Extra Basket-Chapter 130 - 117: Thunderhawks vs Ridgewood Lynx (2)

4th Quarter – 7:58 Remaining

Thunderhawks 52 – Ridgewood Lynx 40

The Middle School gym felt like a pressure cooker. The roar of the earlier quarters had softened into a tense, collective silence an audience on the verge of either despair or eruption. Every breath, every movement, every squeak of a sneaker echoed louder now. No phones up. No distracted eyes. Just hearts pounding and eyes locked on the hardwood.

The scoreboard above flashed red: 7:58 remaining.

Charlotte Graves bent low as the ball was inbounded. Her palms brushed across her shorts, not just for grip but ritual. Her golden eyes glinted beneath sweat-soaked bangs.

"Let’s close it out. Lock in," she growled, voice low and firm. Her teammates heard it. Felt it.

This is it. No more pacing. We finish this our way.

She eyed the Ridgewood formation. It was subtle Zoe Kim wasn’t flaring out like before; she was circling tighter screens. Maya Frees wasn’t walking the ball up anymore; she had that look eyes narrowed, shoulders squared. Intent.

And then movement.

BAM. Maya exploded left, crossing fast, pulling both Charlotte and Lena Kowalski with her. Zoe dragged Amina across a screen like a magnet.

But the pass went wide out to the wing.

Jasmine Ortiz.

She caught the ball with one bounce, rose up for a clean mid-range shot.

CLANK.

The ball ricocheted hard off the rim.

"Rebound!" Carmen "The Tiger" Delgado bellowed, locking elbows with Layla Brooks under the glass. Bodies banged. Shoes slipped. The ball popped up between desperate hands.

But before anyone else could react, Izzy Moreno snatched it like a hawk in flight.

She landed in a crouch and took off like a missile.

"Go! Push!" Coach Lory’s voice boomed over the gym like a war cry.

Izzy surged down the sideline. Her legs pumped like pistons, ponytail flying, eyes laser-focused ahead.

Sakura Tanaka was already sprinting down the opposite lane, her speed surprising even the Lynx’s defense. Carmen trailed behind after the board fight, but Charlotte kept perfect stride with Izzy, gliding up the middle.

Just past half court, Izzy slowed. Subtle, but enough to draw attention.

Her defender hesitated thought she was pulling up.

Sakura’s defender bit the bait, stepping over to block the passing lane

Too late.

With a smooth flick from the hip, Izzy sent the ball zipping backward in a blind dish.

Charlotte caught it like she’d known it was coming all along.

One dribble. Stop. Pop.

She rose above the elbow like it was a throne she belonged to. A pure jump shot. Balanced. Elbows tight. Release soft and high.

SWISH.

"CHARLOTTE GRAVES!" the announcer shouted, his voice cracking with the excitement of a crowd that erupted like a storm.

Ethan in the stands cracked a small smile.

(Perfect form. Great tempo. That’s the finisher’s touch.)

Lucas pumped his fist beside him, yelling before sitting again, eyes wide with admiration.

Charlotte landed light on her feet, already turning back into her defensive stance, chest rising and falling with adrenaline.

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We’re not done. Keep pushing. Keep breaking them.

Across the court, Maya clapped once—loud, sharp.

"Eyes up! Reset!" she commanded.

The Lynx regrouped, still burning with fight. Layla Brooks wiped blood from a scraped elbow, unfazed. Zoe Kim tucked hair behind her ear and got low again.

They weren’t backing down.

They couldn’t afford to.

Not with the season on the line.

And so began another battle in the war.

4th Quarter – 6:59 Remaining

Thunderhawks 54 – Ridgewood Lynx 40

The Lynx inbounded quickly. Maya Frees didn’t let the Thunderhawks settle she sprinted, pounding the ball hard on each dribble.

Charlotte raced to meet her. Feet light. Shoulders square. Eyes locked on Maya’s hips.

But Maya didn’t stop.

"Zoe! Flare!" she shouted.

Zoe Kim curved off a double-screen. Lena Kowalski struggled to keep up, losing half a step.

Maya fired a bounce pass with sniper precision. Zoe caught it, planted, and rose for a three.

SWISH.

The crowd exploded. Ridgewood wasn’t going out quiet.

"Let’s GO!" Zoe shouted, pumping her fist as she ran back.

Thunderhawks 54 – Ridgewood 43

Coach Lory didn’t flinch. She clapped twice from the sideline, calm as ever.

"Run it! Set flare-cut, swing option!"

Charlotte signaled with her hand and brought the ball up, steady and composed.

She passed to Lena, who swung it quickly to Sakura on the wing. Amina set a down screen for Charlotte, who curled up top again.

The ball came back to her, but this time, Zoe Kim was ready right on her hip, sticking like glue.

(They’ve adjusted. They’re switching cleaner now. No more easy space.)

Charlotte jab-stepped. Zoe didn’t bite. So Charlotte shifted gears attacked baseline.

