Extra Basket-Chapter 56 - 43: Team Status

July 4, 2010

Time: 7:00 AM

Location: Graves Family Gym

The gym echoed with the rhythmic thumps of basketballs and squeaks of sneakers slicing across the wooden court. Morning light filtered in through the high windows, casting long streaks of gold on the floor like it was highlighting fate itself.

Ethan Albarado stood by the sideline, arms crossed, watching. Observing.

"(Hmmm...)" he thought, his golden hair glinting under the beam of light, sweat clinging to his brows from his early drills. His sharp blue eyes weren’t watching the ball. They were watching his team — his investment.

Starters (With +2 Boost Applied)

Evan Cooper (Point Guard) – Level: Slightly Above Average

[Offensive Attributes:]

Shooting Accuracy: 9

Layup Skill: 9

Dunk Skill: 7

Dribbling Skill: 10

Passing Skill: 10

[Defensive Attributes:]

Defense: 9

Blocking Ability: 7

Steal Skill: 9

[Physical Attributes:]

Stamina: 9

Endurance: 9

Speed: 9

...

Josh Turner (Shooting Guard) – Level: Average (Ankle on Healing)

[Offensive Attributes:]

Shooting Accuracy: 8

Layup Skill: 7

Dunk Skill: 6

Dribbling Skill: 7

Passing Skill: 7

[Defensive Attributes:]

Defense: 8

Blocking Ability: 7

Steal Skill: 8

[Physical Attributes:]

Stamina: 8

Endurance: 8

Speed: 8

...

Ryan Taylor (Power Forward) – Level: Average

[Offensive Attributes:]

Shooting Accuracy: 7

Layup Skill: 8

Dunk Skill: 7

Dribbling Skill: 6

Passing Skill: 7

[Defensive Attributes:]

Defense: 9

Blocking Ability: 9

Steal Skill: 8

[Physical Attributes:]

Stamina: 9

Endurance: 9

Speed: 8

....

Brandon Young (Center) – Level: Average

[Offensive Attributes:]

Shooting Accuracy: 7

Layup Skill: 8

Dunk Skill: 8

Dribbling Skill: 5

Passing Skill: 6

.....

[Defensive Attributes:]

Defense: 9

Blocking Ability: 10

Steal Skill: 7

[Physical Attributes:]

Stamina: 9

Endurance: 8

Speed: 7

........

Bench (With +3 Boost Applied)

Coonie Smith (PG/SG)

[Offensive Attributes:]

Shooting Accuracy: 8

Layup Skill: 6

Dunk Skill: 4

Dribbling Skill: 8

Passing Skill: 7

[Defensive Attributes:]

Defense: 7

Blocking Ability: 5

Steal Skill: 8

[Physical Attributes:]

Stamina: 7

Endurance: 7

Speed: 8

.....

Jeremy Park (Power Forward)

[Offensive Attributes:]

Shooting Accuracy: 7

Layup Skill: 7

Dunk Skill: 6

Dribbling Skill: 5

Passing Skill: 5

[Defensive Attributes:]

Defense: 8

Blocking Ability: 10

Steal Skill: 7

[Physical Attributes:]

Stamina: 9

Endurance: 9

Speed: 8

..

Kai Mendoza (Small Forward)

[Offensive Attributes:]

Shooting Accuracy: 9

Layup Skill: 8

Dunk Skill: 6

Dribbling Skill: 9

Passing Skill: 7

[Defensive Attributes:]

Defense: 9

Blocking Ability: 6

Steal Skill: 8

[Physical Attributes:]

Stamina: 8

Endurance: 8

Speed: 9

Ethan’s Thoughts:

("I used up 2000 hard-earned points from July 3... all for this boost. 2 day of grinding, waking up at 4AM, lifting, learning, earning every damn bit. And yet... it still doesn’t feel enough. But at least... it’s bearable now.")

He glanced at his system storage.

