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three-pointer on the Hornets’ first possession, and Jared cleanly blocked a shot on the other end. Spencer went end-to-end on a fast-break layup, then Ryan connected from the corner. It was 7-0 and barely a minute had gone by.
    Camden called timeout. The spectators were quiet, stunned.
    “Best team in the state,” Spencer said firmly in the huddle.
    “Us or them?” Fiorelli asked.
    “Look at the scoreboard!” Spencer replied. “You tell me.”
    And Hudson City did look superior throughout the first half, extending the lead to eleven at one point before Camden began chipping away.
    Dunk could feel the excitement growing as the second half unfolded. Camden was very good, no question about that, but Jared was having another big game inside and Fiorelli was on fire with seventeen points.
    “We can win this thing,” Dunk said to David, who was sitting next to him on the end of the bench.
    David just nodded, his eyes never leaving the court. “Huge upset if we do,” he said quietly. “ Huge. Camden’s a basketball factory.”
    “Changing of the guard, maybe.”
    “Yeah. But there’s a long way to go. Six minutes.”
    “Six minutes?” said Dunk. “That’s only about three minutes.”
    David rolled his eyes. “That joke’s getting very old, Dunk.” But he laughed anyway.
     
     
    Dunk leaned forward on the bench, his hands clenched and his eyes intently watching the action on the court. Fiorelli was dribbling quickly across midcourt, head up, looking for an open man. Hudson City was ahead by four with just over a minute to play, but Camden was on an 8-3 run and had scrambled back into contention. The Camden fans were on their feet, shouting encouragement.
    Fiorelli passed to Spencer in the corner, and Spencer dumped it in to Jared under the basket. Jared gave a quick head fake, and the Camden center bought it, leaving Jared an opening for an easy layup.
    Dunk stood with the others and yelled. The game had tightened up in the second half, but a six-point lead in the final minute was huge.
    Camden called timeout, and the Hudson City players ran to the bench and gathered around Coach Temple.
    “Defense,” he said. “This one’s not over yet. Ryan, take a seat.” Coach looked around. “Dunk, report in.”
    “Me?” Dunk asked, his eyes wide. Was he kidding?
    “Go.”
    Dunk reported to the scorer’s table and trotted back to the coach, who put his hand on Dunk’s shoulder. “If they score, Fiorelli will in-bound the ball to you. Camden needs to foul or we’ll just run out the clock. Protect the ball. Let them put you on the line.”
    Dunk swallowed hard and stepped onto the court. He looked at the clock: fifty-seven seconds. That seemed like an eternity. Dunk had been in awe of these players throughout the game. Now he was on the court with them, trying to preserve the biggest upset in the history of the tournament.
    The other players were dripping with sweat, and their breathing was hot and furious. Dunk felt slower and more flat-footed than ever.
    With a six-point lead, Hudson City expected the opponents to try for a quick three-pointer. So they were surprised when Camden’s point guard passed the ball inside to the center, who banged home a layup despite Jared’s furious defense.
    “Be smart!” Spencer shouted as Fiorelli took the ball under the basket.
    Dunk darted toward the end line. The Camden players were pressing, desperate to get the ball back, but Dunk was free and he took the pass and turned to dribble.
    Two Camden players converged on him, stabbing at the ball and blocking his path. The ball was knocked loose, but an official blew his whistle, calling a foul.
    Camden was over the foul limit. Dunk would be shooting two.
    “Money in the bank,” Spencer said, punching Dunk lightly on the shoulder.
    “Automatic,” said Fiorelli, jogging next to him toward the basket.
    Dunk bit down on his lip and stepped to the line. His heart was pounding and his breathing was rapid, even though he’d