Read Bad-Luck Basketball for Free Online

and that’s when we’re at our best.”
    â€œHe’s right, guys,” Jeff said, standing up next to Brandon. Other players shouted and clapped. Before long, all the players were on their feet.
    â€œWe beat the odds to get here,” Brandon said. “Now let’s beat these Hornets!”
    The metal lockers echoed with their shouts and cheers, and the Clovers emerged from the locker room as a team once more.
    * * *
    As the second half got underway, the Hornets didn’t seem to know what hit them. The Clovers came out fighting, and by the end of the third quarter, the Hornets’ lead had been cut down to eight points.
    The Clovers played some tough defense. During one break-away, Kevin fired the ball to Brandon, who drove it within firing range. He faked to the hoop and fired it back to the top of the key to Jeff, who sank it for an easy two points.
    â€œLooks like our luck is changing for the better,” Jeff said to Brandon as they hustled down court.
    â€œForget luck,” Brandon replied, shaking his head. “Just keep playing!”
    Halfway through the fourth quarter, the Hornets led by three points and stepped up their game. They seemed to sense their opportunity to beat the Clovers easily was slipping away.
    With only minutes left on the clock, Coach Hanson used their last time-out. “Guys,” he said. “I’m glad to see this new energy out there. You’re all playing an incredible game, but we’re running out of time.”
    â€œThey’re onto us, Coach,” Tony said. “They’re matching us point for point.”
    Coach shrugged. “It’s still your game if you want it. The team who wants it is the one that will advance. The other team goes home.”
    The game resumed, and the Hornets moved through the Clovers’ defense like there was nobody guarding the basket. Brandon cringed as he watched the other team’s center go in for an easy lay-up.
    And missed.
    The ball went wild, bouncing back into the fray. Brandon scooped it up and made a fast break down court to the hoop. For an instant, he flashed back to the shot where he’d wedged the ball against the backboard. Back where his supposed bad luck started.
    Not this time , Brandon thought as he went for the lay-up. The ball dropped through the net easily. And just like that, the Clovers were within one point of tying up the game.

CHAPTER 13
BREAKING THE STREAK
    As the clock counted down the minutes, the Clovers and Hornets went back and forth. Neither team was willing to give an inch, and the score stayed at a nail-biting 65-64.
    Tension rippled through the crowd as seconds ticked off of the clock. During a Hornets’ drive, Brandon covered his guy like a shadow. He mirrored his every move, looking for a chance to steal. When the Hornets’ guard paused, Brandon lunged, knocking the ball loose.
    The crowd gasped as Brandon dribbled and broke away from the pack. He saw Tony to his right and fired the ball to his teammate. The pass was hurried and almost went out of bounds, but Tony snapped it up. As he did, the Hornets swarmed the Clovers in their territory. Unable to do anything with the ball, Tony pitched it back to Brandon.
    As soon as the basketball reached his hands, Brandon found a shot. Just as he put the ball up, someone shoved him from behind, knocking him to the floor.
    The crowd gasped, and Brandon looked up to see the ball bounce hard against the backboard. It flew out of bounds, and a second later, the referee blew the whistle.
    â€œLooks like you’re taking two,” Jeff said, helping him up. Brandon saw the guard he’d stolen the ball from getting an earful from the Hornets’ head coach.
    â€œHope you’ve been practicing your free throws,” Drew said as Brandon stepped to the line.
    Brandon thought back to the day he’d practiced at the park near his house. He remembered his basketball going wild and getting run over.
    I