this.
On the other side, Coach Anderson was more animated. "That is the intensity we need. Keep attacking. Keep moving the ball. Darius, Daren, Eli, you three are in a rhythm. Stay aggressive."