2:00 Minutes Left — 2nd Quarter
Score: Vorpal 36 – Roanoke 28
The arena pulsed like a heartbeat.
Every sneaker squeak echoed like thunder. Every breath from the crowd, held tight — waiting.
Vorpal had momentum now.
Lucas Graves was locked in, sliding into position on defense like he had played this matchup a thousand times before. Louie was barking calls, Jeremy circling like a hawk at the top of the key, and Jeremy held the paint with a grit born from redemption.
From the bench, Ethan Albarado stood slowly, arms crossed, sweat cooled across his brow as his sharp gaze swept across his teammates.
He wasn't smiling.
He wasn't tense.
He was calculating.
"(You're holding them, Lucas. Louie. Jeremy. Coonie. Everyone…)
(I'm counting on you for the rest of this quarter… Because once we enter the third—)
(I'll be the one stepping in.)"
….
