The timeout ended and both teams returned to the floor. The score was still close, Bayview holding a five-point lead, but anyone watching could feel the pressure building. The Striders weren't panicking. That was the problem. They were still playing with that same methodical precision that had carried them through the first quarter.
Darius inbounded the ball to Daren, who brought it up slowly, letting everyone get set. The Striders' defense was already in position, spread out evenly across the court like pieces on a chessboard.
Daren passed to Darius at the top of the key. Julian Hayes was on him immediately, staying low, hands moving constantly. Darius dribbled once to his right, then passed it to Eli at the high post.
Eli caught the ball and immediately turned to face Andre Simpson, who was guarding him. Andre was strong, physical, but he was giving up three inches in height to Eli. That difference might not sound like much, but in basketball, especially in the paint, three inches was everything.
Eli backed Andre down with two hard dribbles, each one pushing Andre closer to the basket. Andre dug his feet in, trying to hold his ground, but Eli's size advantage was undeniable. He spun to his left, rising up for a short hook shot.
Andre jumped as high as he could, his hand reaching toward the ball, but Eli released it just over his fingertips. The ball arced high and dropped through the net.
Bayview 55, Striders 48.
"That's what I'm talking about!" Daren shouted, running back on defense. "Feed the big man! They can't guard him!"
From the Striders' bench, Coach Sullivan stood with his arms crossed, watching Eli closely. His assistant coach leaned over and said something quietly. Sullivan nodded, his expression thoughtful but calm.
Julian brought the ball up for the Striders and ran another set. Pass to Cameron, swing to Mason, then back to Julian. He drove toward the middle, but Darius stayed in front of him. Julian kicked it out to Andre at the left elbow.
Andre caught it and shot a mid-range jumper. The ball hit the front of the rim and bounced out. Eli boxed out Andre, secured the rebound with both hands, and immediately looked up court.
Darius was already sprinting. Eli threw a long pass that Darius caught just past half court. He drove toward the basket with only Cameron Wells back on defense. Cameron positioned himself between Darius and the rim, his feet moving laterally to stay in front.
Darius didn't force it. He stopped at the free-throw line and kicked it to Daren, who had filled the right wing. Daren caught it and shot a three-pointer. The ball went through cleanly.
Bayview 58, Striders 48.
A ten-point lead. The Bayview bench was on its feet. Malik was jumping up and down, shouting. Even the guys who rarely showed emotion were hyped now.
But the Striders still didn't break. Julian brought the ball up and immediately waved for a play. The ball moved quickly. Julian to Cameron to Mason to Derek in the paint. Derek turned and scored with a soft hook shot over Eli's outstretched arm.
Striders 50, Bayview 58.
Darius brought the ball back up, and once again, the offense ran through Eli. Darius passed it to him in the post. Andre was guarding him, but this time Derek Grant shaded over slightly, ready to help if Eli drove.
Eli didn't rush. He felt Andre on his back, tested him with one dribble, then spun baseline. Derek stepped over to contest, but Eli was already rising. He shot a fadeaway jumper from eight feet out. The ball went in.
Bayview 60, Striders 50.
Coach Sullivan called timeout.
The Striders walked to their bench calmly, no visible frustration on their faces. They gathered around their coach, who pulled out his clipboard and began drawing.
"They are exploiting our size disadvantage inside," Sullivan said, his voice even and measured. "Eli is too big for Andre to handle alone. So we adjust."
He drew a circle around the paint area on his clipboard. "Derek, when Eli gets the ball on the block, you rotate immediately. Do not wait. Andre, you front him. Make it difficult for them to get him the ball in the first place. And if he does get it, Derek, you collapse hard. Make him pass out."
Derek nodded. "What if they kick it out for a three?"
"Then we live with that," Sullivan said simply. "Better to give up an outside shot than let him score inside every possession. We are a team that defends as five. No one man beats us. Understood?"
The players nodded in unison. Julian's face showed no concern, just focus. This was just another adjustment in a long season of adjustments.
The timeout ended. Both teams returned to the floor.
Darius brought the ball up, already looking for Eli in the post. But this time, when Eli tried to establish position, Andre was fronting him completely, his body between Eli and the ball, denying the entry pass.
Darius saw it and tried to lob the ball over Andre's head, but Derek Grant had rotated over and tipped it away. The ball went out of bounds. Bayview retained possession, but the message was clear.
Feeding Eli wasn't going to be easy anymore.
Darius inbounded the ball and brought it back up. He called for a different action this time. Eli set a screen for Daren at the top of the key. Daren used it and drove hard toward the basket.
Derek stepped up to help, cutting off Daren's driving lane. Daren kicked it back to Darius at the top. Darius caught it and shot a three-pointer. Julian closed out hard, his hand reaching toward the ball.
The shot clanged off the front of the rim. Derek grabbed the rebound and immediately passed to Julian.