[Team Synergy Card] – 3 Uses

"All teammates gain +2 to all attributes for 10 minutes."

His fingers twitched slightly.

Not yet. Not until the real battle.

Then his eyes drifted.

Toward the far end of the gym.

Where he was.

Lucas Graves – Guard/Forward (#10)

Level: Anomaly

Ability: Absolute Mimicry – Can copy and refine any skill or move he sees in real-time.

Time with Power: 3 Days

Background: Just 4 days ago, Lucas was at the bottom — overlooked, untalented, and ignored. But the moment he awakened Absolute Mimicry, he began absorbing techniques like a sponge. His improvement is so rapid, it’s unsettling. What he lacks in experience, he compensates with raw adaptation and elite stamina.

.....

[Core Attributes]

[Offensive Attributes:]

Shooting Accuracy: 10 (Still adjusting to mechanics, but mimicking elite shooters fast)

Layup Skill: 10 (Has copied multiple finishing styles and adapted them)

Dunk Skill: 7 (Vertical improving from mimicry training, can dunk in open space)

Dribbling Skill: 11 (Mimics ankle-breaking crossovers, lightning quick hands)

Passing Skill: 10 (Developing feel for game flow; surprising vision at times)

[Defensive Attributes:]

Defense: 8 (Adopts pro-level stances and reads like a veteran)

Blocking Ability: 8 (Good timing from observing elite shot blockers)

Steal Skill: 8 (Mimics aggressive hands and pick-pocket techniques)

[Physical Attributes:]

Stamina: 15 (Non-stop motor. He doesn’t get tired. Except using his Absolute Mimicry)

Endurance: 15 (Can play intense minutes without burning out)

Speed: 9 (Fast, twitchy reactions — tracks ball and players like a hawk)

Ethan’s Thought: "As expected of the protagonist... He’s not just catching up. He’s sprinting past the ceiling."

Lucas was moving through a solo drill a brutal combination of elite crossovers, fadeaways, Eurosteps, and no-look passes. Every move wasn’t just copied. It was sharpened. Like he saw the flaw in the original and perfected it in real-time.

He was the kind of player you didn’t coach.

You just stepped back and prayed he wasn’t on the other team.

Evan Cooper approached Ethan, holding a ball under his arm. His gaze flicked toward Lucas, then back to Ethan. He tried to keep his tone even.

"What should we do, Ethan?" he asked.

There was no edge, but there was honesty and maybe a hint of jealousy.

Even though Evan was officially the team captain, even he couldn’t deny it.

When it came to strategy... pressure... game-breaking decisions...

Ethan Albarado was the heart of this squad.

And Evan?

He just wanted to win. That’s all that mattered to him.

Ethan responded with a calm breath.

The weight of the moment sat on his shoulders.

Ethan inhaled slowly, then spoke with quiet certainty.

"Since July 6 is our official match against the Thunderhawks... Yeah, you all know. All-girls team. But don’t let that fool you."

He paced forward slightly, his eyes locked on each teammate.

"They’re not weak. They’re not just good, they’re dangerous. They nearly made it to the championship last year. Only reason they didn’t?"

"One of their players got injured."

His voice tightened with intensity.

Then his gaze turned to Lucas.

"And their captain... Charlotte Graves. AKA ’The Silver Hawk.’ Or some of you might know her as—"

A short pause.

"The Silver Falcon. She’s that good. Plays like she belongs in a men’s league. Hell, she could school most of us without even trying."

Lucas froze for half a second.

("Sis...") He thought silently.

His grip on the ball unconsciously tightened.

Ethan let the weight of that moment sit before glancing around the gym. He exhaled again, then turned to Lucas and gave a respectful nod.

"Since we’re using your gym today..."

He gave a slight grin.

"Thanks, Lucas."

Lucas responded with a shrug, almost shyly.

"No problem."

Then, without skipping a beat, Ethan’s face twisted with mock frustration. He jabbed a thumb toward the empty office in the corner of the gym.