Zoe slid with her.

Help defense came Layla Brooks stepped in.

Charlotte leapt in the air eyes scanning mid-air like radar.

Behind-the-back pass.

Right into Sakura’s hands at the top of the key.

Sakura caught, pump-faked, defender flew by.

One sidestep.

Pull-up.

RIM. GLASS. DROP.

"Sakura Tanaka with the cold move!" the announcer shouted.

Thunderhawks 56 – Ridgewood 43

...

[Meanwhile on Bench]

Lucas leaned forward in his seat, eyes locked on his sister.

"She’s reading everything," he whispered.

Ethan nodded, arms crossed. His voice was low but firm.

"She’s dictating the tempo. Every touch, she’s making them react to her. But..."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"Ridgewood’s rotating faster now. They’ve plugged the early gaps. Thunderhawks are gonna need movement—off-ball action. Or they’ll stall out."

....

Back on the court, Ridgewood didn’t let up.

Maya dribbled slowly this time, lulling the defense. Then she snapped forward.

Carmen stepped up to hedge but Maya slipped under her arm.

Driving, slicing through the lane.

Help defense collapsed.

Kick out Jasmine Ortiz, right corner.

Shoots.

MISS.

But Layla Brooks boxed out hard.

Rebound. Putback. FOUL!

"And one!" Layla screamed, flexing as the crowd lit up.

Thunderhawks 56 – Ridgewood 45

She went to the line, chest heaving. The free throw dropped in after a friendly bounce.

56 – 46

The ten-point cushion was no longer safe. The Lynx smelled blood.

Charlotte exhaled hard. She clapped her hands.

"Talk! Stay sharp!"

She walked the ball up this time.

Izzy ran a decoy curl. Carmen pretended to post but slipped out ghost screen.

Charlotte used it and attacked left.

Jasmine hedged.

Charlotte stopped on a dime, spun right lost her.

Inside the arc, she pulled up again mid-range jumper.

SWISH.

Don’t blink. Charlotte’s eyes burned. We’re still in control.

Thunderhawks 58 – Ridgewood 46

But Ridgewood was answering every shot now.

Maya came back fast. Zoe curled again.

This time, she didn’t shoot. She drove.

Amina shifted over, arms up.

Zoe spun.

Layla cut baseline behind Carmen.

Zoe dished.

Layla caught. Layup.

Thunderhawks 58 – Ridgewood 48

4:12 Remaining

Coach Lory finally called it.

"TIME!"

The buzzer rang.

The Thunderhawks jogged to the bench, breathing heavy. No one panicked, but their jerseys were soaked, and their eyes were wide.

They knew.

The Lynx weren’t giving up.

Inside the huddle, Lory’s voice was calm but firm like steel.

"They want to turn this into chaos. Don’t let them. Ball movement. Control. No hero plays."

Charlotte nodded, gripping her knees.

(Still ten minutes of fire left in our lungs. Still space to close it. It’s ours if we want it.)

She looked around the huddle at Carmen, who was gasping but still holding her chest high. At Izzy, laser-focused. At Lena, nodding already.

Then she stood.

"Let’s close. As a team."

They all stood with her.

The timeout horn blew.

The war wasn’t over.

But the Thunderhawks?

They were ready for the final push.

.....

Thunderhawks 58 – Ridgewood Lynx 48

The ball was back in play. Every pass felt heavier now. Every second ticked louder. Charlotte Graves took her place at the top, sweat streaking down her temple, but her expression was ice.

She bounced the ball once.

Twice.

Then explosion.

A high screen from Carmen, who rolled off perfectly. Charlotte darted right but pulled back.

Jasmine switched to her.

You’re fast, but you bite too easy.

Charlotte faked a drive again. Jasmine lunged—Charlotte spun the other way, slipped past the edge of the arc, and fired a skip pass across the court.

Straight to Izzy Moreno.

Catch.

Release.

SWISH.

"Izzy Moreno again from deep!" the announcer shouted. "She’s got ice in her veins!"

Thunderhawks 61 – Ridgewood 48

The Ridgewood Lynx came back like wounded animals—angry, desperate, determined.

Maya Frees went full throttle now. She pushed the pace, ignoring Coach Reed’s signals from the sideline. She passed halfcourt, crossed Charlotte, dribbled behind the back—froze her.

Ethan leaned forward in the bleachers.

(She’s pushing one-on-one now. Getting bold.)

Maya pulled up—just inside the arc.

SWISH.

61 – 50

Lucas glanced at Ethan.

"They’re speeding it up. Like you said."

Ethan’s eyes narrowed.

"Yeah. And if the Thunderhawks take the bait, they’ll lose their flow."

But Charlotte didn’t bite.

Next possession, she slowed the pace. Let the seconds bleed. Made them chase.

She dribbled left bounce pass to Sakura, who slipped baseline.

Layla switched over.

Sakura dumped it off to Carmen.

One strong pivot.

Power layup.

