BENCHED

By Rich Wallace Art by Rafa Alvarez

在上周的比赛中，德文为避开防守队员抢断上篮，不慎扭伤了脚踝。虽然他很想重返赛场，但是他暂时只能在替补席位上度过。几周前，彗星队以领先8分的成绩击败老鹰队。本周又是彗星队对阵老鹰队，这次没有了主心骨德文，老鹰队势必要付出巨大的努力才有可能取胜。在一次暂停的间隙，德文将自己的战术分析分享给队友，当时老鹰队以6比9落后。队友们听从了他的建议后，后面的比赛没再给对手机会，到中场比赛结束时，老鹰队还领先2分。但老鹰队缺了德文这个主力，场上队员体力消耗严重，后面的比赛比分咬得很紧，离比赛结束还剩一分钟时，老鹰队还落后1分。坐在替补队员席的德文会给队友支什么高招？他能否帮助球队逆势翻盘取得胜利？

How can Devin help his team if he’s out with an injury?

Devin fidgeted in the back seat of the car. “I have so much energy!” he said. “Do I really have to sit and watch?”

“It’s just for one more game,” Devin’s father said as he drove into the parking lot by the outdoor basketball court. “It’s better to stay on the safe side.”

Devin sighed. “It’s been a week since I sprained my ankle,” he said. “It doesn’t hurt at all.”

But it did hurt when he turned it in last week’s game. Devin had stolen a pass and dribbled quickly up the court for a layup. He twisted to avoid a defender and landed in a heap.

“The doctor said 10 days,” his mother reminded him. “No jumping. You can ease back into basketball next week.”

Devin ran his fingers over the logo on his jersey. He was all suited up for the game, but he knew he’d be spending it on the bench. The summer season was short—just eight games—and he’d already missed one.

“I just want to help my team win,” he said as he got out of the car. “I can’t do that if I’m not on the court.”

He walked past the ice-cream truck in the lot. Players from the previous game were eating cones and laughing.

Devin grabbed rebounds for his teammates as they warmed up. “Looking sharp, Jordan,” he said. “Good shot, Tara.”

Devin loved hearing the thump, thump, thump of basketballs and the feeling of excitement before every game. Hip-hop music from the loudspeaker made him feel like dancing. The energy in the air would make it even harder for him not to participate.

In the pregame huddle, the Eagles coach reminded the players to make smart passes and play tough defense.

“They’re fast and they love to run,” Devin added, jutting his chin toward the Comets. “Watch for the fast break.”

The Comets had defeated the Eagles by eight points a few weeks earlier. Without Devin’s leadership and skill, the Eagles would need a huge effort.

During a timeout, Devin glanced at the scoreboard. The Eagles trailed, 9–6. “Wilson is getting too many open shots,” he said. Wilson was the Comets’ center, and he’d made three layups already. “Jordan, you could help Arturo on defense when the ball goes inside.”

Devin sat down and rubbed his hands together. I’m powerless here on the bench, he thought. Wish I could do something.

On the next play, Jordan darted over to assist Arturo when the ball went to Wilson. As the center pivoted to shoot, Jordan swiped the ball away.

By halftime, Wilson hadn’t scored another basket. The Eagles had a two-point lead.

Coach praised the Eagles for their hard work. With Devin unable to play, the team had only one extra player, so no one was getting much rest.

Jordan hit a couple of three-point shots, but the Comets battled back. They began guarding Jordan much tighter and managed to tie the score.

During the break before the fourth quarter, Coach gave the team some pointers and then turned to Devin. “Devin, you’ve been spot-on with your view of the game. Anything to add?”

“They have two players on Jordan, so someone has to be open,” Devin said. “They leave Arturo uncovered when Jordan has the ball. Look for him!”

As the players went back onto the court, Jordan stayed back and whispered to Devin. “Aren’t we doing the same thing? When I help Arturo cover Wilson, I’m leaving my man open too.”

“It’s worth the risk,” Devin said. “The Comets haven’t figured that out yet.”

But the Comets did figure it out. Twice Jordan shifted over to block Wilson, and twice Wilson made a pass to the player Jordan had been guarding. Both open shots banked off the backboard and went in.

Jordan had played the entire game and seemed to be tiring. Coach took him out. “Take a very short rest,” he said. “We need you in there.”

Jordan sat down next to Devin and wiped his sweaty face with a towel. “This game is going right to the final buzzer,” he said. “It’s frantic out there.”

“Stay focused,” Devin said. “Frantic is fine, but don’t make any risky passes. No careless fouls.”

They both leaped up when Tara made a jump shot, and they yelled when Arturo stole a pass and banked in a game-tying layup.

The Comets called a timeout. Jordan reported back in. Tara took a seat. “I’m tired,” she said.

Devin looked at the clock. “Just a couple more minutes. Give it everything you’ve got. Soon you’ll be cooling off with some ice cream.”

Tara nodded. “Celebrating a win, I hope.”

The Eagles trailed by a point when Tara checked back in with a minute left in the game. She hounded the Comets’ point guard, playing tight defense. Jordan ran over to help out.

“Watch Wilson!” Devin called.

Jordan stopped short and shifted back toward the basket. When the point guard fired a pass toward Wilson, Jordan was there to snare it.

“Plenty of time,” Devin called. “Last shot!”

The Eagles passed the ball around the arc, running time off the clock. As the spectators counted down the final seconds, Jordan began his move.

“Six . . . five . . . four . . .”

Jordan drove into the lane and Wilson stepped out to block his path. Jordan ducked away, turned, and tossed a soft pass to Arturo, who was wide open. He easily made the layup.

The buzzer sounded. The Eagles had a one-point victory!

Devin congratulated his teammates. “Great game! Wish I could have been part of it.”

Jordan punched Devin lightly on the shoulder. “You were a huge part of it.”

“You were our brains on the bench,” Tara added.

Devin pointed to the ice-cream truck. “In that case, you should buy me a cone.”

A Tip from the Author

When you’re on the sidelines, make the most of it. Sometimes the best way to improve your game is to carefully observe how others play. You might see things that aren’t as clear when you’re caught up in the motions and emotions of competing.

Rich Wallace is the author of dozens of sports novels for kids, including the books in the Winning Season and Kickers series. He has played and coached a lot of sports too.

本文刊登在《英语沙龙》（原版阅读）

2023年7月刊

责任编辑：绯银