"As for Coach... well, let’s be real."

He raised his voice.

"That useless, lazy-ass sack of trash is probably still asleep in his bed, snoring like a goddamn pig."

The whole gym burst into laughter.

The kind of laugh that breaks tension and builds camaraderie. Even Lucas cracked a smirk.

Ethan clapped his hands once, loud.

It echoed like a gunshot.

"Alright! Enough standing around."

Ethan’s voice rang through the gym like a lightning bolt, sharp and alive. The players stopped, their muscles already warmed up from the drills they’d done before, but now they felt the real weight of what was to come.

"Let’s get to work. Training starts NOW!"

The gym’s echo still lingered when Coonie Smith raised his hand, a look of mild confusion on his face.

"What’s the training gonna be, Ethan?"

The question wasn’t disrespectful, just the kind of inquiry that came from someone trying to make sense of the moment. Coonie was solid — not a natural leader, but reliable in a clutch. He was just trying to understand the game plan.

Ethan blinked, his brows furrowed for a split second.

"Oh shit, I forgot to tell you guys."

Everyone sighed collectively. Ethan was the type who jumped into things and sometimes forgot to explain the details.

"You forgot? Really, Ethan?" Coonie muttered, shaking his head.

Ethan let out a half-grin, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.

"Alright, alright. Phase 1."

He raised his hands, palms out, signaling the start of something important.

"Phase 1: Foundation & Footwork. You want to know how to dominate the court? You build the base first. Every elite defender has impeccable stance, speed, and lateral movement. We work on those now. Trust me, the little things win games."

The team nodded, absorbing his words. This was the foundation of everything.

Ethan’s tone shifted, becoming steady again as he moved to the first drill.

"1. Mirror Slide Drill (Eye Contact Only) "

The gym’s air felt thick with focus as Ethan demonstrated, moving in fluid motion across the court, gliding effortlessly as if the floor was made of ice.

"Partner up." he instructed, and everyone quickly paired off.

Ethan walked over to Brandon Young, their eyes meeting for a moment before they fell into position. Lucas Graves stood across from Evan Cooper. The group quickly lined up in two parallel rows, facing each other.

"Remember," Ethan’s voice cut through the rising tension. "The goal is simple: mirror each other’s movement, but only with eye contact. Don’t get distracted. Keep the flow tight. Eyes locked."

Brandon looked at him skeptically.

"Just eyes? No ball?" Brandon asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"No ball. No fakes. Just you and your partner. You need to react faster than your brain can think. Focus on the tiniest movement." Ethan’s voice was firm, almost pushing Brandon to accept the challenge.

The two of them began. Ethan slid to his left, his body low and balanced, mirroring Brandon’s movement. Their eyes stayed locked as their feet shuffled back and forth in perfect synchronization. The tension in their stance was palpable, the entire gym quiet except for the sound of sneakers against the floor.

"Focus on staying low, always. Keep those knees bent." Ethan’s internal mantra repeated as he guided Brandon through the drill.

The rest of the team followed suit. It was grueling work, but they could feel the benefit — the connection between movement and mental focus sharpened with every second. Each time they mis-stepped, it was like their bodies recalibrated themselves for next time.

....

The next drill was on the horizon, and Ethan didn’t waste time.

"2. Cone Shuffle Gauntlet"

Ethan took a step back, his eyes scanning the court. Six cones lay in a zig-zag pattern across the gym, each placed precisely to test the players’ speed and agility. The challenge was about to get real.

"Here’s how this works. You’ll sprint forward between the cones, slide to one side, then backpedal. Repeat the pattern, moving at full speed. But—"

His eyes flicked towards Josh Turner, who was stretching lightly, careful not to put too much weight on his healing ankle.

"Add a little chaos, yeah? I’m going to shout out a color, and you react. You don’t know what’s coming."

The players lined up, feet set in their positions.