BANG. FOUL!

The whistle shrieked. Carmen landed, fists clenched.

"AND-ONE, BABY!"

The bench exploded.

Thunderhawks 63 – Ridgewood 50

Carmen to the line. Deep breath.

Clank.

But Amina crashed in, tipped the board out to Lena.

Reset.

Charlotte reset the clock. Twenty more seconds.

(Keep control. Milk the time.)

Coach Lory signaled from the sideline: "Motion! Motion!"

They ran it clean. Crisp screens. Sharp cuts.

Charlotte dribbled right, drew Maya and Zoe.

Whipped the ball to Sakura.

Sakura, mid-step no hesitation.

Three-pointer.

SWISH.

....

Thunderhawks 66 – Ridgewood 50

The crowd erupted. Ridgewood parents sat stunned. Phones fell from hands.

Lucas cracked a smile.

"That’s it."

But Ethan didn’t smile. He watched closely.

"No... not yet. Maya’s got that look. The one I’ve seen before—when someone decides they’d rather die than lose."

....

He was right.

2:21 Remaining

Maya roared down the court. She didn’t call for help, didn’t set up plays.

She went iso.

Stepback on Charlotte.

Shot fake.

Charlotte jumped.

Draws the foul.

Three free throws.

She sank all of them.

66 – 53

Ridgewood set up full-court pressure. Press defense now. Desperation mode.

Charlotte passed to Izzy, who nearly got trapped by Zoe and Jasmine.

She pivoted.

Cross-court to Lena too high!

Turnover.

Ridgewood ball.

Coach Lory clenched her jaw.

"Stay calm! Stay with it!"

Maya inbounded to Layla quick dish back.

Maya darted down, weaving like a knife through a crowded drawer.

Layla lobbed it over.

Maya caught. Reverse layup.

66 – 55

1:52 Remaining

Thunderhawks inbounds again. Charlotte faked left, passed right—Lena caught it this time. She dribbled past halfcourt and held it, smart play.

Ridgewood fouled.

Charlotte stepped to the line.

This is what we worked for. These shots. This pressure.

She bounced the ball once.

Twice.

Eyes on the rim.

SWISH.

67 – 55

Second shot.

RIM. IN.

68 – 55

Maya tried again. Fast. But Charlotte met her early this time. A trap came—Amina and Carmen cut her off.

Forced pass tipped!

Lena snatched it mid-air and ran.

1:15 Remaining

She passed ahead to Sakura, who fed Charlotte.

Charlotte didn’t shoot.

She waited.

Time bled away.

Maya lunged for a steal missed.

Charlotte drove no shot again.

Izzy flashed up.

Bounce pass.

Layup.

70 – 55

Ridgewood finally called timeout.

But it was too late.

The Thunderhawks bench stood. Fans clapped. Coach Lory crossed her arms—finally allowing a smile.

Charlotte wiped her face with her jersey and looked at the scoreboard.

70 – 55.

Under a minute now.

Lucas stood and clapped slowly, quietly.

"She did it."

Ethan crossed his arms, smirking.

"Nah. They did it. Like a real team."

He glanced at Charlotte one last time as she walked off a foul with her hands on her hips, breathing heavy.

"(Not bad, Charlotte Graves. Not bad at all.)"

...

Meanwhile – In the Shadow of the Stands

4th Quarter Thunderhawks 70 – Ridgewood Lynx 55

Far from the main court, just beyond the noise and celebration building around the Thunderhawks’ victory, another group watched in eerie silence.

They sat in the top corner of the bleachers—six girls in matching maroon tracksuits, their hoods pulled up. Each of them had a calm but calculating expression, eyes locked on Charlotte Graves and the Thunderhawks.

Their aura was different.

Still.

Sharp.

Predatory.

The crowd didn’t notice them. But they noticed everything.

Charlotte’s footwork. Carmen’s timing. Izzy’s shooting pocket. Sakura’s cuts. Even Coach Lory’s substitution patterns.

Then a woman in a sleek black coat and heels stepped forward in front of them. Her cold eyes scanned the scoreboard. Then the court.

Coach Kuroha. Head of the Darkbell Academy Girls Team.

She turned slowly to her team, her voice cool as frost, but every word laced with purpose.

"Remember your enemy."

Without hesitation, the girls straightened.

"Yes, Coach," they replied in perfect unison calm, unwavering, automatic.

Kuroha said no more.

Instead, her hand dipped into the inside pocket of her coat.

She pulled out a small black case. Flipped it open with a click.

Inside, nestled in velvet six red pills. Almost glowing.

She stared at them.

Her lips curled into a slight smirk.

(With this pill... we’re going to win the girls’ championship this time.)

She closed the case and slipped it back inside.

The girls didn’t look at it.

They didn’t need to.

They already knew.

The next phase of the tournament wouldn’t just be a battle of skill.

It would be a war of will, strength, and secrets.

And the Thunderhawks?

They were already being watched.

To be continue