Johnny Long Legs by Matt Christopher Read Free Book Online Page B

second quarter Butch tried his long shots again. The first one missed. A Red Fox took the ball off the boards and passed
     it back to Butch. Butch's second try also failed. Again a Red Fox got the rebound. This time he dribbled toward the center
     line, away from the crowd under the basket. He passed to a teammate going in. The teammate passed to Butch. Like a cat Johnny
     pounced on the ball at the same time Butch did.Then both he and Butch had it, each fighting for its possession.
    Shreeek!
Jump ball.
    Again Johnny gave his legs all the spring he possibly could. Up… up he went past Butch's hand and tapped the ball to Huck.
     Huck took it, dribbled toward the center line, and passed to Nat Newton, who had gone in for Toby. Nat dribbled a bit and
     passed to Johnny running in fast toward the basket. Johnny caught the ball and leaped high. A beautiful layup!
    “Nice play, Johnny!” yelled Mr. Sain.
    Johnny turned, brushed the sweat off his brow, and ran back upcourt.
Wonder what he'd say if I outjumped Jim,
he thought.
Would he still call me Johnny Long Legs?

14
    T he half ended with the Red Foxes leading, 31 to 24.
    “Do more shooting this second half, Johnny,” said Coach Dates, standing with one foot on a bench in the locker room. “Try
     more layups.” He grinned. “You've come a long way with your jumping. And you've improved your pivoting, too. Goes to show
     what steady practice will do. And determination.”
    Johnny sat with his elbows on his knees. Practice? Determination? No one except he and Toby knew how hard he had practicedto improve his jumping and to pivot without dragging his foot across the floor.
    The boys went upstairs to start the second half and Johnny did as the coach had advised. Whenever he saw his chance he drove
     in for a layup. Sometimes he didn't make it, but most of the time he did. Cotton and Huck fed him the ball and sank a few
     baskets themselves.
    By the end of the third quarter they were trailing 49 to 48. The Red Foxes widened their lead by four points but gradually
     the White Cats gained ground again. With a minute to go in the last quarter the Cats were leading by a very thin margin, 61
     to 60.
    Then Johnny fouled Butch, striking Butch's hand as he jumped for a layup.
    “Two shots!” yelled the ref.
    Butch made them both. 62-61, Red Foxes' favor.
    Then, with fifteen seconds left, Johnnygot the ball and dribbled it to the corner. Fourteen seconds… thirteen… twelve… Johnny kept dribbling. Butch guarded him like
     a hawk, trying desperately to keep him from making a fast break.
    … Eleven seconds… ten… nine… eight…
    “Shoot!” yelled a White Cats fan. “Shoot, Johnny!”
    … Seven seconds… six… five…
    Johnny broke past Butch, felt Butch's hand slide across his shoulders. He leaped and laid the ball against the boards. In!
    The crowd went wild.
    The Red Foxes took out the ball. A player shot a long one as the clock ticked off the last second. The ball struck the rim,
     bounced off. The game was over. The White Cats won, 63 to 62.
    Johnny was happy but not completely satisfied. When he got home he checked overthe schedule. The next game against the Hornets was on January 18, the last game of the season for both teams.
    The White Cats trimmed the Leopards on Thursday, and lost by a wide margin, 68 to 52, on Tuesday to the Swordtails, who were
     leading the league. On the thirteenth the White Cats beat the Astro Jets, 57 to 49.
    At last came the game with the Hornets. Among the fans that filled the stands were Mom and Dad, Grandpa, and, of course, Mr.
     Sain.
    Johnny started, playing opposite Jim. Both grinned at each other as they shook hands. Then the grins disappeared. They were
     opponents again.
    The ball went up between the centers. Rick tapped it to Johnny. Jim tried to take it from him, but Johnny pivoted around on
     his right foot—doing it almost perfectly now—then dribbled toward the Hornets basket. Jim dashed in front of him and Johnny passed