"The focus here is quick changes of direction under pressure." Ethan said, his eyes narrowing with intensity. "Your brain needs to react to that color fast — before your body does. Speed is important, but mental speed matters more."

With a sharp whistle, Ethan shouted:

"RED!"

And the team exploded into motion. Josh sprinted forward, his movements careful, still favoring his healing ankle as his eyes darted toward Ethan. He slid left at the exact moment Ethan shouted. His legs pumped harder as he pushed through the discomfort, trying to stay ahead of the mental fog that threatened to cloud his focus.

Ethan eyes settled on Josh Turner, the Shooting Guard, as he moved through the drills. His movements were sharp, but Ethan could see the subtle limp in his step, the slight favoring of his right ankle.

Josh had been pushing through the pain, but it was clear to Ethan that his recovery wasn’t as fast as the others. Despite the ointment Ethan had given him from his System, Josh was still healing. It wasn’t as bad as it had been before, but it wasn’t perfect, either. Ethan could tell Josh was trying to mask it, hiding the discomfort behind his usual drive and competitive spirit.

...

Finally, the last drill.

"3. Shadow Pursuit Drill (No Contact Rule)"

This one was built for intensity. The players set up in pairs again, and this time it was Lucas who spoke up, his eyes fixed on Ethan.

"What’s the deal with this one?" Lucas asked, his voice a quiet mix of curiosity and focus.

"You’ll be the shadow. Stick to your partner. No contact. You have to stay within arm’s reach of your opponent. This drill teaches you how to close space with control, not recklessly. Keep your distance, but don’t give them an inch."

Lucas, despite his advanced skill, understood the importance of this drill. It was all about discipline. Not giving away your position while staying close enough to react.

Ethan demonstrated briefly, closing in on Ryan Taylor, staying just an inch behind him, moving without touching him. It was almost like dancing, a subtle battle of positioning, speed, and awareness.

....

The drills started to blend together into a perfect storm of preparation.

As The sound of squeaking sneakers and labored breathing filled the gym like a heartbeat. Bodies moved like machines, cutting, sliding, shadowing, adapting. Every player was locked in, molded by Ethan’s voice, his drills, and the energy of something bigger than just practice.

Ethan Albarado stood in the center of it all, arms crossed, expression composed but alert. His eyes tracked every pair of feet, every mistake, every bit of effort.

This was his court now.

Then—

CREAK.

The gym doors swung open with a sudden gust of warm summer air and the sharp squeal of old hinges. Everyone turned for a moment, instincts pulling them toward the sound.

A boy stood there, panting, hands on his knees.

Louie Gee Davas. 13 years old. Rookie.

Shorter than most, a skinny, with black a little bit brown hair flattened from a nap, and a jersey bag slung awkwardly over one shoulder. His expression was sheepish, but his eyes were bright.

Ethan’s gaze landed on him like a weight.

"You’re late."

Louie scratched the back of his head, giving a nervous laugh as he stepped inside.

"Sorry, hehehe... I slept too much and... I also got lost."

He gave a goofy grin that didn’t help his case.

The whole gym paused. A few chuckles came from the group. Someone whispered, "Classic Louie..." and kept shuffling through their cone drill.

Ethan exhaled through his nose, sharp and tired.

"Change into your jersey."

He turned slightly, still watching his players move through Phase 1.

"I’ll fill you in on the training after that."

Louie nodded quickly, saluted in an exaggerated motion like a soldier trying too hard.

"Sir, yes sir!"

Ethan didn’t even look at him this time.

"Sir, my foot."

His tone was dry, deadpan.

A burst of laughter echoed through the gym. Even Lucas smile mid slide. Josh Turner doubled over and pointed at Louie.

Louie raised both hands as if surrendering and jogged toward the locker room, still laughing to himself.

"Not even ten minutes in and I’m already catching heat..." he muttered under his breath.

Ethan shook his head but smiled faintly.

"He’s a mess" he sighed

To be continue