Breaking Pointe by Samantha-Ellen Bound Read Free Book Online Page A

noses, and we’d hardly blinked before the ball had switched hands and gone through the opposite hoop.
    But we fought back. St Vitus had just missed out on the grand final last year, so we’d been working really hard this year with our training – and on working together as a team.
    So when St Monicas’ defence started their sneaky ball-stealing tricks, we were quick to pass the ball between players – a gap here, an opening there, we were on top of all of it. We’d get the ball to our side of the court and shoot at the net every chance we got.
    I was earning myself quite a nice little goal tally.
    Two quarters quickly ticked down. Time flashes by so fast, it’s like you’re constantly chasing the clock! By half-time, the otherteam was four points in front. But we weren’t too worried. We knew we could come back.
    â€˜Keep finding the openings,’ Stacey told us. ‘Riley, every time they get the ball they pass it onto that girl who’s almost as fast as you. I want you to keep on her.’
    â€˜You don’t want me to stay offence?’ I asked.
    â€˜You’re doing a great job at getting us goals,’ said Stacey, ‘but we can utilise Andie for that.’ She turned to Andie. ‘You cool with that? You’ve been doing so well at practice shots in training; you want to put that to the test?’
    â€˜Yes!’ Andie said.
    â€˜If you see an opening to shoot for goal, take it, but stay on that girl, Riley. I know you can play defence too, I’ve seen it before.’
    â€˜Okay,’ I said, eyeing off my girl over in the St Monicas huddle.
    â€˜Let’s go!’ said Stacey. ‘Everyone’s had some water?’
    We all nodded and headed back out to the court. Stacey stopped me just as I was capping my drink.
    â€˜Looking good, Riley,’ she said. ‘I’m glad you’re here.’
    â€˜Me too,’ I said. ‘Thanks.’
    And I thought perhaps she’d forgiven me for sulking under the bleachers, which probably wasn’t my finest moment.
    So the second half I played defence, which I didn’t really mind. Andie was a good shot, and I was secretly happy to be chosen to match up with the girl who was our biggest threat on the other team.
    I found out her name was Lex, and she was very sneaky and fast. But so was I. And I didn’t give up the athletics carnival to lose the grand final!
    So I watched Lex out of the corner of my eye. And when the ball came her way,I blocked it. And when she did get the ball and started dribbling, I matched her pace, making it hard for her to go forward. A few times I even managed to get the ball off her, and then sent it down towards Andie, who sank us a few hoops.
    And, bit by bit, our team kept scoring goals and moved in front.
    With thirty seconds to go, we were two points in front. This was the part of the game when you look up at the clock every second, and everyone is leaning forward in their seats, their hands to their mouths, and the ball becomes almost like a hot potato – everyone wants it, but once they have it, they don’t know what to do with it.
    I knew what to do with it, though. Especially when it was in Lex’s hands.
    She’d got the ball and started to move, the clock driving her feet. But it was driving myfeet too. I chased after Lex and managed to push the ball away from her as it was coming up from a bounce.
    Bella scooped it up and passed it back to me. I took off with it down the court. I could hear Lex panting behind me, so I threw the ball to Andie, who was faithfully standing near the goal.
    The ball spun through the air and then … wheewheewheewhee – the siren went off!
    We’d won! By two points! Our team erupted into cheers and that silly Heath ran onto the court to hug me.
    I’m not lying when I said I sank onto the court in relief. I’d done it.

Chapter Seventeen
    â€˜Got your